The birth of a child fills a home with numerous emotions, from excitement and joy to fear and trepidation. Most of the time, the fears of new parents come from the uncertainty of being able to adequately protect their new child or provide a safe environment at home. When preparing for a new member of the family, the expectant parents often become overwhelmed with advice from friends, family members, authors and editors, and television and radio hosts telling them what they need to do to prepare their home for baby. While it is nice to know about all the exciting products available today for newborns, most parents will neither need nor purchase many of the recommended items.
A crib, on the other hand, is something that every newborn will use. Whether you are purchasing a new crib from a high-end furniture store or using the one that you slept in as a baby, there are certain basics of which you must be aware. First, you need to be aware that choosing a crib does not need to be a daunting task. In fact, it can be an enjoyable search that both parents can do together. In addition, if there are family members who try to guilt trip you into using an old family heirloom you would rather not use, these safety basics may give you an out.
Just because a crib is old or used does not mean that it is unsafe or unstable. Most of the time, cribs are fairly well-maintained and “gently used.” Most people who are giving a crib to a family member or friend will not give it to someone if it is in poor condition. If someone does give you an older crib, you will obviously want to check for loose screws, chipping paint, broken rods, sharp points, and a ripped mattress. Of course sometimes those kinds of things are obvious enough that you will be able to tell whether or not the crib is usable.
Older cribs, however, may have some hidden dangers that are not so easily spotted, and asking the current owner may not give you any answers, as they too may not know what the dangers are. If the crib has been painted, it may have lead-based paint, which is toxic and potentially lethal if the child gnaws on the rail. Peeling paint chips are easily swallowed by the indiscriminate child. As a precaution, you will want to strip the paint and refinish or paint it. The newer paints are less toxic and quicker-drying. Please make sure the paint is completely dry before placing the crib in the baby’s room if the room is already in use. You will want to make sure and remove or sand down any splinters as well. As an extra precaution, place plastic strips on the top of the side rails. These can be purchased at most baby furniture stores.
Less obvious on older cribs will be the distance between slats in the crib (and carvings in the headboards). You will want to measure them to make sure they are no further apart than 2 3/8 inches apart. This will prevent the child from getting his head stuck between them, causing strangulation or other injuries. If the crib was manufactured after 1985, this is the acceptable standard and should be safe. If there are any corner posts on which your child’s clothing could be snagged, you will want to cut them off (then sand and paint) or choose another crib. These posts can pose a strangulation hazard as well.
If you use an older crib mattress, make sure there are no rips in it and that you cannot fit more than two fingers between the mattress and the frame. It is best, and not very expensive, to buy a new mattress, which will fit snugly. It is also important to purchase a quality mattress pad that will absorb body fluids and can be washed. It, too, must fit snugly, which will prevent a choking hazard. In order to prevent suffocation, please be sure to remove and dispose of any plastic wrapping that may have come with the new mattress.
Once you have chosen your crib, you will want to make sure it is adjusted to the appropriate height for your baby. When he begins to sit up, lower the mattress so that he cannot fall out by either pulling himself up or leaning against the side of the crib. As he is able to stand, the mattress should be lowered again to its lowest position. When he is thirty-five inches tall, or the side rail is less than three-quarters your baby’s height, he should be moved to another bed. When the dropped side rail (the side that can be lowered to give easy access to your child) is lowered, it should be at least four inches higher than the mattress when the mattress is at its highest point. Make sure the locking latch for the side rail cannot be tripped by your child so that he cannot fall from the crib by dropping the rail.
Regarding accessories for your child’s crib, bumper pads and appropriate bedding are necessities. A fitted sheet and your child’s pajamas are often all that are needed to keep your child warm. When he is first brought home, you may bundle him snugly and lay him in his crib without another blanket. As he gets older, when you are no longer bundling him, you may want to place a blanket loosely on him, no higher than his waist and it must not be tucked in, but you will want to talk to your pediatrician for his recommendations in this area.
Bumper pads are necessary to keep your child from bumping his head on the slats and headboard, but also to help keep his arms and legs from poking out through the slats. When choosing a bumper pad, it should be filled with solid foam or a soft filler, but not beads that can settle at the bottom of the pads or come out of a tear, presenting a choking hazard. The pad should have enough ties that it is tied on every side of the crib, unable to fall or pull away. The ties should be no longer than six inches long so that they do not present the opportunity for strangulation. Once your child begins standing up, the bumper pads should be removed so they cannot be stepped on, allowing the child to fall from the crib.
One of the most overlooked safety precautions you can take is also the most obvious. Neither the crib manufacturer nor your child’s pediatrician can do anything to ensure your child’s safety in this area. This is all your decision. The issue? The placement of your child’s crib. It is imperative that you not place your child’s crib against a window. As unpleasant the thought, it is possible that your child could fall from his crib out the window. A simple plan is to place the crib on a different wall.
Much of this crib safety is pretty basic and even common sense, but necessary nonetheless. You will probably want to research more aspects of crib safety, including recalls, federal and state safety requirements, and the advice of your local hospital's pediatric and neo-natal units. Of course your family pediatrician is a great resource. Enjoy the experience of preparing for baby, take your time choosing the crib you want and watch for these simple safety precautions. There are enough concerns of parenting without having to worry about your child while he slumbers. Then you, like he, can “sleep like a baby.”
