Baby Crib Advice and Tips

Baby Crib

Congratulations!  You have just learned that you are having a baby.  A second hand crib whether antique or not needs to be carefully looked at.

Will the position of the mattress hold under your baby's weight? It is imperative that this be tested before you put your baby in the crib. If it doesn't it could cause serious injury to your baby or worse.

If it all possible avoid placing the crib near the window. As your baby grows into a toddler and s/he attempts to climb out of the crib; s/he could possibly fall which could cause serious injury to your baby.

Blankets and your baby are not necessarily a good mix. If you absolutely have to have a blanket on the baby, tuck it tightly around and under the foot of the mattress with your baby's feet touching the footboard.  Make sure too that the mattress properly fits in the crib. The mattress should fit snugly in the crib.  Now the sheets you use in your baby's crib should also fit properly and not slip and slide.  The position of the mattress is imperative for your child's safety. As your baby becomes more active you will want to lower the mattress accordingly. Once your baby is able to pull up to a standing position put the mattress in the lowest possible position and to be sure your baby is safe, measure the distance between the top of the side bar and the mattress.  If your child's head is over the side bar or they climb out of the crib, it maybe time to move your child to a regular bed. Some cribs are convertible into beds tat will grow with your child.

The crib itself should be looked over for things that might put your baby at risk. The simpler the design of the crib the safer your child may be.

Baby Cribs - Finding The Right One

Before you go looking at baby cribs you should determine your budget.
 
The crib must meet government standards. Safety concerns include the mattress. Drop sides on a crib is very convenient and is probably the most used feature on any crib.  Most parents opt for a single drop down sided crib that allows them to easily lift baby out of the crib and to place him in the crib. This is especially convenient if your crib is placed against the wall. Double drop down sided cribs are a popular option among those parents who have room to place the crib so it’s not against the wall.

The knee push sides may be the most common type available.  Another common type is the foot bar. You squeeze the triggers and then the side will drop. The wheels on a crib are a great asset because it makes the crib easier to move to clean under or retrieve dropped toys as well as changing bedding. There are adjustable mattress heights available on all cribs with the exception of the cheapest models of cribs. Single height mattress is not a safe choice because as your child grows the mattress should be lowered to prevent him from climbing out of the crib or toppling out of the crib.




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