When searching for one of these pieces of baby furniture, you should keep in mind that according to some statistics, approximately 50 infant deaths and 9000 infant injuries occur each year in crib-related accidents. Because of these facts, you should always check to ensure that any crib that you may want purchase is safe for your baby.
There are several safety features that you should look for when purchasing a new baby crib. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has enacted regulations to ensure the safety of your baby while in these beds. You should make sure that any baby crib that you may purchase has these specifications. The first regulation states that the vertical bars or slats should be no further apart than 2 3/8" or 60 mm. This prevents the baby's body being able to fit through them and the child becoming lodged by his head.
A second regulation deals with holes or decorative cutouts on the headboard. These should not exceed 2 3/8" also to avoid your child's head being stuck. Purchasing a crib with a solid head board is probably the best way to go.
The third regulation by the Commission suggests that you check to make sure that none of the vertical bars on a crib side are broken off. You should be sure that all the bars in the crib are sturdy and intact. Any missing bars will leave a big gap that can cause your child to slip through and fall to the floor.
Other safety issues that are not addressed by the Commission but are still important for the safety of your baby include baby cribs that come equipped with wheels. A new baby crib on roller wheels may seem like a good purchase. However, there are certain factors that you need to consider when looking at this style. If your house has hardwood floors, the slightest bump will cause the crib to begin rolling. The crib will also roll if you lean against it as you are bending over your baby. Older siblings can also be a danger to the baby in a crib with wheels. Your other children may push it around, causing it to overturn or slide down stairs. You can purchase a baby crib on wheels that has a locking mechanism, but it is probably a better idea to avoid this style completely.
Another valuable safety tip is to check to ensure that the crib mattress fits inside the crib properly. The standard mattress size for a crib is 51 5/8" by 27 ΒΌ", although some cribs on the market today do not use the standard size. To check to make sure that the crib mattress is the right size for the crib, place your fingers between the mattress and the crib sides. If you can fit two fingers side by side, the mattress is too large and may enable your baby to slide between the mattress and the crib side and end up with the mattress on top of him. Mattress firmness is also important. As soft mattresses have been linked with Sudden Infants Death Syndrome you should make sure that your baby's mattress is firm and solid.
Buying a baby crib can be one of the most important purchases you can make. By completing the safety checks that were previously discussed you will be able to purchase the safest baby crib possible.
How To Build A Baby Crib
It's totally your choice how you go about buying your cheap baby crib. When you start shopping around, you will quickly notice that there are several options available for you to consider. The big question that might be on your mind is whether to buy a baby crib that is new or one that is second hand. So many people prefer to buy new because they don't like the idea of using a product that someone else has used. However the thought of buying a used baby crib can be very appealing due to the price. If you are thinking about buying a used crib it's advisable that you understand the pitfalls and why you might feel it's better to buy a new crib from a company like Storkcraft, DaVinci or Angel Line.
The main benefit of buying new is that if something goes wrong you have a guarantee which means the product will either be repaired or replaced. However with a used item this isn't the case. Also, it's not always easy to tell if the crib has been well looked after and it's surprising how people can neglect items such as a crib. There have also been some problems with certain models of crib being recalled because of safety. Graco, Basset and Simplicity are just a few manufacturers of crib that have had to recall some of their products. The problem was that the designs were flawed and there were a number of reports of babies being injured or even dying. The good news is that when these flaws were discovered the companies moved very quickly to have the cribs replaced. Huge publicity campaigns were launched to ensure that people found out about the problems.
The problem with recalls is that not everyone pays attention and doesn't bother to do anything about it, or perhaps they just didn't find out and are clueless to the problems. Because of this, the used crib that you want to buy may have been one of the cribs that should have been recalled but wasn't. When babies are concerned, ensuring that you only buy the best quality and safe products is very important.
So if you've been thinking of going for the cheapest possible crib by buying pre-owned then you might now have second thoughts about this. There are many brands of baby crib that are very affordably priced so you don't have to spend a small fortune. No one said that babies are cheap but that's not to say you have to always buy the most expensive. Always look to see if the crib has a certification with Juvenile Product Manufacturers Association (JPMA) to ensure that you are getting excellent safety standards.
Both Beverly Sugarman & April Kerr are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Beverly Sugarman has sinced written about articles on various topics from Parenting, Computers and The Internet and Online Business. We have baby gift baskets that are cute and practical. Perfect for the newborn and new moms. For more information, visit this article on
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