Baby Crib Safety

Cribs can be expensive but babies are irreplaceable. While there are a lot of high quality cribs for sale that are designed with crib safety in mind, you can ensure crib safety on your own by just applying a few common sense suggestions.

Antique cribs could be dangerous as they might have lead paint as well as decorative cutouts where a baby’s head could get trapped. There should not be too much space between slats otherwise an infant could get his head stuck between them; less than 2.38 inches is a good figure. The top side rails of the crib should be, at the very least, 26 inches above the top of the lowest level of the mattress. You must check these measurements to ensure crib safety.

It’s also important to adjust to the child’s development. Once a child can stand up, set the mattress to its lowest position. Monitor the growth of a child. If the top of the rail is less than three fourths of his height, then he has outgrown the crib.

The mattress should always fit closely next to the crib without any gap. If your two fingers can fit between the mattress and the crib then it’s too big and it could be a crib safety risk. Consider buying a new mattress to better fit the crib. Another crib safety risk is plastic packaging materials. Mattress covers, dry cleaning bags, and other packaging can stick to baby’s faces and compromise their safety.

In general, babies should be placed inside a crib on a firm mattress with no soft bedding underneath and be put on their backs. Make sure the drop side or sides of the crib are secure. A drop side should take two different actions or at least a force of about ten pounds in order to release the latch. If the latch is not secure then the baby could accidentally be released. Regularly inspect the crib for any broken pieces or damaged hardware. Needless to say, if you notice and sharp edges or surfaces then it’s a crib safety risk and no place for your baby.

Think twice about leaving your baby unattended with pillows, large stuffed animals or toys. These could hypothetically cause suffocation or even enable a baby to climb out of the crib. Any torn material should also be seen as a threat to crib safety. Keep your baby away from windows, drapery or cords that could entangle him. Screen doors are no match for a curious baby who has just escaped his crib.

Lastly, protecting your baby again lead poisoning is an important safety tip that can’t be forgotten. Lead can be found in dust, soil, paint on the wall, furniture and even toys. Too many precautions may be a nuisance, but you only get one chance with a beautiful new baby. Pay attention to crib safety and make sure your baby is happy and healthy.