Nestle Your Baby In Safety

Nothing is more important in your home than the safety of your child and since your baby will spend a large portion of his or her early years sleeping, at least you hope so, you need to know that the crib you purchase is safe for those precious restful hours. But how can you be sure. It is easier than you think.

There are three main organizations that are working to make sure your child can sleep in safety. They are:
1) Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA)
2) American Society for Testing & Materials (ASTM)
3) Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC)
These three publish a wealth of information you can use to make a safety informed decision when you are looking to purchase a crib you can have confidence in. You should never buy a crib that does not meet the certification standards of at least one of these organizations. Federal law mandates that all cribs sold in the United States must conform to CPSC standards. There are new standards taking effect June 28, 2011 regarding drop side rail cribs and many manufacturers and retailers have already discontinued the sale of this type of crib.

When choosing your crib consider the materials used to build it. Choosing a crib built with hardwood like maple or oak is preferable to softwood like pine. The softer wood will not only dent easier but can be more prone to structural failure under stress. Avoid plastic hardware such as mattress supports and latches. Metal hardware is more durable and more likely to stand up to the test of a jumping toddler without failure. Metal cribs can be extremely durable although more expensive and not as aesthetically pleasing.

As for style, there are some things you should consider. If you choose to purchase a drop side crib make sure the latches require two distinct actions to release the lock. In the case of a knee-bar latch make sure it can’t be tripped by a toddler crawling under the crib. There should be at least 26 inches between raised crib rails and the top of the crib mattress and at least 9 inches between lowered crib rails and the top of the mattress. Slats should be less than or equal to 2 and 3/8 inches apart. Corner posts should not extend above the panel ends and decorative cut outs in the panels should be avoided. The panels should extend below the mattress when the mattress is in its lowest position. Though hand me down cribs or older antique cribs may look attractive or offer an inexpensive means to a crib they should be avoided. The standards used to build these cribs were much less stringent than today. Many older cribs present entrapment risks and other hazards or may contain lead paint or other toxic materials.

With these few simple guidelines you should be well equipped to purchase a safe, beautiful crib where your baby can be nestled in safety and you can have peace of mind that you have acted responsibly in its selection.