How to Choose an Infant Crib

Infants can spend as many as 19 hours sleeping a day, according to Parenting Science, and much of that time may be spent in a crib. However, cribs can pose risks to the babies and toddlers who use them. A 2011 study in "Pediatrics" found that between 1990 and 2008 an average of 9,561 children younger than age 2 were injured each year in infant beds, and 83.2 percent of those injuries involved cribs. To ensure your child has the safest place to sleep, follow the most up-to-date safety standards when selecting your baby's crib. (See References 1 and 2 Page 2)

Instructions

    • 1

      Check whether the crib has been certified by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA). JPMA certification ensures that cribs have been designed and tested to meet the American Society for Testing & Materials International's exacting safety standards, which a 2007 Senate hearing found reduced crib fatalities by 89 percent. (See References 3) For this reason, it's optimal to purchase a new crib, but if you can't carefully inspect the crib using the following steps.

    • 2

      Choose a crib with gaps no wider than 2-3/8 inches --- approximately the size of a soda can --- between the slats. Wider gaps between the slats can possible kill a baby if its body, but not head, slips through the slats. (See References 4 and 5)

    • 3

      Select a crib with safe panels and corner posts. Choose solid railings and end panels, since those with decorative cutouts can trap a baby's head or arm. Look for corner posts that are either flush with the end panels or at least 16 inches tall. Short corner posts pose a strangulation risk if they catch a baby's clothing. Clothing can also catch on posts higher than the side panels. (See References 4 and 5)

    • 4

      Inspect the crib for manufacturing defects and wear. Ensure that the crib comes with all the original hardware. Shake the crib to check for sturdiness. A wobbly crib may be poorly made or have been put together incorrectly. Avoid cribs with peeling paint a baby could try to eat, rough wood that might cause splinters or any broken pieces. (See References 4 and 5)

    • 5

      Make sure the crib mattress fits tightly into the frame. If you can fit two fingers between the mattress and frame, find a larger mattress to prevent your baby's arms or legs from becoming trapped in the gap. (See References 4 and 5)

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