Baby Crib Essentials and Shopping Tips

So much goes into preparing your home for a baby. And one of the major decisions you and your spouse or partner would have to deal with would involve the crib. It’s a vitally important piece of baby furniture and one you can’t pick out at random. Sound intimidating? It doesn’t have to be, with the right help. Here are a few shopping tips to help you throughout the buying process:

• Mattress choices. Pick a foam crib mattress. It’s not expensive so that’s already a plus.

• Slats size. According to Healthy Children Org, crib slats should be spaced apart by not more than 23/8 inches.  That’s the ideal space since the slats are close enough to prevent your baby’s head from slipping right through. With the right measurements, you can make sure sleeping accidents won’t happen to your baby.

• Corner posts. Keeping corner posts short, or about 1/16 of an inch, helps prevent your baby’s clothes from catching on them, thus preventing any clothing mishaps and accidents.

• Mattress height. Some cribs come with adjustable mattress support. You can use this to adjust the height of the mattress. Lower it down when your child starts trying to climb out of the climb. This way, they won’t climb and fall out of the crib from that height.

• Rattles and wobbles. Before you buy the crib, give it a good shake! When you get home and finish putting together the crib, test it again. Does it wobble or rattle? Maybe you missed a step. However, rattles and wobbles could be a sign that the crib isn’t as sturdy as you want or need it to be so move on to another choice. Baby cribs from companies like The Honest Company are ideal if you want quality you can trust.

• Snug fit. The mattress should fit snugly into the inside of the crib. If you can squeeze in more than 2 fingers into the sides of the mattress, then that’s too much space. While it might not mean much, your baby could get in a whole lot of trouble in that space. He could get trapped, or, worse suffocate if he tries to fit his head into that space.
• Convertible advantage. Some baby cribs offer great multipurpose features. Some pack in an extra storage space along the side for all the necessary baby stuff and gear. Others are designed as convertible units. So when your baby becomes a toddler, you can reuse the crib as a toddler bed, saving you money in the process.

Crib Essentials

Getting the right mattress for your crib is important, in this guide you will find the best mattresses you can buy for a crib. 

• Pick a sturdy crib. According to Baby Center, kids typically transfer to a real bed when they turn 2 or 3. Until then, they’ll spend their sleeping hours in the hour. So you’ll want something tough, durable, and sturdy.

• Buy one. Parent Guide says it’s a good idea to buy a crib before your baby arrives. That way, everything is ready. When the baby comes, you might be too busy from the round-the-clock feedings, diaper-changing and sleepless nights to even spend a spare minute on yourself, much less on picking out a great crib.

• Put it away from windows. Putting your baby’s crib under a window could expose your baby to drafts or direct sunshine, both of which could result in unnecessary discomfort for your baby.

• Keep away from cords. Here’s another reason to keep your baby away from the risks posed by windows. Windows often have window blinds and draperies to go with. When babies try to climb out of the crib, they tend to reach for anything. If they reach for the cord, accidents could happen. They could end up strangling themselves. That or they could use those cords to climb out of the crib and fall through the window.

• Put it Far from the Radiator Heat. Remember not to put the crib near the radiator either. The heat could rub off on the crib and make it uncomfortably hot for your baby. This could result in unpleasant rashes.
• Use a wireless baby monitor. Because of its proximity to the baby’s crib, baby monitors with cords are also potential health hazards. So trade those in for a wireless one.

• Keep stuffed toys out of the crib. Cute toys, fluffy toys, colorful toys—they might look soft and cuddly but they could lead to crib accidents. Your baby could climb out of the crib by stepping on them and he could fall to the floor and hit his head. Keep that from happening by banishing the toys to the toy cabinet—which is where they should be.  

Make sure you read through these lists for an easier time at choosing the right baby crib for your baby. With a great crib, you’ve got one thing less to worry about.