Five Star Safety - Baby Cribs

Baby Cribs

When you're having your first child, there are a lot of baby safety products you're going to need like a stroller, a car seat, a baby monitor and a high chair, just to get started. One of the most important things you'll need is a baby crib, but you need to know how to determine if the one you're buying (or using, if it's a hand-me-down) is safe.

Characteristics of Safe Baby Cribs

Babies sleep--a lot! While it's true that they sleep in a lot of places (car seats, strollers, carriers, Pack-N-Plays, etc.) ideally they'll sleep in baby cribs most of the time. Because of this, you need to make sure your baby crib is safe. If you're a first-time parent, you may not know what to look for when it comes to shopping for baby cribs.

First of all, the crib has to be sturdy and stable. It shouldn't be at all wobbly. By the time your baby can stand up, he might grab the crib bars and try to shake it to get out. If the crib is wobbly, he could turn it over and get hurt. Speaking of crib bars, make sure they are no more than 2 3/8 inches apart so the baby doesn't get a body part stuck in between the bars. Nobody wants that.

In addition, the sides of the crib must be adjustable. One side of the crib usually drops, but it also locks into place when not in use. Make sure the lock works well so the side doesn't drop when it shouldn't, leaving the baby open to falling out.

Of course, you want your baby's bedroom to be attractive. You'll probably get a lot of baby blankets for your baby at your baby shower, and you might be tempted to buy cute baby bedding. But when it comes to bedding, all your baby needs is a fitted sheet on the mattress (knit ones are nice for the baby) and one light blanket. Babies don't need pillows or a heavy blanket--in fact, these can post a hazard. Also, make sure there are no toys in the crib.

Finally, you want to be sure the crib mattress fits snugly into the crib. There shouldn't be space between the mattress edges and the crib. A baby could get his head in there and suffocate.

As with all baby safety products, do some research before you buy so you know what safety concerns there are or what makes one baby safety product better than another.