While today's cribs are much safer since stricter safety standards were developed in 1974, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports that there have still been about "97 crib-related deaths from 2002 through 2004."
Does that mean that your baby's crib might not be safe?
Surprisingly, the majority of these deaths weren't in baby cribs that were inherently unsafe, but instead became unsafe when they:
- had pillows, quilts, and other bedding added to them when the baby was sleeping in the crib, which is a suffocation hazard
- were in bad condition, with missing pieces, broken pieces, or loose hardware. This lead to entrapment and suffocation between the mattress, which no longer fits well, and the baby's crib
- became unsafe because they were put near other hazards, such as a window blind cord (a strangulation hazard), a baby fell out of the crib, or baby cribs were altered
So baby cribs are safe, as long as you follow basic crib safety tips to keep them safe.
Choosing a Baby Crib
Consumer Reports describes choosing baby cribs, as you do your shopping for baby products, as "among the most challenging to select."
Why can buying a baby's crib be so challenging when they all must meet the same safety standards? Part of the reason is the variety of features of baby cribs. But the biggest reason is the large range in prices you could pay for your crib -- from $100 for an economy crib at Target or about $500 to $1,000 for a high-end Bellini crib. At the extreme for baby cribs, you could spend about $2,500 for a Bonne Nuit Crib to almost $15,000 for a custom-made Fantasy Carriage Crib.
So the first step in choosing a baby crib might be to set a budget and then look for ones in your price range. You can then look for baby cribs with the features that you like.
Keep in mind that many of the more expensive cribs can convert into toddler beds or even a full-size bed. A 4-in-1 crib, for example, can convert from a baby crib into a toddler bed, daybed, and full-size bed (you may need some additional hardware and bigger mattresses though).
Most importantly, follow the advice of Consumer Reports and "buy a new, full-size crib made after 2000 that is JPMA-certified or certified to meet the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) voluntary standards."
Baby Crib Safety
Once you choose your baby's crib, put it together correctly and use it properly to make sure your baby is safe, including ensuring that:
- It has a firm mattress that fits tightly into the crib.
- You have assembled the crib properly and that no parts are loose or broken.
- There is no more than 2 3/8 inches between the slats of the crib and that there are no missing or broken slats.
- The crib doesn't have any cutouts in the headboard or footboard, in which the baby's head could get trapped, and doesn't have decorative knobs or cornerposts that are higher than 1/16 inch.
- The crib is not near a window or window blind cords.
- You do not put any stuffed toys, stuffed animals, pillows, heavy blankets, or other soft bedding in the crib with your baby, which can all be suffocation hazards.
- You don't let a blanket cover your baby's face or head. A thin blanket tucked under one end of the mattress, with your baby's feet near that end, and letting the blanket only reach up to your baby's chest is safer. Even safer though is not using a blanket at all and just dressing him in a sleeper.
It can also be important to make sure that the crib was not involved in a crib recall, or if it was, that it was properly repaired.
If borrowing or buying a used baby crib or getting one as a hand-me-down from a friend or family member, it is especially important to make sure that the crib is safe before using it.
Bumber Pads
The use of bumper pads is controversial. Since your baby's head can't fit through the slats of a crib that has been made with safety standards that were put in place in 1974, many experts question the need for the use of bumper pads. Their use is being especially discouraged by some because they have been thought to be a suffocation hazard and possible risk for SIDS.
If you do use bumper pads, use thin ones that aren't puffy, make sure they fit all around the crib, are secured in place, and remove them once your baby can stand.
Keep in mind that bumper pads are strictly a decorative feature. So save your money when choosing your baby crib and don't even buy them.
Sources:
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Safety Alert. Release #08-203. Building Baby Safety From the Ground Up. February 28, 2008.
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Crib Safety Tips.
Consumer Reports. Cribs. April 2007.
