Today the number of baby cribs to choose from is endless in styles and cost ranges. Safety is the first concern when deciding on purchasing a crib even though choices can be hard with so many cute ones to choose from. The baby depends on others to make wise choices and to keep them safe. Thinking about the placement of the crib is important because there should be no clutter around the bed. Baby cribs must be easy to get to when in use. You want to choose the best crib possible for your money. There are some things to look for when thinking about safety.

Always remember, safety comes first when purchasing baby cribs. All new cribs in the U.S. have to meet specific guidelines for safety but a lot of families and individuals will pass cribs down from one to another. This is why safety checks for new or used cribs are so important. In the case of a used crib be sure that you do all the repairs so that it will meet safety standards before use. Check all posts to be sure they are secure and none are missing. Head boards as well as foot boards should not have any type of cutouts that the baby can get caught in or hurt on. Be sure that you check all fasteners used to put the bed together are secure and none are missing.

The sides and corner posts of a baby crib are another issue that can involve a good deal of checking. Crib slats on the headboard, footboard and/or sides of the crib should not be over 2-1/8 apart. Any further and your baby could possibly get his or her little head stuck in between. All corner posts of the crib should be no higher than 1/16 above the head or footboard. Any higher and these could pose a hanging hazard. No matter if the crib comes with one or both sides that can be lowered to reach you little one, you should check them out. Make sure that the latching mechanisms are functioning properly especially their ability to properly latch closed. A baby crib with defective latches could allow the sides to drop open and the baby could possibly get injured.

The next issue in safety for baby cribs is the mattress that will be used. Even for those cribs that come with a mattress make sure that it fits snuggly into the crib on every side. It is no surprise that babies are movers, even newborns. You dont want a baby to get caught between the sides and the mattress. Mattresses should always be kept at the lowest possible position or closest to the floor.

Even though baby cribs come in different styles and sizes, you can be sure that they have the safest area possible to sleep by doing safety checks. Always thoroughly check out the crib from top to bottom to keep them safe. Babies depend on us to keep them safe, healthy and happy so dont forget to do your safety checks