Baby Cribs – The Importance of Safety

You have just learned that you are expecting a baby. Even if you have other children, you must take a look at cribs. Is the crib you already have an antique? You should look carefully at your second hand crib whether it is an antique or not.

The safety of your new baby makes this necessary. The screws and/or other fasteners such as bolts must be in place and not loose. It is of the utmost importance that this is tested before you place your baby in the crib.

Take something that is almost equal to your 4-month-old baby’s weight. In order to be certain that it will hold its position bounce it off the mattress. If it doesn’t your baby could be hurt seriously or worse. When you set up your nursery, if it isn’t set-up already, seriously consider where you will place your crib.

If you have to place the crib near a window with Venetian blinds, you can either shorten the cords or anchor them to prevent your baby from reaching and getting hold of them. Avoid, if possible placing the crib near the window. As your baby grows into a toddler and begins to climb out of the crib, s/he could become seriously injured in a fall.

Blankets are not necessarily a good idea to use with your baby. Be sure that you avoid anything that could put your baby at risk, especially in the light of SIDS incidents today. The most advisable way to put your baby to bed is in a blanket sleeper.

Make sure to tuck the blanket tightly around and under the foot of the mattress with you baby’s feet touching the footboard if you must have a blanket on your baby. You also want to help prevent your baby from sliding under the blanket and suffocating by not putting the blanket any higher than his chest.

There is a risk of your baby slipping between the mattress and the bumper pads causing suffocation, if bumper pads, which are a great concept, are not secured properly. Bumper pads if used should be fastened in each of the four corners and evenly spaced on each of the two sides. There should be sixteen ties in all, eight for the top and eight for the bottom.

Although mobiles are nice additions you need to take a precaution to prevent your baby from getting entangled in it. It must be removed when your baby starts sitting up by himself. You must also check to see if there are small parts that are removable that your baby could choke on.

No matter is your crib is second hand or one you had for a previous child, or you got it from someone else, the mattress must by checked out carefully. The mattress covering should be checked for any holes or cracks.

The mattress must fit in the crib properly. Your baby could slip between the mattress and side or end bars and suffocate if you are not careful. The mattress should be snug in the crib. The sheets you use in your baby crib should fit properly and not slip and slide.

There are sheet hooks available that attach to the sheet under the mattress and keep it in place. Placing the mattress in the proper position is extremely important to your baby’s safety. When the baby comes home most parents put the mattress in the highest position because it is easier to reach the baby and change him.

Lower the mattress according to the growth and activity of your baby. If your baby can come to a standing position in the crib the mattress should be put in the lowest position and to add to his safety you should measure the distance between the mattress and the top of the sidebar.

There should be no more than 26 inches from the top of the side bar to the mattress when it is in the lowest position. Moving your child to a regular bed might be a good idea if your child is climbing out of the crib or his head is above the side bar.

There are convertible cribs that become beds and grow with your child. Inspect your child’s crib to be sure there is nothing that will put your baby at risk. The ornate designs carved into the end boards of cribs are beautiful but could pose a hazard to your child. Have you seen them?

Your child could be injured if his head, arm, or leg get caught in them and possibly sustain an injury. A simpler design may increase your child’s safety. Safety guidelines from 1974 for cribs state that slats should be no more than 2 and 3/8th inches apart; to keep your baby from getting his head caught between the slats.

Your baby’s safety could be compromised if getting stuck caused him injury and necessitating the removal of some slats.

Baby Crib Safety Concerns

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.

Q. Are there safety standards for baby cribs?

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.

Important Safety Measures When Buying a Baby Crib

Having a baby at home is definitely a blessing. However, there are many things you need to consider and provide for your baby. Baby supplies are very important items that you and your baby will be using in everyday living. You need clothes, feeding bottles and supplies, wipes, furniture and many others. This seem to be an overwhelming when you soon realize that you have to deal with everything you need for such a small person. Indeed, preparing for these items can cost a lot for the parents. However, there are affordable choices if you are really on a tight budget. You can go to many places that sell second hand baby items, or you can even purchase them from garage sales. Many of these items will still be in good shape, though, you can find other great deal also.

Many parents today are looking for less expensive items for their little ones. These essentials may probably found anywhere, except maybe with diapers and wipes, but the rest can be sold secondhand. Although secondhand products are far more cheaper than brand news, it is always best to baby crib that hasn’t been used. Remember, your baby will spend a lot of time in his or her crib.

Safety Standards

1. The safety standards of baby furniture, particularly cribs, have changed over the years. This means, if you have an older crib then it may not meet today’s safety standards. For instance, the crib rail need to meet today’s measurement requirements. In case the rails are too far from each other, the child may get his head stuck between the bars. Also, there should be enough space between the top of the rail and the top of the crib mattress, this is to avoid the child from climbing over the railing and falling out.

2. A crib should have a bumper to prevent the baby from getting hurt on the rails. It should be made of soft fabric to protect your child. Whether your child is rolling over the bumps, his or her head won’t get hurt that bad. It also prevent your child from getting his or her head stuck between the bars. Even though it is designed to protect your child, you still need to make sure it is secured to the crib properly to avoid suffocation. Otherwise, if the bumper is too loose the child might get entangled by it and suffocate his or herself.

3. Today, there are lots of cribs that were sold with bedding, making them crib bedding set. These sets usually come with matching blankets and pillows to match the bumper and crib sheet. However, these items can pose a risk of suffocation for your little one. The same as the bumper, your child might become entangled in the blanket and may get it wrapped around his or head or other body parts and cause an injury or suffocation. Pillows may also cause hurt to your baby’s neck, or a pillow may cause suffocation also if it ends up on your baby’s face.

So, for those who would like to welcome the upcoming newborn child with crib bedding set, following safety standards won’t hurt you. Make sure of checking first the structure of the crib and its materials. If you want, you can also purchase other baby items to include in your crib set like baby toy, few clothing, bottles, baby books as well as few surprises for the new parents.

Antique baby Cribs Safety

Antique baby cribs are really beautiful to look at and a really nice decorative item in a baby nursery but are they safe for the baby to use? The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is an agency of the U.S. government charged with protecting the public from dangers associated with consumer products, including cribs. On the website there is a guideline to which types of cribs they recommend and which ones most likely to pose as a hazard.

Antique cribs need to be assessed for before you can feel it’s safe to allow the baby to sleep in it. Firstly the mattress should fit the crib tightly as a loose mattress will let the baby slip between the crib and the mattress and can cause suffocation. Check that the crib bars are not too wide as there is a danger of the baby getting his head caught in the bars. Also make sure the safety latches are not too loose and are in good working condition as the side bars can come loose and fall down causing injury to the infant.

Drop side cribs and second hand cribs are an area of concern. When a crib is assembled and reassembled a number of times the wear and tear on the frame itself can cause the safety of the cot to be compromised. Latches can become loose overtime from years of continual use and crib parts can go missing from reassembling a lot and this can also compromise the safety of the crib. Remember purchasing a new baby crib from the store is always the safest but if you insist on using a sentimental piece that has been handed down then check on the CPSC website for safety guidelines and tips.

Tips on Baby Crib Safety

If you’re a mom or dad, no doubt you’ll do anything to protect your baby. One of the places your baby spends a lot of time is in her baby crib.

You may feel at ease that your little one is safe in her crib, but think again. There is some information you should know about baby crib safety to be sure your little one is safe.

If the crib is older, get it modified to updated crib safety standards, or get a new one.

Having your baby use the same crib you used, or possible even your parents used is very sentimental. Family treasures are wonderful, however, not the best choice when it comes to baby crib safety. These older cribs might have dangers in them that have been corrected in the newer models.

For instance, it would not be uncommon for an old wood crib to be painted with lead based paint, splintering because of it’s age, or the space between the slats is to wide. This should sound the danger signal.

So if you have an old crib that was given to you by a well-meaning neighbor, friend, family member, or if you picked it up from a thrift store or a garage sale, make sure you have it checked out for safety. If you can’t have this done, then toss it and get a new one that’s up to current crib safety standards. Always better to be safe than sorry.

Avoid plush, soft bedding.

When bed time comes, using a firm mattress, place your baby on her back. Don’t use blankets to cover her, or pillows to cushion her, however the room should be kept warm enough so that blankets will not be necessary.

Mobiles need to be out of baby’s reach.

Using mobiles are great for learning, as long as your baby is not yet capable of sitting up, reaching, or grabbing. When your child is able to do these things, make certain the mobile is out of reach so she doesn’t grab it and yank it down on herself.

Doing so could mean your child risks choking on small parts or strangling on strings or cords. Once your child is active enough to be able to reach and “play with” the mobile, it should be removed.

These few baby crib safety tips could be the difference between a peaceful rest or a ride in the ambulance.

Baby Cribs Safety Tips for Young Moms

Baby Cribs Safety Tips

Crib Design

Dispose of antique baby cribs with decorative cutouts, corner posts or lead paint. The space between the slats should be no more than 2-3/8 inches apart to prevent infants from getting their head stuck between them. Cribs manufactured after 1974 must meet this and other strict safety standards. The corner posts should be the same height as the end panels or less than 1/16 of an inch higher than the end panels.

No cut-out areas on the headboard or foot board so a baby’s head cannot get trapped. The top rails of crib sides, in their raised position, should be at least 26 inches above the top of the mattress support at its lowest position.

As soon as the child can pull himself to a standing position, set and keep the mattress at its lowest position. Stop using the crib once the height of the top rails is less than three-fourths of the child’s height.

Mattress

The mattress should fit snugly next to the crib so that there is no gap. If two adult fingers can be placed between the mattress and the crib, the mattress should be immediately replaced. Do not use plastic packaging materials, such as dry cleaning bags, as mattress covers. Plastic film can cling to children’s faces and should never be in or near the crib.

Put your baby to sleep on his or her back or side in a crib with a firm, flat mattress and no soft bedding underneath. Talk to your pediatrician about which sleeping position is best for you child.

Crib Hardware

The drop side(s) of the crib should require two distinct actions or a minimum force of ten pounds with one action to release the latch or the locks to prevent accidental release by the child.

The crib hardware should be checked for disengaged, broken, bent or loose pieces. Special checks should be made of the mattress support hangers and brackets so they cannot drop. The hardware and the crib should be smooth and free of sharp edges, points and rough surfaces.

Crib Accessories

Bumper pads should cover the entire inside perimeter of the crib and tie or snap in place. Bumper pads should have at least six straps or ties and any excess length of straps or ties should be cut off. Bumper pads should never be used in lieu of proper spacing between the slats and should be removed from the crib as soon as the child can pull himself to a standing position.

Teething rails that are damaged should be fixed, replaced or removed immediately. To prevent possible entanglement, mobiles and crib gyms, which are meant to be hung over or across the crib, should be removed when the child is five months old or when he begins to push up onto hands and knees or can pull himself up. Keep the crib clear of plastic sheets, pillows, and large stuffed animals or toys. These can be suffocation hazards or can enable youngsters to climb out of the crib. Any cloth or vinyl items that are loose or torn should be replaced or repaired immediately.

Crib Environment

Do not place crib next to a window. Drapery and blind cords pose an entanglement hazard and window screens are not intended to keep a child in, only insects out. Install smoke detectors. Follow the manufacturer’s directions for placement. Check at least once a month to make sure battery and smoke detector are in good working condition.

Baby Crib Safety – the essentials

The crib next to the changing table is one of the most important things that any expectant mother ought to gear themselves with. It have to be a place of comfort and safety because the kid will most likely spend most of their time in this equipment both during his sleeping and play times. The government on the other hand identifies the importance of the crib to every infant thus they set the manufacturing standards of 1973 that had largely improve the rules of crib safety , thus one can expect that each crib in US is safe. The irony is baby crib safety is a thing that mothers should take a deeper look because it continue to be linked with child injury. An estimate of 50 infants in every year are killed and a  sum of about  9,000 are injured due to crib related accidents in United States.

If you are an expectant mom who would like to shop for a fool proof crib then there are top three things that you must take for in account : safety, safety, and safety! The moment when you found the right one that will give the safety that you are searching , then that would only be the   moment to think about the secondary factors which emphasize the form, color, and style. But nevertheless, safety and security must still be in the top most concern.

Aside from the crib itself, baby crib safety also allows mother to look at the mattresses and the covers employed within the crib. The two most important factors in every mattress are the fit and firmness. A firm one is wanted as to lessen the danger given by suffocation. If you have something which is excessively  soft then you will only permit the mouth of the infant to be submerged within the fabric , thus breathing may be obstructed . This could lead to extreme drowsiness, coma or God forbid but it can even lead to death. In fact, soft mattresses are mostly the reason for deaths that which were attributed to SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome ).

To make certain baby crib safety regarding the mattress size , choose one which can fit snuggly into the side of the crib. A mattress which is not rightly fitted can bring great perils because an infant may crawl beneath it and once more lead to suffocation. Keep in mind that the majority of the babies are too weak to even bring themselves out of the mattress.

There are also accessories that you can mount to improve baby crib safety like the bumper pad which is a elastic cushion that can with no trouble be fitted within the crib in order to prevent your kid from hitting his soft and delicate head into the crib bar. As much as possible, secure all the bumper pads and cut the strings to the shortest possible length after being tied to prevent the trouble given by strangulation. in addition, do not place your crib in the middle of big furniture since they can wedge your child in between  , and this will of course cause risk on baby crib safety. The similar thing may happen if you put it against your wall. Do not also locate your crib near the window drapery because it may fall over the crib. Indeed, baby crib safety should be given considerable attention by parents.

Baby Crib Bedding Sets And The Safety Concerns When Arranging Your Baby Nursery

First time mothers never forget planning and buying all the necessities for their baby nursery. It’s such a wonderful and memorable time in their lives. However, one of the most important decisions new mothers make is the baby crib bedding set and the safety concerns when choosing one. New or expectant parents should educate themselves on all matters concerning safety before even considering the purchase of nursery items. 

Choosing a firm mattress with tight sheets prevents the newborn from being uncomfortable. As well, never put too many pillows, stuffed animals, toys, or similar items in the crib while the baby is tucked into bed. These are a cause for concern for babies that nibble on things a lot since it could get caught in their mouth. Blankets should never cover the baby’s head, it’s always best to place the arms on top of the blankets to prevent your baby from covering his or her head as well.

New parents should make sure they buy a standard size crib to make sure they bedding will fit properly. Most crib bedding is sized to fit a standard crib, so this will make things easy for you. The fabric should be durable, yet soft to the touch and comfortable for the baby to sleep on for 18 hours a day. Yes, babies under one year of age sleep the vast majority of the time, so a comfortable bedding set will save you from many trips to the nursery to tend to your crying baby. 

Buying a bedding set is favorable to buying separates when it comes to color coordinating the nursery. Not to mention the choice is made much easier. Just remember that the baby crib bedding set will give the room a base look and feel to work with when decorating.  Don’t be overwhelmed the choice of nursery decorations, and just stick to your budget while buying only the necessities if needed. You can always make additions in the coming months after your newborn is introduced to his or her new home.

The Safety Of Crib Baby Bumpers And Baby Crib Furniture

A very common safety concern when parents consider how to set up their baby crib furniture bedding is whether or not to use crib baby bumpers.

When it comes to this style of bedding for baby crib furniture, a 2005 study by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission regarding crib baby bumpers found that over 20 years, from 1985 to 2005, twenty-seven children aged one month to two years suffocated or were strangled by crib baby bumper pads or bumper pad ties. Aside from deaths, the study also found that there were a total of twenty-five injuries caused by bumpers or their ties.

What the study doesn’t make clear are the circumstances of those injuries or deaths caused by crib baby bumpers, and whether they might have been related to how the child was positioned for sleep, their general strength or whether they suffered from underlying medical conditions. Considering that twenty seven deaths over twenty years indicates one or two incidents a year, the possibility that other factors could have been involved in these cases is strong.

Most parents today now understand that there are many safety concerns regarding older baby crib furniture, such as slots that are too large and might allow the baby’s head to slip through, resulting in serious injury or death. However, when it comes to finding bedding for baby crib furniture, the safety concerns of the “professionals” sometimes seem a bit overboard. Newer baby crib furniture is manufactured with ultimate safety in mind, with slots that are now too small for a baby’s head to pass through.

The study, which analyzed three U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission databases for deaths related to crib bumper and crib-related injuries from 1985 to 2005, found that 27 children from 1 month to 2 years old died from suffocation or strangulation related to bumper pads or their ties. The study also found 25 nonfatal injuries attributed to bumpers. Crib baby bumpers also come in styles that have certain features with safety in mind as well. Most have ties that are on the outside of the crib that get tied onto the baby crib furniture post, and the only case where you wouldn’t want to use a crib baby bumper is where the child is so frail and weak that they can not even roll themselves around inside the crib. New parents have enough to worry about, and crib baby bumper safety should not be one.

For more information about styles and safety of baby crib furniture, please visit http://babycribfurniture.info.

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