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Crib Safety
Home » Babies » Preparing the Nursery » Crib SafetyAs a parent, you will take all of the necessary precautions to keep your child safe. But as you adjust to parenthood and as your baby grows, sometimes it's easy to forget just how quickly and easily your child can get hurt. Here are some tips to keep your child safe in his or her crib, from newborns to toddlers:
• Remove bumper pads, toys, pillows, and stuffed animals from the crib by the time the baby can pull up to stand.
• Remove all crib gyms, hanging toys, and decorations from the crib by the time the baby can get on its hands and knees or crawl.
• The crib should not have elevated corner posts or decorative cutouts in the end panel.
• Make sure the crib mattress fits snugly without any gaps. This will prevent the baby from slipping in between the mattress and crib side.
• Slots on the crib should be no more than 2 3/8 inches apart.
• Be sure that all screws, bolts, and hardware, including mattress supports, are in tight. Check them regularly to prevent the crib from collapsing.
• Keep plastic bags and other plastic materials away from the crib.
• Check the crib often for any small objects that the baby could choke on.
• Do not place the night light near the drapes or bedspread as this could start a fire.
• Put the baby to sleep on its back in a crib with a firm, flat mattress with no soft bedding underneath the baby. This helps reduce the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).
Sources:
www.verybestbaby.com
www.americanbaby.com
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