Did you know?
It is illegal to manufacture, sell or donate drop-side cribs in the United States. Drop-side cribs allowed for gaps and other dangerous situations that could harm your baby. The recalls for safety on these types of cribs led to it's demise in 2011.
Increased Safety
Safety rules for cribs have increased to include strengthened crib slats, crib mattress support and improved quality of materials used to build the furniture. To ensure you are using the safest version, refer to the manufacturer date which should be after 2012. If you decide on buying a used crib, ensure it has all of the required pieces and that it is safely assembled in the correct order.
General Crib Safety
Place your baby on his/her back without pillows, bumper pads, quilts, toys or comforters. Should you choose to use a blanket instead of a sleeper, ensure that it is tucked around the crib mattress and is light weight. Place your baby's feet to the foot of the crib and the blanket should go no higher than the chest.
Use mattresses designed specifically for your crib and a sheet specifically made for crib use. The fitted bottom sheet should fit securely and tightly.
The crib slats should not be damaged or missing and no more than 2 3/8 inches between. There should be no cutouts in the header or footer of the crib that baby could get his/her head stuck in. Beware of missing pieces or broken items when inspecting your crib. Your baby can suffocate from becoming stuck in cutouts or through the slats on the sides.
A Note About Mesh-Sided Cribs
Ensure the mesh is less than 1/4 inch in size. The mesh should not have any tears, loose threads or holes that your baby could become stuck in or could become entangled with. The mesh should securely attached to the top and bottom. If the crib uses staples, these should be checked to ensure they aren't missing or loose.