Things You Need To Know About Crib Safety For Your Baby

Crib Safety

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When you have a baby there are many things you need. You need clothes, bottles, diapers, wipes, a crib, and many others. This can be overwhelming when you stop to think about everything you need for such a small person. The cost of these items may be a concern to parents. Many places sell second hand baby items, you can even go to garage sales too. Most of these things will still be in good shape and you can find some great deals.

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Secondhand

You can probably find anything you need for your baby except maybe diapers and wipes somewhere they sell secondhand items. One thing we advise would be to not buy your crib second hand. A baby spends a lot of time in his crib. Buying a new crib is a much better choice, they do use them until they are at least one year of age.

Safety Standards

The safety standards for cribs have changed over the years. If you get an older crib it may not meet today's safety standards. The crib rails for instance need to meet measurement requirements. If the crib rails are too far apart the infant may get his head stuck between the bars. However, if the bars are too close the infant may get his arms or legs stuck between the bars. There should also be enough space between the top of the rail and the top of the crib mattress to minimize the risk of the child climbing over the railing and falling out.

Bumpers

The purpose of the bumper in the baby crib is to prevent the baby from getting hurt on the crib rails. Bumpers are made of fabric with soft filling to protect your child. If your child rolls over and bumps his head it wont hurt as bad, it also prevents the child from getting his head stuck between the bars. Even though it is designed to protect the child, you need to make sure it is secured to the crib properly to prevent suffocation. If the bumper is too loose the child could become entangled in it and suffocate.

Blankets and Pillows

These cute bedding sets you can buy usually come with matching pillows and blankets to match the bumper and crib sheet. Although it may look cute, they also pose a risk of suffocation. The child may become entangled in the blanket and may get it wrapped around his head or other body parts and cause an injury or suffocation. With a pillow it may hurt the babies neck, or if the pillow ends up on your babies face it may also cause suffocation.

Sleepers or wearable blankets that form to your babies body are suggested to keep your child warm. These two items will keep the child warm without the risk of suffocation. You may need to check on your child throughout the night to make sure he is not getting too warm.

Just remember that when purchasing a crib it is well worth the investment to buy a new crib. With a new crib you are insured that all the parts are there, it will be assembled correctly if you follow instructions, and that it meets today's safety standards. You may also choose to buy those cute bedding sets, who could resist them. Just remember that it is a good idea to remove the pillows and blankets when the child is sleeping, and to double check to make sure the bumper is on securely to prevent injury or worse. Taking these few simple steps and precautions will make you sleep better knowing your child is safe.

Blankets, pillows can be great for decoration, but they should be removed when it comes time for baby to go to sleep. Bumpers should be fastened properly and double checked at the baby's bedtime each night. During colder nights, parents put their babies in wearable blankets that form right to the baby. There is no risk of the baby becoming entangled in the wearable blanket. Parents should check on the baby during the night to insure that he does not get overheated when wearing the very warm blankets.

With a few little steps, parents can insure safety with their baby's crib bedding. However, they need to remember to avoid using older baby cribs. Older cribs do not always meet today's safety standards. They often do not come with instructions and missing a minor detail in the instructions could be disastrous. In order to assure your baby's safety in a crib, it is very important to consider turning down the second hand offers from your friends and family and buy new. The investment will be worth the peace of mind in knowing that the baby crib you chose is safe and secure.

Things You Need To Know About Crib Safety For Your Baby

Toddler Safety Rail

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Baby Crib Safety - Frequently Asked Questions

The crib is where your baby will spend a lot of their time and you want to be sure they are safe. Below are some of the questions (with the answers) that are asked about crib safety. Topics such as mattress position, how to place your baby in the crib, and general safety standards are discussed, as are other issues. If you need further information you can search the Internet and visit baby furniture stores.

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Q. Are there safety standards for baby cribs?

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Yes there are some very exact standards for your baby's crib. In 1974 it was made law that cribs should no longer be painted with lead based paint. It was discovered that the ingestion of lead (from any source) could cause learning disabilities and other difficulties in young children. The slats of the crib must be no more than 2 3/8 inches apart, this is to prevent your baby from getting his body or head stuck between the bars causing injury or strangulation. The side bar should be 26 inches above the mattress when it is in its lowest position. If your child is more than an inch taller than the sidebar it is time to move him into a regular bed.

Q. Are there some hazards in my baby's crib that I need to be aware of?

Your mattress must fit snugly in the crib; an ill-fitting mattress could cause your baby to slip between the mattress and the side bar causing suffocation. The mattress height should be able to be adjusted into at least three different levels. When your baby becomes more mobile you will want to put the mattress in the lowest position to prevent your baby from climbing or falling out. The slats should be tight, loose slats could pinch little fingers. Do not put the crib near a window to prevent your baby from possibly falling out or becoming tangled in Venetian blind cords.

Q. What are some historical facts about the crib?

Here is a short chronological time line of crib facts:

1973 - The standard for crib slats was to be no more than 2 3/8th inches apart to prevent your baby from slipping through or getting their head stuck. Also, double latches for drop-down sidebars were to become the norm.

1976 - The standard for cutouts in the crib end panels are presented. The end panels must not have any decorative cutout designs. Children were getting their limbs or heads caught causing serious injury or death.

1978 - Cribs must now be painted with non-toxic finish.

1981 - Two models of cribs with cutouts are recalled.

1988 - A voluntary standard addresses mattress support hardware, failure of glued or bolted connections, drop-side latch failure and loosened teething rails.

1990 - No corner posts or projections can be more than 1/16th of an inch above the drop-side.

1998 - California and Washington mandate that hotel cribs must meet the same standards
set for full-size cribs

1998 - Portable cribs must now meet the same standards as full-sized cribs.

Q. How can I tell when my baby is ready for a regular bed?

When your child stands more than a couple of inches taller than the sidebar with the mattress in the lowest position. If your child is climbing out of the crib, for his safety put him in a regular bed.

Q. How should I put my baby to sleep in his crib?

Place your baby on his back or on his side for sleeping. Use one piece sleepers rather than blankets. Your baby could slip under the blanket and possibly suffocate. Remove all pillows and toys as well, in order to prevent suffocation.

Q. Is it safe to cover my baby with a blanket?

A blanket sleeper will keep your baby sufficiently warm while sleeping. If you absolutely need to use a blanket, tuck it in around the bottom of the mattress. Place your baby with his feet toward the end-panel and the blanket should go no higher than his/her chest.

Q. Is a mesh sided crib safe to use for my baby?

Yes, a mesh crib is safe provided the mesh is less than 1/4 inch in size, smaller than a tiny button on baby's clothes. The should be rips, tears, or loose threads. If staples are used to attach the mesh they must not be exposed and the mesh must be securely attached to the top rail and the floor plate.

Q. Can I safely use bumper pads in my baby's crib?

While bumper pads are not necessary, they can safely be used. They must be very close the edge of the mattress and properly secured. The bumpers must be flat and not puffy, as your baby could get stuck between the bumper and the mattress and suffocate.

Q. What can I do to keep my baby's crib safe?

In order to keep your baby's a safe place, you should make sure to all connections are secure and that there are no broken or missing parts. Regularly, check the teething rail for splits or cracks. Make sure the mattress spring support and your crib will withstand your baby's increasing mobility. The mattress itself should have no splits, tears, or holes.

Q. How can I tell when it's time to lower the mattress?

When your baby becomes more active, when s/he begins to pull himself to a standing position or when he sits up alone it will be time to lower the mattress to prevent your little one from either climbing out or falling out.

Q. Can I hang a mobile over my baby's crib?

Mobiles and crib gyms can be used to entertain your baby but when your child is able to get on to their hands and knees or pull themselves up. This will prevent your baby from becoming entangled in them.

In Conclusion

Making sure your baby's crib is safe, is an ongoing to task. Proper positioning of the mattress, making sure all connections are secure and that there are no loose slats that could pinch little fingers will help to keep your baby's crib a safe place for him to be.
Be sure to place him in the crib on his back or side and dress him in a sleeper rather than using a blanket. Keeping these tips in mind will help keep your baby safe and give you some peace of mind.

Baby Crib Safety - Frequently Asked Questions

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Crib Safety For Your Baby

There comes a time when every child needs to be put in there crib. For most parents, this is around three months old. Others may do it earlier, some regret doing it later. Whatever time frame you and your husband decide on, be sure to have a crib that is up to date and meets all safety requirements.

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If you were given a crib by your mother that has been passed down from generation to generation, chances are it is not up to specks. It may have lead paint and that is dangerous for all babies. It may not meet the required space limit either. The bars on a crib should be spaced apart no more than 2 3/8 inch. Anything wider can be dangerous for infants because there is a possibility that they can get their head stuck in the bars. If you were given an antique crib that was made prior to 1974, chances are that it does not follow this guidelines. Throw out any cribs that have decorative cutouts or corner posts as well.

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You also should make sure that there are no cutouts on the baby's headboard or footboard. This can cause their head to get trapped as well. You want to get a crib that has headboards and footboard that are all one piece. The top rails of crib sides, in their raised position, should be at least 26 inches above the top of the mattress supporting its lowest position.

Cribs should be kept away from other pieces of furniture in the room, especially if your child is pulling up and walking. A child who has a crib placed near a dresser can get hurt depending on the objects that are placed on top of the dresser. A baby monitor that is attached to a cord can be pulled into the crib causing a choking hazard for the child. Glass frames and other pictures that can be picked up and then stood on are a risk simply because the glass can break and cut the child. Make sure you take all precautions when it comes to your child's safety and their crib. Always check on them when they are left alone in a crib and never let a sibling get them out of it without your help.

Crib Safety For Your Baby

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