New cribs found in stores today must comply with safety standards. To be sure, a parent should check that it was certified by the Juvenile Product Manufacturers Association. Older cribs may pose more safety hazards because they were constructed before federal guidelines were implemented. The Babycenter website states that around 50 infant deaths a year are crib related. Because of this, it is extremely important that a parent becomes educated about crib safety standards.
Assembly
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, cribs must be properly assembled in order to meet safety standards. Cribs that are not put together properly can cause injury or even death. Parents need to make sure that nothing is broken or missing on the crib. If any slats are missing or installed incorrectly, a baby can get her head or neck stuck in the gap and become trapped or even suffocate.
Construction
The American Academy of Pediatrics says the slats of a crib should be spaced 2 and 3/8 inches or less apart. Babies can become stuck in slats that are spaced too far apart. If the crib is wood, there must be no splinters. In addition, if painted, the paint must be lead free. The head and foot boards of the crib should not have any cutouts that can cause entrapment. All hardware and parts should fit tightly.
Placement
The placement of a crib is essential for the safety of a baby. The American Academy of Pediatrics warns that cribs should be kept away from windows. Not only does the baby have the potential to fall out of the window, cords from blinds and drapes can pose as a strangulation hazard. Cribs should also be kept away from objects that can fall on children or cause choking.
Accessories
The mattress of a crib should fit properly with no gaps for a baby to get stuck in. The American Academy of Pediatrics states that two adult fingers should not be able to fit between the mattress and crib. All mobiles and hanging toys need to remain out of a child's reach. Avoid using blankets, pillows or toys in the crib. All can pose as a suffocation hazard. If using crib bumpers, a parent should remove them after a baby learns how to stand.
Drop Sides
The Babycenter website says that a parent should consider the safety of a crib with drop sides. Although still widely used and still sold in stores, a major recall of some drop-side cribs occurred in 2009. If parents choose to use a drop-side crib, they should make sure that the crib was put together properly and that there are no issues with hardware. Babies have become trapped between the drop-side railing and mattress, resulting in suffocation.
