|
|
A
safe crib is the best place to put your baby to sleep. Tragically however,
each year about 50 babies suffocate or strangle when they become trapped
between broken crib parts or in cribs with older, unsafe designs.
If your crib does not meet the following guidelines, destroy it and
replace it with a safe crib with a certification seal showing that it
meets national safety standards.
|
|
|
A
safe crib has:
- No
missing, loose, broken, or improperly-installed screws, brackets, or
other hardware on the crib or the mattress support.
- No
more than 2 3/8 inches between crib slats so a baby's body cannot fit
through the slats.
- A
firm, snug-fitting mattress so a baby cannot get trapped between the
mattress and the side of the crib.
- No
corner posts over 1/16 of an inch above the end panels (unless they
are over 16 inches high for a canopy) so a baby cannot catch clothing
and strangle.
- No
cutout areas on the headboard or foot board so a baby's head cannot
get trapped.
- A
mattress support that does not easily pull apart from the corner posts
so a baby cannot get trapped between mattress and crib.
- No
cracked or peeling paint to prevent lead poisoning
- No
splinters or rough edges.
The Consumer Product Safety
Commission offers these guidelines:
For
infants under 12 months of age, follow these practices to prevent
suffocation and keep your baby safe:
- Place
baby on his/her back in a crib with a firm, tight-fitting
mattress.
- Do
not put pillows, quilts, comforters, sheepskins, pillow-like
bumper pads or pillow-like stuffed toys in the crib.
- Consider
using a sleeper instead of a blanket.
- If
you do use a blanket, place baby with feet to foot of the crib.
Tuck a thin blanket around the crib mattress, covering baby only
as high as his/her chest.
- Use
only a fitted bottom sheet specifically made for crib use.
|
For
mesh-sided cribs or play yards, look for:
- Mesh
less than 1/4 inch in size, smaller than the tiny buttons on a
baby's clothing.
- Mesh
with no tears, holes or loose threads that could entangle a
baby.
- Mesh
securely attached to top rail and floor plate.
- Top
rail cover with no tears or holes.
- If
staples are used, they are not missing, loose or exposed.
|
Source:
the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
|
|
