Baby

Rock-A-Bye Baby: Shopping for a Safe Crib

Instead of going crazy baby-proofing the whole house when a newborn is on the way, parents should take a deep breath, relax, and focus. More specifically, the focus should be on choosing the best crib possible. After all, a newborn isn’t going to spend that much time crawling around the kitchen. Instead, he or she is going to be sleeping, napping, and resting a lot in the bedroom or nursery.

Therefore, the most important piece of furniture that one can buy for a new baby is a safe and comfortable crib. The nursery is also the room where the most attention should be paid to safety concerns, because that is where your child will be spending the most of his or her time. Picking a good crib is an important investment, because it’s going to be your child’s bed until they move to a real bed. This change usually happens around the age of two or three, so the crib should last for at least three years.

Also important for growing families is the idea of investing in a crib that will last even longer if plans to have more children are in the future. A crib is an important investment, and choosing well doesn’t just mean safety for your newborn, but also, a sturdy and reliable piece of baby furniture for years to come.

Thankfully, there are regulations for cribs, so parents shopping through a reputable store that only stocks new items won’t have to obsess over small details. In addition to a safe and sturdy design, cribs have railings that do not lower beyond a certain amount, and are secured with durable movable parts. Depending on the layout of your child’s nursery or bedroom, you might only need a crib where one railing lowers, but there are also cribs that have the capability to lower both sides, depending on which side the parent is standing on.

Most cribs have one or both railings that lower. Circular cribs, one of the more chic and contemporary designs that are supposed to promote a good night’s sleep because of the cozy nature, usually only have a railing that lowers on one side. Whether you go with something more classic or more contemporary is largely a matter of taste, since safety standards are the same for both.

If your family is more interested in a device that can grow with the child, or is only planning on having one child, there are convertible cribs that will serve as a bed from the time you bring your child home until the time he or she moves out. These convertible cribs start out as cribs, convert to toddler beds, and then some even convert to day-beds after that. It’s a good investment for the long-term.

Most of the time, parents have to buy the crib mattress separate from the crib. Just like regular mattresses, there are foam and spring options. Just like cribs, crib mattresses have their own safety standards, so a reputable store should provide only the best models.

When buying a crib mattress, be sure to look for a couple of different things. Make sure that the mattress attaches to the crib securely in some form or another, and double-check that it’s not possible to wedge more than a finger between the mattress and the crib itself. That’s an especially important safety concern for curious newborns, who could accidentally wedge their little hands and feet, and have big trouble.

Another important factor is the distance between the slats. Make sure there isn’t enough room for a child to wedge a head or hand in, and accidentally have an accident during the night.

As your child grows, it might be important to add a teething rail, so that when your child begins teething, he or she won’t be chewing on the actual wood of the crib. Bumper guards are also a good bet, as they line the crib and make it so your child won’t hit his or her head when rolling around during sleep.

A really nice and important thing to not forget after all of that technical safety information and concerns is that the crib is your child’s first bed, and that some nice and thoughtful touches are important. Musical mobiles and toys, as well as stuffed animals and other items are an important comforting device, but more than that, it is a child’s first education. Stimulation and entertainment are both important, but most toys go a step further and are the first chance for your newborn to develop his or her coordination. Just make sure that toys are safely secured and age-appropriate to avoid any hazards or accidents.

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