Crib Safety
Crib Design
Dispose of antique cribs with decorative
cutouts, corner posts or lead paint. They are
potentially fatal for your baby. The space
between the slats should be no
more than 2−3/8 inches apart to prevent
infants from getting their head stuck between
them. Cribs manufactured after 1974 must
meet this and other strict safety standards.
The corner posts should be the same height
as the end panels or less than 1/16 of an inch
higher than the end panels. No cut−out areas
on the headboard or
footboard so a baby's head cannot get
trapped. The top rails of crib sides, in their
raised
position, should be at least 26 inches above
the top of the mattress support at its lowest
position. As soon as the child can pull
himself to a
standing position, set and keep the mattress at
its lowest position. Stop using the crib once
the
height of the top rails is less than
three−fourths
of the child's height. The drop side(s) of the
crib should require two
distinct actions or a minimum force of ten
pounds with one action to release the latch or
the locks to prevent accidental release by the
child. The crib hardware should be checked for
disengaged, broken, bent or loose pieces.
Special checks should be made of the
mattress support hangers and brackets so
they cannot drop. The hardware and the crib
should be smooth and free of sharp edges,
points and rough surfaces. Mattress
The mattress should fit snugly next to the
crib
so that there is no gap. If two adult fingers
can
be placed between the mattress and the crib,
the mattress should be immediately replaced.
Do not use plastic packaging materials, such
as dry cleaning bags, as mattress covers.
Plastic film can cling to children's faces and
should never be in or near the crib. Put your
baby to sleep on his or her back or
side in a crib with a firm, flat mattress and no
soft bedding underneath. Talk to your
pediatrician about which sleeping position is
best for you child.
Crib Accessories |
