Remember, bare is best. The safest crib is one that has a firm mattress that meets the federally mandated measurements of 27 1/4 inches by 51 5/8 inches and is no more than six inches thick. It has a snug-fitting mattress pad and fitted crib sheet--and nothing else. Don't buy puffy or padded bumper guards, stuffed animals, pillows, quilts, or a duvet for your baby's crib. Experts have long recognized the suffocation risk inherent in such soft crib bedding.

If you choose to use a crib bumper, make sure it's meshy, thin, firm, and securely tied. Be sure to remove a bumper as soon as your baby can pull up to a standing position so he can't use it as a stepping stool to climb out. The bumper should fit around the entire crib and tie or snap securely in at least six locations. Bumper ties should be no more than 7 inches long.