Choosing a Safe Crib for Your Baby
Safety is always a priority when it comes to choosing a crib for your baby so here are some pointers as to what you should be looking for before you purchase a crib.
One of the easiest ways to ensure that a crib is of high quality in both terms of safety and build is to look for the Juvenile Products Manufacturing Association certification. This shows that the crib has been tested for both safety and quality.
To be safe the slats on a crib should be no more that 2 3/8 inches apart. If you not sure what 2 3/8 inches looks like then it's about the size of a soda can. Don't forget to also look at the corner posts which should protrude no higher than 1/16 of an inch to prevent a baby's clothing catching on them. The exception to this is if the crib has posts to support a canopy, in which case they should be over 16 inches high.
If the crib is on display then check that the mattress fits properly. If you can fit more than two fingers between the mattress and the crib then the mattress is too small for crib and therefore a potential safety hazard.
If you want to keep possible safety issues to an absolute minimum then go for a crib without any fancy decorative features, as these can trap limbs or catch on clothes. Plain and simple is the best way to go.
From June 2011 drop-side cribs will no longer be allowed to be sold because of safety issues. So if you are opting for a second hand crib after this date make sure it's a fixed rail crib as the rules apply to used as well as new cribs.
For anyone buying online the best way to ensure that you're getting something safe is to read the reviews from other parents. If a crib wobbles, isn't robust enough, etc you'll find that parents are only to keen to warn others of any potential problems.
And if you're not buying from one of the big stores, be it on or offline, then check that the model you've decided on isn't on a product recall list before you make the final purchase to ensure you aren't buying something that has a potential problem.
