Once you have a baby or expecting one, the thought of getting a crib comes to mind. The perfect place for your baby to sleep is in a crib. But you may have already read or heard of the drop in the sales of side cribs because of the report that they are primarily responsible for the deaths of many infants who died as a result of suffocation after being caught in the space between the side rail and the mattress. While this is true, this usually happens when the drop-side is faulty and ends up creating a space where the mattress separates from the crib.
It is such a sad incident for anyone to lose a child. And however we may see cribs, they remain the safest and best place you can lay your baby.
In order to avoid such sad occurrences, here are some measures you should take when it comes to your baby’s crib.
Safety tips to observe
- Look out for the JMPA (Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association) certification when selecting a crib. When assembling the crib, do well to strictly follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Make sure the spindles or slats have a space of not more than 2 3/8 inches apart.
- Always lay down your baby on his back and never on his tummy to avoid the risk of suffocation. If you must, make sure you are watching over the baby or that the baby is able to roll and turn on his own. Avoid using blankets when covering babies as some of them can get entangled in it and suffocate in the process. When trying to keep baby warm, it is better to go with warm clothing like warm pajamas, blanket sleeper, or a lightweight knitted cloth that allows air to pass through.
- When considering safety tips in selecting and handling a crib, it’s essential to understand when should toddlers stop napping for their overall well-being.
- Check the drop sides to be sure your baby cannot release it by himself. And periodically check for any damage and discontinue using the crib if you find one until it is fixed. After moving the crib, make sure the nuts and other hardware like the screws and bolts are well tightened. Ensure that the hangers supporting the mattress are quite secure. If the hook is at anytime bent or broken, get it fixed immediately so that the mattress will not fall.
- When buying a crib, go for a tight-fitting, breathable and firm mattress. You can check a good list from mattress1000 here. If you are making use of an old crib, you should endeavor to check the width of the slats to be sure it fits the mattress. The slats in your bassinet or crib shouldn’t be more than 2 3/8 inches farther apart. Do not leave your baby with a bottle in the crib unsupervised to avoid them choking when they fall asleep with it. Choose a mattress that is specifically made for cribs so that it will match it perfectly.
- Do not use any hardware in repairing your crib order than the one recommended by the manufacturer. Big quilts, pillows, toys and other big objects should not be kept in the crib so that it doesn’t pose a danger to your baby.
- Avoid cribs with corner posts that are 1/16 inches above its end panels. The exception is when such is over 16 inches high so that it can support the canopy. When your baby’s cloth is caught on the crib’s corner post, the baby can get strangled. Older babies can try to climb out of their cribs and this is risky for them. If the crib has cut out areas on the footboard or headboard, do not buy it. Your baby’s head can get stuck in such cribs.
- Never use a heating mattress or electric heating blankets over your baby. You don’t need them since babies can still be warm without them. Besides, they could cause a fire when they get out of control. If the room where your baby is too cold, turn up the heat in your house and close all vents to maintain a warm temperature. If the crib has a malfunctioning or missing hardware, get rid of it without further delay.
- Do not keep stuff hanging above your baby’s crib so that they don’t emit dust and give your baby cold and flu. And avoid putting your baby’s crib close to the window because the cord in the blinds can choke them. Beware not to show baby how to escape from the crib by lifting him up over the side. Make use of the latches instead.
Following these simple tips can help you to avoid being a part of rare and sad statistics! While shopping for a crib, make sure you check out a safe and reliable car seat for when you are going out with a newborn.