Congratulations! Your new baby is on its way!
Getting a good night's sleep will be your priority once your newborn arrives, and having a good crib that is both secure and comfortable for your newborn will go a long way towards making that a reality. You will want to sleep in your bed knowing that your baby is safe and sound in a quality crib. When you first have your baby, you may want to put them in a bassinet next to your bed which will make it easier to breastfeed; however, over time the crib will be the next logical step by the time your baby is ready to start rolling over.
The crib is where your newborn will spend most of its time, so having a safe and secure setup is key. By now, you may be asking yourself, what makes a crib safe?
Bed Slats Should Be Safety Spaced
There is no set and solid set of rules that make one crib better than another; however, there are simple guidelines that will allow you to rest easy knowing your baby is secure. First, you should look at the bars or slats of the crib railing. These should be no further apart than 2-3/8" which will insure that your baby's head doesn't slip through and get stuck. While you may think that the old crib in the attic is a wonderful antique, it probably doesn't meet this very important safety standard. With used and older antique cribs, the slats were placed too far apart for safety.
Cut Out Designs Along The Rail
Avoid the cribs with cutouts and designs along the rail because they are dangerous to an infant. They can get their arm, neck or other body part stuck in them possibly causing serious injury.
Solid, Sturdy Construction
The crib should be well-made, sturdy and not prone to wobbling. Your infant will be sleeping in the crib for quite a while and as he or she grows, you will want to make sure that nothing happens with a bouncing, happy 2 or 3-year-old.
Avoid Dangerous Construction Materials
Inferior woods which can weaken and warp over time should be avoided. Good construction materials includes hardwoods that are painted or stained including woods like ash, beech, oak or maple. Metal cribs are also very sturdy and safe as long as the materials used to finish them are non-toxic and lead-free.
Dropsides Should Be At Least 9" Above Mattress Support
When lowered, the dropsides should be no less than 9" above the support for the mattress when it's lowered. With the side raised, the top should be 26" above and no less than the support at its lowest position.
Adjustable Height Mattress
In order to give your back a break, you might want to choose a crib with a mattress that's adjustable. You want it so that your baby can sit up but can't climb out of the crib. Being able to change the mattress height by raising and lowering the support makes for an easy adjustment.
Be sure and check the crib for any sharp objects, edges points or anything else that might harm your baby as well.
Make sure that the mattress fits snugly into the crib with no large gaps where a baby could fall or get a limb lodged. The measurement is that if you can fit two of your fingers between the crib and the mattress then it is too large. Over time, you will want to re-measure and keep your eye on the edges to make sure that gaps don't develop. You'll also want to recheck the safety clips to make sure that they stay locked with the hangers into the notches.
Non-Flammable, Hypoallergenic Padding
Be sure that you have hypoallergenic, non-flammable bumper padding that goes around the edges of crib cushioning all four sides. Secure each bumper so that when your child gets more active, they won't be able to remove the bumper pads. It is suggested that you secure the bumpers in at least six places, and when you baby becomes very active, you'll want to remove them.
Follow Assembly Instructions Carefully
For all the do-it-yourself crib builders, following the instructions carefully is a must. You will also want to check and tighten all of the nuts, screws and bolts as well as check teething rails for nicks and cracks. Make a periodic inspection of the support hooks as well.
Avoid placing the crib next to the window, close to curtains or drapery cords. As well, avoid placing the crib near furniture where the baby could inadvertently crawl or climb out.
Remove all crib toys while the baby sleeps. This includes mobiles that the baby can grab.
According to the Federal guidelines which went into effect in 1973, was reworked in 1991 making mandatory safety standards (16CFR part 1508) and enforced by The Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) as well as The Juvenile Products Manufacturers' Association (JPMA), the voluntary standards (ASTM F966 and F1169), established by the American Society for Testing and Materials which certifies cribs to meet the highest in safety standards.
If you need more information on crib and other nursery equipment safety, please call the Consumer Products Safety Commission at 1-800-638-2772.
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