Parent and Baby

Here are some tips and should be look into when buying a baby crib or playpen for your baby’s safety. These tips and guide is from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commision.

There should be:

• A firm, tight-fitting mattress so a baby cannot get trapped between the mattress and the crib.
• Cribs that are assembled wrong, have missing, loose or broken hardware or broken slats can result in entrapment or suffocation deaths. Infants can strangle when their head and neck become entrapped in gaps created by missing, loose or broken hardware or broken slats.
• No missing, loose, broken or improperly installed screws, brackets or other hardware on the crib or mattress support.
• No more than 2 3/8 inches (about the width of a soda can) between crib slats so a baby’s body cannot fit through the slats; no missing or cracked slats.
• No corner posts over 1/16th inch high so a baby’s clothing cannot catch.
• No cutouts in the headboard or foot board so a baby’s head cannot get trapped.

For mesh-sided cribs or playpens, 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.