Many parents treasure the idea of using a crib for their newborn, but worry about the safety off their babies. Read on for tips and guidelines on baby crib safety.
Baby Crib Safety
Amongst the first few gifts a baby receives, baby crib the most essential one. It is the comfortable kurlon bed for babies, where they would get the best sleep ever after their tiring and eventful day. With comfort comes the concern for safety. The baby crib should be both comfortable and safe. Buying a small comfortable crib for your baby is definitely overwhelming, but you should not forget to check if the crib you are buying is safe enough. Some parents want to use already used crib for their babies because that crib has been passed down to generations in their family. There is no problem in using used cribs, but it should be checked for any loose ends and get repaired if necessary. There are only a few basic safety measures that are to be followed to ensure a safe and comfortable sleep for your baby. This article will provide you with a list of security measures that if taken, will ensure the safety of your baby.
Crib Safety Tips
- Check the bedding on the crib. The sheet should have a smoothed, firm fit. Use only sheets for bedding, even though bumper pads are adorable, they are not recommended for baby crib safety. Loose fitting bumper pads attached only by the ends allow a baby’s head to get between the pads and the rails.
- Place the baby on his/her back in a crib with a firm tight-fitting mattress. Avoid putting pillows, quilts, comforters or pillow-like stuffed toys in the crib. Use only fitted bottom sheet, specially made for crib use.
- Use a sleeper instead of a blanket. Sleeper will keep the baby safe and comfortable. If at all you use a blanket, cover the baby from foot to chest only. This will not suffocate the baby. Cover the sides of the crib with a thin blanket.
- Remove all the objects from a baby’s crib. Place a baby mobile phone for them to play with. This will help them keep busy and not looking for any other toys. Remove even any extra diapers or wipes kept at the end of the crib. It may not look dangerous, but it is better to be safe.
- There should not be much gap between the crib slats, so that a baby’s body cannot fit through the slats. There should also not be any missing or cracked slats. The corners should be 1/16th inch high so that a baby’s clothes do not get trapped. For mesh-sided cribs, look for mesh less than ¼ inches in size. Mesh should not be torn, or with holes or loose threads. Mesh should also be attached to the top rail and floor plate properly.
- Check the railings and the drop-side of the cribs. The railings should be checked properly, irrespective of the crib being old or new. It is mandatory for the crib’s safety. Rails on a used baby crib should be checked for stability. There should be no broken or loose rails.
- Latch properly the drop down side of the crib and then use pressure and check that it doesn’t come down on its own. Then, check for loose screws and latches. Tighten them if required.
- Cribs that are assembled wrong, or have missing screws or broken latches or any other hardware can lead to suffocation or entrapment. Infants can strangle themselves when their head and neck gets entrapped in the gaps. Make sure there are no missing hardware, screws, slats or mesh in the crib. The crib should just be intact for the safety of the kid.
