Crib Safety Features …
The Key Concerns
Know the major crib safety features to look out for.
Do you look at the cribs in a store or the photos online and think…but they all look alike? Is choosing the one to fit your baby room décor just a matter of the color and shape? Is it all about visual appeal and that gut feeling?
The answer to all the above questions is a simple… “Yes and No.” Confused? Let us start with the ‘Yes’ first.
- Yes, at first glance, all the cribs do look alike.
- Yes, the color and shape of the crib are important for the overall décor of the nursery.
- Yes, you must choose based on the visual appeal and above all, your gut feeling.
Now let’s get to the interesting part… the ‘No’.
- No, while all cribs might look alike, there might be subtle differences that can dangerously affect the crib safety.
- No, color and shape are only a part of the features you need to look out for.
- No, choosing a crib needs more than just your gut feeling.
“So what are these oh-so-important features that I need to check? Isn’t there an industry standard or something that all crib manufacturing companies need to adhere to? Why do I have to bother with all the statistics?” Yes, I know just what you are thinking.
True. There IS an industry standard that all manufacturing companies need to adhere to…and they usually do. But they are manufacturing a large number of cribs… and besides this is your baby. Always better to be safe than sorry.
Thus the need to note the crib safety features. So here goes…
1. How low should the Drop sides be? Drop sides is one of the features you must check your crib for. Drop sides means that the railing on one (or both) sides of the crib can be lowered. This makes it easier for you to pick up your newborn. The crib safety standard to note is – when lowered, the drop side must be at least 9 inches above the mattress support. When raised, the top of the drop side must be at least 26 inches above the support at its lowest position.
2. Adjustable mattress height. Most cribs offer this feature. You can raise or lower the mattress support to adjust the height of the mattress. Once your child starts to sit up, you will need to lower the mattress height. Check the crib to make sure the mechanism is foolproof.
3. Give the crib a good shake. Baby cribs need to be sturdy and stable. Shake it to check for any wobbles or rattles. If there is, it might need to be re-assembled properly. You could check other stores for the same model. But if that is a design fault, it could become a serious crib safety issue. You need to find a different model instead.
4. What’s the standard frame size? Most cribs come in the standard size. Quality baby cribs manufactured in the US generally follow the prescribed safety standards. However, it pays to make your own checks on the piece you intend to buy. The crib interior should snugly accommodate a standard crib mattress — at least 51 ¾ inches long by 27 ¾ inches wide.
(Crib Safety Tip: Slide your fingers between the mattress and crib. If you can fit two fingers in, the mattress is too small. This can be dangerous for your baby. Make sure that even with a mattress in place, the crib sides are tall enough to keep your baby safely inside.)
5. What’s the standard slat size? Slats are the thin narrow strips or bars of wood found on all sides of the crib. The distance between any two crib-slats must be no more than 2 3/8 inches.
6. Check for Ease of release. Found the one you were looking for? First, give it a thorough hands-on inspection. Raise and lower the sides of each model several times to see if it is easy to operate. Imagine you are holding a sleeping baby in your arms. Is the release easy and noise-free? Can it be operated with one hand?
(Tip: If the release is too easy, your baby may learn to lower the sides himself. Check the locking system)
A quality crib manufacturer constantly tests and retests its products to ensure the crib safety of each crib. Most of the cribs in stores today do comply with the mandatory industry safety standards. To check whether your chosen crib qualifies, look for the certification by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers’ Association (JPMA).
If you plan to use a crib manufactured earlier than 5 years ago, double check all the crib safety features mentioned above. You might also need to ensure that the finish on the crib is lead-free.
If you happen to find a crib that has safety issues, do try to help out by informing the CPSC. They can test the product and decide if it needs to be recalled. This will be a great help to other parents.
You already found the crib that matches the color, shape and visual appeal you wanted. It even gives you that gut feeling that this is the right one. Now that the crib safety features have been thoroughly inspected, how about some decorations on and around it?
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