Congratulations! You? ve got a baby on the way!
Once your child has arrived, probably one of the most essential elements of your brand-new life together will undoubtedly be getting a good night? s sleep? you in your bed, the infant in a safe and comfortable crib. At first, you may want your newborn to settle a bassinet by your bed, rendering it a little easier for breastfeeding moms, but have a crib ready by the time your baby can roll over.
Your child will save money time in the Convertible Crib Cherry than anywhere else, so safety is very important. What makes a crib safe?
The bars or slats of the crib railing should be no more than 2-3/8″ apart, close enough together to stop your baby? s head from slipping through or getting stuck. That crib in the attic may be a beautiful antique, nonetheless it probably will not meet this safety standard. Secondhand older cribs may also have splinters or lead paint as well as slats which are too far apart.
Cribs with cutout designs along the rail might look pretty, but your baby? s arm or neck could get stuck in them.
The crib must be sturdy. Your son or daughter will sleep in a crib until it? s time to move into a normal bed between the ages of 2 and 3. When shopping for the crib, give it a good shake to see if it wobbles or rattles.
Construction materials should be stained or painted hardwoods like maple, ash, beech or oak. The use of inferior woods could weaken or warp the slats. Some metal cribs are also very sturdy and secure. All finish materials should be lead free and non-toxic.
For safety, the dropsides should be at least 9″ above the mattress support when lowered. When the side is raised, the top must be at the very least 26″ above the support at its lowest position. You should have no trouble quietly raising and lowering the side rail easily with one hand, since chances are you? ll have a sleeping baby in your arms.
Make things just a little easier on your back by choosing a crib having an adjustable height mattress. A new baby can rest higher in the crib, while a baby who is able to sit up needs a lower mattress so he can? t climb out. It is possible to change the height of most mattresses simply by raising or lowering the mattress support.
Check always the hardware on the crib for sharp edges or points or other things that could hurt your child.
The mattress should fit snugly in to the crib. When you can fit two fingers between the side of the mattress and the crib, it is too small. Keep an eye on foam mattresses; over time, they may break down at the edges and leave gaps. Always check the mattress support to make sure there are safety clips that lock the hangers to their notches.
Use nonflammable and hypoallergenic bumper padding attached to the within railings of the crib to cushion all sides and stop your child from sticking an arm or leg through the railings. Securely fasten the bumper pads to the sides of the crib in at the very least six places. Be sure to remove bumper pads whenever your baby becomes more active.
Follow assembly instructions vigilantly. Periodically tighten all nuts, bolts, and screws and check always teething rails for cracks. Check the mattress support hooks regularly.
Don? t place a crib against a window, near curtains or drapery cords, or near furniture that could help your baby climb out.
Crib toys have to be removed from the crib when baby is sleeping. And remove mobiles when baby is able to grab at objects.
Federal safety guidelines went in to effect in 1973, but only since 1991 do most cribs meet all mandatory safety standards (16CFR part 1508) as set by The buyer Services and products Safety Commission (CPSC) and the voluntary standards (ASTM F966 and F1169) as set by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). The Juvenile Products Manufacturers? Association (JPMA) certifies cribs that meet up with the safety standards.
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