How to Stop a Baby from Getting Foot Stuck in Crib

If your baby is waking up at night from getting his or her foot, leg, or arm stuck in between bars in the crib, read on to find out how I solved this problem with my baby without having to spend a lot of money on a new crib accessory.

When my baby was about four months old, we moved him from the bassinet to the crib. His nighttime appetite was waning, but he couldn’t seem to get comfortable and sleep through the night. He was very squirmy and would often get his foot stuck in the crib. I stopped using the bumper because I heard that a bumper can be a safety hazard. It is not breathable if a baby’s face gets on the bumper, it can be a strangulation hazard if the strings that tie on the bumper are too long, and it can be used for climbing up on when the baby is bigger.

I started to research the products available for this type of problem. There is a crib tent, but that costs more than $50 unless, of course, it is used. A crib tent can be useful for a toddler who wants to climb out of the crib. There are also various “breathable” bumpers, but these usually cost at least $25.

I found a method that solved my problem, saved me money, and allowed my baby to sleep through the night. Follow the steps below for an economical and effective way of stopping your baby from getting his or her feet or legs stuck in the crib.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A crib
• Mesh grip shelf liner
• Scissors

1. 
    

   Measure the height of the crib railing and the total length of the parameter of the crib railing. It doesn’t need to be exact, just close enough to give you a rough idea of how much surface you need to cover.

2. 
    

   Go to a local store that sells shelf liners. Personally, I went to Wal-Mart because that is usually the least expensive store in my area. The idea is to find a breathable and sturdy material. Look for a mesh shelf liner that is meant to grip the surface it is on. It will have lots of little holes and will feel like a material between plastic and rubber.
   
   The liners should come in various colors and various widths and lengths. Make sure the width is less than, but at least half of, the height of your crib railing. For example, if the railing is three feet high, you will probably want to by a mesh lining that is two feet wide. Make sure the total length is longer than the parameter of your crib by at least 24 inches to be safe. Once you select the desired shelf liner, you may have to purchase a couple of rolls or a large economy size roll to get the desired length. The total amount of mesh liner I purchased cost me around $10, give or take a couple dollars.

3. 
    

   The final task is to wrap the liner around the crib railing. To make it easier, you may want to first remove the mattress from the crib. You want the liner to be installed tightly, not loosely, to help ensure that the baby cannot get his or her foot stuck or pull off the liner.
   
   Begin by unrolling and stretching out the liner length wise. Take one end of the liner and begin wrapping it around one corner of the crib. Make sure the bottom of the liner is near the bottom of the railing. It does not have to be all the way on the bottom, but it should fall below the top of the mattress. As you wrap the liner around the corner, pull it tightly and make sure it wraps all the way around the corner so that the liner meets and grips on itself.
   
   Proceed to slowly wrap the liner around the crib by continuing to pull it tight, making sure it is straight, and weaving it in and out of every few bars. Weaving the liner in the railing will help keep it tight and in place. Once you reach the final bar that precedes the first corner that you wrapped, allow for an extra six inches to one foot of length in liner, and cut off the excess liner with scissors.
   
   Weave the last bit of liner back in the opposite direction from which you were weaving. Note that there will be one open space between the corner and one bar, but the odds of your baby’s foot getting stuck in this one spot are slim. From this point on, your baby should no longer be getting stuck in the railing!

Tips & Warnings

• Pick a color of shelf liner that blends well with your décor. Since I had white molding and pastel colors in my nursery, white liner looked the best.
• Once your baby is big enough and smart enough to undo the shelf liner, he or she will probably also be smart enough to not get stuck or pull out a stuck foot or limb!
• Be sure to check that your crib has not been recalled or is not too old to be safe. For example, there should be no more than 2 3/8 inches between each bar to prevent your baby getting his or her head or body between the bars. You can find out information about crib safety through the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). See the link under Resources below.

Resources

• CPSC

[kaldrich88]

on 7/28/2009 great picture! good article on how to stop a baby from getting his foot stuck in the crib! 5*

[Rockney]

on 2/26/2009 Great ideas! 5*!

[healthymomof5]

on 2/25/2009 Great idea! It's so scary when they get their limbs stuck and you think you're never going to get them out. 5*

[AdirondackTrina]

on 2/25/2009 I've read that as many as 85% crib deaths were actually suffocation...this is a great idea, and might be a life-saver! Ü

[jaredsgirl]

on 2/22/2009 Great article. I've heard horror stories about babies getting their foot or feet stuck in the crib. I'm going to pass this on to my friends who have infants. Thanks! 5*