When pregnant, you may have a well-meaning friend or family member say they have a crib that you could borrow. While the gesture is nice, it is imperative you make sure the crib meets strict safety guidelines before accepting the offer. The problem is that some of the older models have slats too far apart, which create a dangerous situation for a baby’s head becoming stuck. Therefore, the slats should be no more than 2 3/8-inch apart.
If the crib does meet this standard but needs a good coat of paint, make sure you choose the best enamel paint you can find. We recommend you paint or have your spouse paint the crib outside due to fumes and have it dry completely prior to bringing it into the nursery. Most importantly, never use just any paint lying about in that it could have lead, which can be deadly. When you visit the paint store, you want to advise the salesperson what you are looking for and he or she can guide you to the appropriate product.
Another very important factor associated with any crib, whether old or new, is to make sure all the parts are there and tightened down according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Then, for new mattresses, always remove the plastic cover before putting it in the crib, which could cause a problem with suffocation and/or choking. Additionally, while bumper pads have been a popular crib item for many years, they are now found to be dangerous. With this, a baby could roll underneath and suffocate or become tangled in the ties. For this reason, we suggest bumper pads be eliminated altogether.
When placing the crib in the nursery, choose your location carefully. For instance, we have heard of many cases where a crib was placed beneath mini blinds or curtains, only to have the child get the cord wrapped around the neck. Therefore, you should never place the crib directly under a window. Additionally, make sure there are no pictures or shelving over the crib that could accidentally fall, causing injury. You also want to pay attention to the location of heat/air vents. If the only place in the nursery is near a vent, you could always shut it off. What you want to avoid is too much heat or cold air blowing in on the baby.
While many parents love the mobiles that hang over the bed, we discourage this, again in that it could pose a risk for strangulation. For the mattress position, you will likely have this high when you first bring the baby home, which will make getting him or her out and in much easier. However, as your baby begins to grow and stand, the mattress would need to be lowered to the lowest position so he/she does not accidentally climb or topple out.
Finally, after you have gone through all the items for your baby’s crib, you still want to check it regularly to make sure nothing has broken or come loose. A good rule of thumb is the first of every month make it a habit to go over the crib from top to bottom, checking for anything that might not be right. With a few precautions, your baby will have a safe crib in which to sleep so you can relax as well.