The safest place for your baby to sleep is in a crib with a firm mattress. When choosing a crib, it is important to keep a few safety rules in mind for your baby's health and happiness. Also, follow the recommended guidelines for preventing SIDS, strangulation, entrapment and suffocation risks.
Buy New
"Consumer Reports" recommends using only new cribs. Older cribs may not be in perfect shape, and may be unsteady or be missing parts. They also might have cutouts or other places where a baby could get his head caught, or could be covered in dangerous lead paint. The safety standards for cribs change every few years, and chances are that an old or antique crib will not be the safest choice. If you must use a crib that is more than a few years old, there are some steps that you can take to make it safer, such as checking carefully for peeling paint, cracks and splinters, and tightening and re-checking all hardware to make sure that the crib is sturdy.
Spacing Issues
Crib slats should be no farther apart than 2 3/8 inches, states the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. This is approximately the width of a soda can. The crib mattress should fit tightly enough so that you can only squeeze two finger widths between the mattress and the sides of the crib. If there is more space than that, the baby's head, arm or leg could get caught. Corner posts must be higher than 16 inches to avoid the baby catching her clothing on them. If they are not high enough, you can remove them, but make sure that the resulting area is sanded smooth and sits flush with, or no more than 1/16th inch taller than, the side of the crib.
Crib Use
When using the crib, make sure that the sheet is fitted and fits snugly. Do not use bumper pads, pillows, quilts or stuffed animals in the bed to prevent entanglement or suffocation. Make sure that the mobile, if you use one, is high enough that your baby cannot reach it. By the time your baby is able to sit up, lower the crib mattress to the lowest setting to prevent falls. Once he can pull to a standing position, be sure that there is nothing in the crib, such as a toy or bumper pad, that he can use as a step to help him climb over the crib rail. Keep the crib away from windows with curtains or mini blinds, as your baby can get tangled in window treatments.
Dress the baby in a warm sleeper instead of covering him with blankets if possible. If you must use a blanket, tuck it under the foot and sides of the mattress, and keep it away from your baby's face.Place the baby on his back to sleep to avoid SIDS, and check to make sure that he is not too hot. "Consumer Reports" does not advise using a sleep positioner, because it states that the American Academy of Pediatrics has no evidence that they are safe or effective in keeping babies on their backs.
