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 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.
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