| After the joy of finding out they are pregnant, | | | | hazard and should be no higher than 1/16". The |
| many new parents really have no idea what they | | | | only exception would be posts that are used to |
| will need to purchase prior to the arrival of their | | | | support a canopy and those should be at least 16" |
| baby. Some things are obvious, such as cribs, but | | | | or higher. |
| there are so many cribs for babies on the market | | | | The baby crib mattress should be firm and |
| that choosing the safest one for your baby can | | | | tight-fitting. One way to determine whether or |
| often be overwhelming. The following are some | | | | not the mattress is too small for the crib is to try |
| tips to help you choose the best baby crib for | | | | to fit two side-by-side fingers between the |
| your newborn. | | | | mattress and the crib wall. If your fingers fit, then |
| All baby cribs on the market are supposed to | | | | the mattress is too small and poses a safety |
| meet the minimum government requirements for | | | | hazard. The standard size for crib mattresses is |
| safety. With that in mind, even cribs that are less | | | | 61 5/8" by 27 ΒΌ" and if you purchase a |
| expensive should be safe for your baby. Make | | | | standard size baby crib, then it should take a |
| sure you follow the directions provided by the | | | | standard size mattress. |
| manufacturer carefully when assembling and using | | | | If you are thinking about a used crib or a |
| the crib. Also make sure none of the parts or | | | | hand-me-down, make sure the crib meets all the |
| hardware are missing or broken. | | | | safety standards of a new crib. You should have |
| A safe baby crib will not have slats that are more | | | | all the hardware that originally came with the crib |
| than 2 3/8" apart. A soda can is about 2 3/8" in | | | | and it should be in good condition. The slats must |
| diameter so if it fits in the spaces between the | | | | be in good condition as well and must not be |
| slats, then the slats are too far apart and the crib | | | | chipped or splintering or loose. If you plan to |
| is unsafe and should not be used. | | | | repaint or refinish the crib, use high-quality paint |
| Design cutouts in the headboard or foot-board of | | | | that is lead free and make sure the crib is made |
| the crib can be no wider than 2 3/8". As with the | | | | of material that is safe to repaint or refinish. |
| width between the slats, the reason for keeping | | | | Buying a new crib that meets the set safety |
| design cutouts on the crib under 2 3/8" is | | | | standards is the best way to ensure that you will |
| because of the danger of a baby lodging himself | | | | keep your baby safe. With the choices on the |
| in spaces wider than 2 3/8". In all honesty, it is | | | | market today and the ability to buy a good, safe |
| better to simply forgo the cutouts and look for a | | | | baby crib without going way over budget, it |
| crib with a solid headboard and foot-board | | | | makes good sense to buy new. |
| Corner posts on a baby crib are a strangulation | | | | |