Crib Safety & Adjustable Cribs
Your child will spend at least two years in a crib if not a little more than that depending upon their height. It is important to understand crib safety and the advantages of an adjustable crib. There are many reasons for you to be cautious when you are shopping for cribs; perhaps the most well known reason is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (S.I.D.S.) or crib death. There are many precautions you should take. Below are a few tips on crib safety as well as a comparison of adjustable cribs versus fixed height cribs.
The Mattress
First off a firm mattress should be used in the crib and you should not use a plastic mattress. You should removed any soft bedding material your baby could have near their face to prevent SIDS. You should also use crib bumpers to keep them in place.
Face up or face down?
The current suggestions are to avoid laying your baby face down. Instead they should be on their backs to help them breath proper and avoid any health problems. Note that these suggestions tend to change over time and you should consult your doctor.
Crib Slats
When buying a crib the crib slats should be no farther apart than 2 3/8″ apart to avoid injury. Most babies are curious so if they can stick their head through the slats you run the danger of injury or death. Most cribs on the market today have to follow guidelines before they can be sold. You will also want your crib to have at least one side that will lower to help you lift the baby from the crib. This helps you as well as the baby. Adjustable cribs are very important due to the fact that your baby will remain in the crib for an average of two years.
Adjustable Mattress Height
Adjustable cribs means that the height of the mattress can be changed. At first the crib mattress should be at least twenty- six inches from the top of the guardrails. Once your baby begins to grow the mattress should be kept at a height three fourths of your baby’s height. In other words if your baby is 36 inches your guardrails should be at least 27 inches. You do not want the guardrails to below enough that your baby can crawl out of the crib causing themselves injury. Most doctors and guidelines say your baby should no longer be in a crib if they are taller than 36 inches.
Fixed Height Mattress
Fixed height cribs can have their advantages if you have a crib that will have guardrails at three fourths of your baby’s height before they reach 36 inches. The disadvantage of most fixed height cribs is the lack of height in the guardrails once your baby starts to grow. Adjustable height cribs are more helpful when keeping crib safety in mind because of the ability to lower the mattress. You will also want to have a crib with locking wheels when you purchase a movable crib to keep it from moving. Other crib safety tips include keeping the crib away from curtains and shelves a baby may try to pull on.