How to Secure Your Baby’s Crib

Many people buy used cribs or they are given antique cribs from family members. Years ago there weren’t many safety guidelines in place to protect consumers. It takes very little time or effort to make sure that your baby’s crib (new or used) is really safe. Follow these simple steps to ensure that baby is safe so that mom and dad can sleep like a baby too.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. You can check for consumer recalls on cribs by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission at their Web site (see Resources). If the crib is on this list, there are instructions to follow there.

2. Check the crib’s structure on a regular basis to keep it safe. Crib slats need to be less than 2 3/8 inches apart so that the baby’s body cannot fit partway through the slats and get caught. Make sure that the slats aren’t loose or broken–—fix or replace these before use. Corner posts should be no taller than 1/16 of an inch higher than the rails. If they are, take them off. Cribs with cutout designs present a terrible strangulation hazard and should never be used.

3. Check for loose and missing hardware and make sure that mattress support hangers are all connected securely. Replace screws that can’t be tightened. If any staples were used, they need to be tight and in place. Missing hardware has caused cribs to come apart or mattresses to sag and more than 50 babies per year are killed by faulty crib construction.

4. Check older, painted cribs for lead-based paint. Repaint cribs with enamel paint in a well ventilated area. Make sure the crib is dry and free of fumes before you use it. Check older cribs very carefully for cracked, splintered or chipped wood and sand or repair. Check to see that side rails close securely and can’t be pried opened by little fingers.

5. The mattress must fit your crib. It should be firm–—nothing soft enough for baby to roll about on. It must fit very snugly along all sides and corners, with no more than 2-finger-width room between the mattress and sides. Never cover the mattress with plastic bags or sheets of plastic as these have been known to cause smothering deaths in infants. Never use anything in your baby’s crib except sheets that are made for cribs which fit snugly and won’t pull up at the sides or corners.

6. Take all soft bedding and pillows out of the crib. One study estimated that 30 percent of all SIDS death took place in cribs that had soft bedding and, if that’s even a minor factor, it’s worth paying attention to. Use a baby sleeper or a thin baby blanket if necessary. Infant pillows or cushions have factored in many infant deaths and should not be used at all. Take out all toys, pillows and stuffed animals from the crib when baby is in it.

7. Make sure that rattles and crib toys are big and firm and cannot fit inside the baby’s mouth. Toys with removable eyes, squeakers or small, removable or breakable parts should be removed. Anything that fits inside a toilet paper roll is too small to be around your baby (or toddler).

8. Bumper pads should fit the crib exactly all the way around so there’s no gaping. Tie the pads tightly and trim away any excess after tying. If snaps are used, make sure they are all snapped in place. Remove these when the baby is 5 months old.

9. Keep such things as strings, cords, ribbons and ties away from the crib entirely. Window blind strings and curtain ties are the leading cause of infant strangulations. Tie them far up out of the way if the crib is near a window. Tie down devices are available for this purpose where baby supplies are sold. Don’t tie chains, cords, ribbons, pacifiers or bibs on your baby (in the crib or out). Avoid using mini-hammocks as millions have been recalled for causing a strangulation hazard. Above the crib, toys should be well out of reach and secure with no strings or cords on them. When baby is 5 months old, crib gyms and similar toys should be removed from the crib.

10. When baby can stand up, put mattress in the lowest position and remove all bumper pads and large toys that can be climbed on. Babies 35” long are too big to be in a crib.

11. Making your baby’s world safe and secure is every parent’s responsibility. Following these few simple steps will safeguard your baby against crib accidents and deaths.
    
    

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid crib clutter–—baby and one thin blanket is safest. Keep anything with cords far from the crib.
• Make sure that the crib is structurally sound with regular checks. All bedding and bumper pads must fit the crib exactly with no gapping or excess fabric.

[susu7]

on 2/25/2008 HI Speedy Max - thank you. I appreciate you taking the time to comment! Look for the other articles mentioned in the post above about baby topics! God bless, Sheila

[susu7]

on 2/25/2008 Hello injoy and congratulations on your new bundle of injoy! I'm so glad I could help you. I have other articles on How to Teach Your Child about Strangers, How to Choose a Day Care, How to Baby Proof Your Home, How to Survive Baby's First Bathtub Bath, and How to Protect Your Child From Pedophiles and Sexual Abuse. There are also articles on how to protect yourself and your home. I appreciate your kind comments! God bless and good luck with your new baby! Sheila

[Speedy-Max]

on 2/23/2008 Very informative article.

[injoy]

on 2/22/2008 Really informative article! (I'm expecting my first in 6.5 weeks.) I think also that the crib regulations were last revised in '82 or '83, which might give folks peace of mind as far as the slats if they know their used crib is newer than that!

[topper]

on 11/21/2007 Great article, my neice has a new born. God Bless you :)