Though that beautiful wooden crib may look lovely, is it secure? Are the slats close enough your baby won't be able to stick its head through? Are there things on the crib your baby could get caught or hurt on? Is there a bumper?

These are just a few of the questions new parents should be asking themselves before they buy a crib for their newborn baby. Ensuring your child's safety is not something you should consider lightly, and cribs are no different.

Here are some specifications that your baby should meet as set out by the Consumer Product Safety Commission:

?Bolts or closed hooks should secure mattress support hangers. Any other hardware in the crib should be fully checked and secure before you put your baby in. Hardware can often come loose, so check this consistently.

?If you decide to use Bumper Pads, they should fit snugly all around the crib and either be tied, clipped, or snapped into place. If you decide to use ties, cut ff the excess to avoid your baby getting tangled. The pillows shouldn't be overly fluffy; in fact they should be as thin as possible to avoid suffocation risks. Remember that if you use bumpers, only keep them until the baby can stand, then remove them so the baby doesn't use them to climb out of the crib.

?Destroy and get rid of all plastic wrappings in or around the cradle or room. And never, ever use them as mattress covers or protectors. The only materials in your baby's crib should be their sheet and a light blanket.

?. Stuff placed around a child's neck or the clothing they're wearing can easily get caught on the posts if you're not careful about how far they extend above the top of the baby's crib. They shouldn't go more than 1/16 of an inch above the crib's bars.