Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Baby Cribs - What You Need To Know

By Sheri

There are so many styles, kinds and price ranges for baby cribs that it can boggle the mind. The first question that you may ask is where do I start and what I should look for in a baby crib. The most important point to be aware of is the safety aspect for the childs sake. Next you want to consider were the cribs will be placed. This is important when looking at long term use and getting the most for your money while still meeting the childs needs. There are some general tips that you can use when looking for a baby crib or if you are a hobby woodworker and want to build one.

Safety is always the first thing to be concerned with when buying a baby crib. For any new crib that you buy they should meet minimum safety standards as set up by the government. If it is not a new one you will need to check and repair any problems that you may find. All of the information here can be used for this as well to ensure safety on cribs that are being built. Check all slats to be sure none are broken or missing. This holds true for all the hardware as well. You should make sure that all the hardware is properly tightened. Head boards and foot boards are adorable with the cute cutouts but they are not safe so leave these out or, if you buy one second hand, close them up so that baby cant get stuck in them.

The sides and corner posts of a baby crib are another issue that can involve a good deal of checking. Crib slats on the headboard, footboard and/or sides of the crib should not be over 2-1/8 apart. Any further and your baby could possibly get his or her little head stuck in between. All corner posts of the crib should be no higher than 1/16 above the head or footboard. Any higher and these could pose a hanging hazard. No matter if the crib comes with one or both sides that can be lowered to reach you little one, you should check them out. Make sure that the latching mechanisms are functioning properly especially their ability to properly latch closed. A baby crib with defective latches could allow the sides to drop open and the baby could possibly get injured.

The next issue in safety for baby cribs is the mattress that will be used. Even for those cribs that come with a mattress make sure that it fits snuggly into the crib on every side. It is no surprise that babies are movers, even newborns. You dont want a baby to get caught between the sides and the mattress. Mattresses should always be kept at the lowest possible position or closest to the floor.

Even though baby cribs come in different styles and sizes, you can be sure that they have the safest area possible to sleep by doing safety checks. Always thoroughly check out the crib from top to bottom to keep them safe. Babies depend on us to keep them safe, healthy and happy so dont forget to do your safety checks

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