Crib Safety Tips

Crib safety is something I take very seriously. I believe that every parent should be aware of the guidelines and tips to keep their baby safe inside their crib.

• Place baby on his/her back in a crib with a firm, tight-fitting mattress
  
• Do not put pillows, quilts, comforters, sheepskins, pillow-like bumper pads or pillow-like stuffed toys in the crib
  
• Consider using a sleeper instead of a blanket
  
• If you do use a blanket, place baby with feet to foot of the crib. Tuck a thin blanket around the crib mattress, covering baby only as high as his/her chest
  
• Use only a fitted bottom sheet specifically made for crib use

While allergy mattress covers are a good idea if your baby is sensitive to allergens.

Choosing a safe mattress can also help with toddler sleep issues. This page can help reduce the stress of those issues. It is dedicated to helping you be successful getting those older children to sleep.

When you are checking your crib for safety the Commission also recommends that there should be:

• A firm, tight-fitting mattress so a baby cannot get trapped between the mattress and the crib
  
• No missing, loose, broken or improperly installed screws, brackets or other hardware on the crib or mattress support
  
• No more than 2 3/8 inches (about the width of a soda can) between crib slats so a baby’s body cannot fit through the slats; no missing or cracked slats
  
• No corner posts over 1/16th inch high so a baby’s clothing cannot catch
  
• No cutouts in the headboard or foot board so a baby’s head cannot get trapped

Here are some guidelines for mesh-sided cribs or playpens:

• Mesh should be less than ¼ inch in size, smaller than the tiny buttons on a baby’s clothing
  
• Mesh should not have any tears, holes or loose threads that could entangle a baby
  
• Mesh must be securely attached to top rail and floor plate
  
• The top rail cover should have no tears or holes
  
• If staples are used, they should not be missing, loose or exposed

Does your baby sleep through the night? If you need some advice on baby sleep patterns, then check out New Baby & Beyond

Annie Desantis is a parenting coach and her website Law of Attraction Parenting has lots of information and tips for parents. Visit her new born baby article for information about your baby's development.

For a quick summary of crib safety, read the article about safe cribs.

I really like the following ebook because it covers all the nursery safety issues in a concise and organized manner.

Another great little resource is baby-place.com.

Show off your Baby with a Free Baby Webpage - Create a web site for your baby, complete with pictures, instantly and for free at Babies Online!

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