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Cribs and Cradles
Cribs
Once the baby has outgrown his cradle, bassinet, or basket, it's time to move to a crib. Cribs have been under strict safety regulations since the 1980s, so you can rest assured that any new crib you buy in the United States will be safe. Here are the basic safety requirements, as stated by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
- Crib slats should be no more than 2 3?8" apart; make sure none is missing, loose, or cracked.
- The mattress should fit snugly (no more than two adult finger-widths should fit between the mattress and the crib's side).
- The mattress support should be firmly attached to both head and foot boards. Corner posts should be no more than 1?16" high.
- The head and foot boards should not have cutouts, which allow entrapment.
- The side-release latches should not be operable by the baby, and should securely hold the sides in the raised position.
- All hardware should be present and tight.
- No soft bedding -- comforters, pillows, sheepskins -- should be placed in the crib.
- The baby should be put to sleep on his back.
A few other things to look for: Is the crib sturdy or wobbly? Give it a few good pushes. If you are buying a metal bed, examine the welding closely, and run your hand over it -- any sharp edges? Are the casters sturdy, and do they lock in place -- or are they removable? (Active toddlers sometimes like to make their cribs "walk" across the room.)
Is the mattress support sturdy, and does it allow for air circulation? Some cribs have only vinyl straps or even cardboard supports; wood slats are sturdy, but offer little give; spring coils are a nice choice, and will be appreciated during the years of jumping on the bed.
Look at and ask about the finish. Luckily, lead paint was phased out in the late '70s (you shouldn't even consider using a crib of that vintage or earlier, even if it is a family heirloom). Still, the finish should be nontoxic and not prone to chipping. The more coats of nontoxic lacquer a crib has, the more gracefully it will take its inevitable beating.
Next, how does the side-release mechanism work? Some require the use of two hands spread an adult's arm-span apart, making it impossible for a baby or child to release. The downside to this type is that you can't operate it with a baby in your arms. Many cribs are moving to the lift-with-one-hand, push-with-knee action. This keeps one arm free for holding the baby, and the hardware is either invisible or minimally visible. The potential downside: a good-size sibling could open this without too much trouble.
Popular for years, and still found on some models, is the foot-release bar, which you press down with one foot while lowering the crib rail with one arm. This mechanism is falling out of favor, as the spring-loaded hardware is both visible and sometimes noisy, and too easy for even small kids to trigger. Less safe is the fold-down crib railing, which can pinch fingers (even limbs), and provide a foothold for babies to launch themselves out of the crib.
Once the baby has outgrown his cradle, bassinet, or basket, it's time to move to a crib. Cribs have been under strict safety regulations since the 1980s, so you can rest assured that any new crib you buy in the United States will be safe. Here are the basic safety requirements, as stated by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
- Crib slats should be no more than 2 3?8" apart; make sure none is missing, loose, or cracked.
- The mattress should fit snugly (no more than two adult finger-widths should fit between the mattress and the crib's side).
- The mattress support should be firmly attached to both head and foot boards. Corner posts should be no more than 1?16" high.
- The head and foot boards should not have cutouts, which allow entrapment.
- The side-release latches should not be operable by the baby, and should securely hold the sides in the raised position.
- All hardware should be present and tight.
- No soft bedding -- comforters, pillows, sheepskins -- should be placed in the crib.
- The baby should be put to sleep on his back.
A few other things to look for: Is the crib sturdy or wobbly? Give it a few good pushes. If you are buying a metal bed, examine the welding closely, and run your hand over it -- any sharp edges? Are the casters sturdy, and do they lock in place -- or are they removable? (Active toddlers sometimes like to make their cribs "walk" across the room.)
Is the mattress support sturdy, and does it allow for air circulation? Some cribs have only vinyl straps or even cardboard supports; wood slats are sturdy, but offer little give; spring coils are a nice choice, and will be appreciated during the years of jumping on the bed.
Look at and ask about the finish. Luckily, lead paint was phased out in the late '70s (you shouldn't even consider using a crib of that vintage or earlier, even if it is a family heirloom). Still, the finish should be nontoxic and not prone to chipping. The more coats of nontoxic lacquer a crib has, the more gracefully it will take its inevitable beating.
Next, how does the side-release mechanism work? Some require the use of two hands spread an adult's arm-span apart, making it impossible for a baby or child to release. The downside to this type is that you can't operate it with a baby in your arms. Many cribs are moving to the lift-with-one-hand, push-with-knee action. This keeps one arm free for holding the baby, and the hardware is either invisible or minimally visible. The potential downside: a good-size sibling could open this without too much trouble.
Popular for years, and still found on some models, is the foot-release bar, which you press down with one foot while lowering the crib rail with one arm. This mechanism is falling out of favor, as the spring-loaded hardware is both visible and sometimes noisy, and too easy for even small kids to trigger. Less safe is the fold-down crib railing, which can pinch fingers (even limbs), and provide a foothold for babies to launch themselves out of the crib.
