A
baby crib is most likely at the top of your list of things you will need for your
new baby. With all of the different styles and features, it can be a daunting
task to pick the safest and best baby crib for your new family member. This article
on baby crib safety will review the safety features of baby cribs so that you
will be able to pick out the safest baby crib for your baby. Baby
Crib Safety Standards Currently, every new baby crib that is made must meet
the industry standards set by the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC).
This means that all new baby cribs, including the least expensive baby cribs,
will meet the minimum safety standards. There are additional voluntary safety
standards set by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). Baby cribs
which meet these additional safety standards are certified by the Juvenile Products
Manufacture's Association (JPMS). Those baby cribs that earn the JPMA certification
will be clearly labeled with this information. So, rest assured that the new baby
crib that you are looking at has past the basic safety standards and may have
passed the additional voluntary standards set by JPMS. The fact remains
that the majority of you may be considering using an hand-me-down or buying a
"previously owned" baby crib. While there are 4 million infants born in the U.S.
every year, only about 1 million new baby cribs are sold annually. Some people
recommended that you never buy a used baby crib or accept a hand-me-down baby
crib. If you want to be 100% sure that your baby crib meets all of the current
safety standards, then the best beat for you is to buy a new baby crib. Keeping
in mind that approximately 26 infants die and another 11,500 are hospitalized
every year due to baby crib related injuries, the majority of these tragedies
do occur with older baby cribs. This being said, it is possible to test a used
baby crib to see it if meets the current minimum safety standards. First, check
to see if the baby crib has been recalled (www.recalls.gov).
Assuming it has not been recalled, then check to see if your baby crib meets these
simple minimum baby crib safety standards to ensure your baby crib is a safe place
for your baby. Minimum Baby Crib Safety Standards -
The vertical bars or slates must be no further apart than 2 3/8" wide.
If
the space between the baby crib bars or slates is wider than 2 3/8 inches, then
a baby can squeeze its body into that space and get stuck. How to test this standard??
You can either measure this space with a tape measure or try to fit a can of soda
through the baby crib bars. Since soda cans are about 2 3/8" in diameter, this
is an easy test to see if a baby crib meets this baby crib safety standard. If
the soda can fits, the baby crib is unsafe and should be destroyed.
- The
baby crib should have no design cutouts wider than 2 3/8" in the headboard
or footboard of the baby crib.
Again, the danger is when a baby can lodge
himself in that cut out area. It is best to avoid baby cribs with cutout areas
all together. While they add a decorative flair to the baby crib, they also add
a potential hazard to the baby crib.
- Corner post should not be
higher than 1/16" high.
While corner posts look great on adult beds, they
are a strangulation hazard on a baby crib. A baby's clothing can catch on a corner
post that is higher than 1/16". An exception to this are posts 16 inches or higher
that are used to support a canopy.
- Baby crib mattress should be
firm and tight-fitting.
If you can fit two side-by-side fingers between
the side of the mattress and the baby crib wall, then the baby crib mattress is
too small and poses a safety hazard. The standard mattress size is 61 5/8"
by 27 ¼". Any new standard size baby crib should take a standard size baby crib
mattress.
Other Baby Crib Safety Issues to
Consider If you plan on using an older baby crib, make sure that all of the
hardware (brackets, bolts, and screws) are present and in good condition. Even
one missing screw can make your baby crib unsafe. Make sure that all the hardware
is properly installed and is not missing or loose. If any screws are inserted
into wood and can not be tightened, then replace them with ones that can be. Keep
in mind that hardware failure is the most commone danger of hand-me-down cribs.
Make sure that all the slates are in good condition meaning that they are securely
attached to the baby crib and are not cracked or splintered. If you plan on painting
or refinishing the baby crib, use only high quality household lead-free enamel
paint. You will need to let the paint dry thoroughly so there are no residual
fumes. Check the paint can to make sure that the manufacturer does not recommend
against using the paint on such items as baby cribs. The dangerous open hook
design where the mattress support attaches to the corner posts is a common hazard
in older cribs. Maker sure your crib does not have this type of mattress support
system. Please join the effort in getting rid of unsafe baby cribs. If you find
a baby crib that does not meet these minimum safety standards, do everything you
can to get the baby crib destroyed. I'm sure you would not want the unsafe baby
crib to be used by a family who is not as aware of these safety issues. 
reproduced
with permission from http://www.dannyfoundation.org/safety_cribs.shtml
About
the author: Sarah Holmes, Ph.D. quit her full-time job in order to stay home with
her baby girl. She created www.BabyCribCentral.com
as a free resource to other new moms and dads. Her site compares prices on hundreds
of baby cribs from more than 20 online stores allowing you to find the beset price
with a click of a button. Her site also offers lots of information about the different
types of cribs as well as all sorts of safety information about how to buy and
use your new crib safely. Resources:
http://www.dannyfoundation.org
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