How To Buy A Good Baby Crib
There are so many styles, kinds and price ranges for baby cribs that it can boggle the mind. The first question that you may ask is where do I start and what I should look for in a baby crib. The most important point to be aware of is the safety aspect for the childs sake. Next you want to consider were the cribs will be placed. This is important when looking at long term use and getting the most for your money while still meeting the childs needs. There are some general tips that you can use when looking for a baby crib or if you are a hobby woodworker and want to build one.
Always remember, safety comes first when purchasing baby cribs. All new cribs in the U.S. have to meet specific guidelines for safety but a lot of families and individuals will pass cribs down from one to another. This is why safety checks for new or used cribs are so important. In the case of a used crib be sure that you do all the repairs so that it will meet safety standards before use. Check all posts to be sure they are secure and none are missing. Head boards as well as foot boards should not have any type of cutouts that the baby can get caught in or hurt on. Be sure that you check all fasteners used to put the bed together are secure and none are missing.
Baby cribs usually come with one or both sides that can be dropped to a lower position for ease in cleaning or when caring for the baby. There are several kinds of latches that are used to lower the sides. Whatever type of latch is used be sure it works properly for lowering and especially raising them and locking in place. The posts or slats on the sides or around the cribs should be no more than 2-1/8 apart to prevent the little one from getting stuck between them. Check each post or slat for problems such as loose, broken or rough edges. With older baby cribs also check for loose paint and that the paint used was not lead based. The top post at each corner of the head and foot board should not be any higher than 1/16.
One other very important issue to check into is the mattress for your baby crib. You should make sure that the mattress fits the baby crib in a snug fashion. It doesnt matter if you are buying a new bed that comes with its own or if you are purchasing a mattress for a crib you bought without one. It is possible for a little one to become caught between a mattress and the slats or posts if a mattress doesnt fit the crib properly.
Even though baby cribs come in different styles and sizes, you can be sure that they have the safest area possible to sleep by doing safety checks. Always thoroughly check out the crib from top to bottom to keep them safe. Babies depend on us to keep them safe, healthy and happy so dont forget to do your safety checks