Providing a comfortable, safe environment for your baby is an important responsibility for parents. Leaving baby to sleep alone in the crib at night can invoke anxiety and make it difficult to get a good night's sleep. To help create peace of mind, use safety products like a baby monitor and crib rail covers to help ensure your baby is safe in the crib.
Baby Monitors
Baby monitors are often a favorite for parents who want to be able to hear if baby stirs. In addition to the audio monitor, there is also a video monitor which allows you to view your baby if you feel more reassured being able to see him. Because this safety product can interfere with other electronics in the house, ConsumerReports.org recommends obtaining a monitor that is not 2.4 GHz, the frequency of most cordless phones.
Crib Rail Covers
Teething babies will chew on anything they can get their teeth on, including their crib. Another good crib safety product to use is a crib rail cover. You can apply a soft, chewable guard to the rail along the length of the crib and on the footboard and headboard. Crib rail covers are latex-free and non-toxic and can save baby the pain of getting splinters in her gums.
Crib Tents
A crib tent goes over the top of the crib to prevent baby from climbing out and falling and to keep mosquitoes and other insects away from baby. Although touted as a safety feature, this product does have some safety concerns, as well. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission began investigating the safety of these products in 2008 after a child became entangled in the mesh of a crib tent and died, reports Safety, Research and Strategies. This crib safety product has not been recalled to date, however.
Crib Bumper Pads
Parents purchase and use crib bumper pads to prevent babies from hitting their head on the hard surface of a crib. However, there have been some concerns over the safety of such pads. The Washington University Department of Pediatrics published a study in the September 2007 issue of "Journal of Pediatrics" citing bumper pads as being hazardous. Researchers examined 22 bumper pad products and determined their use protects against only minor injuries compared to the hazards they present. They also discovered over 50 injuries and deaths due to suffocation or strangulation related to the bumper pads.
Crib Safety Tips
ConsumerReports.org recommends avoiding using an antique crib, as the paint may contain lead or the crib's slats may be placed too far apart. The crib mattress should fit snugly, with no openings or gaps, and the mattress slats should be no less than 2 3/8 inches apart.
