Most babies stay in a crib until it's time to move onto a regular sized bed thus the importance of choosing a crib that is both comfortable and safe. This is the space where you baby will spends lots of time, from napping during the day to sleeping at night.
Usually parents have an idea of the type of crib they want based on aesthetic and budget but it's always best to ensure your chosen product is secure and up to date.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), as summarized by Health Day, below are some of the basic recommendations of the Academy when it comes to selecting your baby crib:
- If possible, buy a new crib to make sure it meets current safety standards.
- Drop-side cribs are not considered safe and no longer legally sold or manufactured as of 2011.
- If your crib has a drop railing, contact the manufacturer to see about an immobilizer.
- If you have an older crib, check the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) recall list to be sure yours is not affected.
- Keep the crib clear of blankets, bumpers, pillows, stuffed toys, positioning devices and other hazards.
In addition, the U.S. Government recently issued a ban on drop-side cribs given its association to more than 30 infant deaths over 10 years, notes Parenting.com. As a standard, choose a crib with slats that are no more than 2 3/8 inches (6 centimeters) apart and its slats have been checked to be free of cracked, splintered, missing or loose pieces.
More than selecting a crib, its placement and location within the room is also critical. Cribs should not be placed near a window, drapes, patio doors, under furniture (i.e. Shelves, ceiling fans etc) and spaces where electrical cords, loose small objects, candles and so on.
Other safety reminders when it comes to baby care and cribs include:
- Always place your baby on their back to sleep.
- Ensure that the model/ type of crib hasn't been recalled by manufacturers.
- All parts have been securely placed with no loose and/or protruding parts.
- Use a firm Mattress with no gaps which fits snugly on the sides Remove soft toys, bumpers, blankets and pillows are always kept outside of the crib and will be removed once the baby is able to pull themselves up or stand up. This is to sure that your baby won't use the bumpers and other removable materials as a booster to climb out of the crib.
- Non-use of mobiles or hanging toys which have strings and/or ribbons that are longer than 7 inches (18 centimeters) having above the crib. These hanging materials should be removed by the time the baby reaches 5 months or is able to pull up/ stand, whichever comes first.
