BASIC IS BEST
When you're crib shopping, you may be tempted to buy the showiest model, and bumper guards and coverlets that say your nursery is fit for a prince or princess. Resist the temptation. The safest cribs are basic; they have simple lines and no scrollwork or finials--infants can strangle if their clothing gets caught in such detail work. Heeding this advice will get you a safer crib and it will save you money.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the best sleeping arrangement for a newborn is a full-size crib or safety-approved bassinet or cradle; it advises keeping your baby's crib, cradle, or bassinet in your bedroom until she's at least 6 months old. After that, it's fine to move the crib to the nursery. But we think full-size cribs, which are federally regulated, are better than bassinets and cradles, for which there are only voluntary standards.
Place your baby's crib well away from windows, window blinds, wall hangings, curtains, toys, and other furniture so that an adventurous baby can't get at anything dangerous.
For safety's sake, monitor your child's development closely and stop using a crib as soon as your toddler can climb out. At that point, consider a bed with child railings or put the mattress on the floor. Don't put your child back into the crib after the first "escape," regardless of his age. A child attempting to climb out of a crib can fall and be seriously injured.
SHOPPING SECRETS
Buy new. If possible, avoid buying or accepting a used crib. Older models may not meet current safety standards or may be in disrepair. If you must use an older crib, avoid those built before 2000, about a year after the latest voluntary standards for slat-attachment strength took effect. (Check the manufacture date on the crib label, which is required by law.) Currently, 12 states have laws banning the sale of unsafe used cribs or prohibiting their use in child-care facilities. Your state may have such a law.
Decide about drop sides. Do you want a crib with both sides that drop so that you can get your baby from either side, a crib with one side that drops, or one with stationary sides? Deciding first about drop sides will narrow the selection and make shopping easier. If you're considering a crib with no drop sides--the most stable approach--be sure to test models in the store. Cribs with stationary sides have less hardware (less chance of missing or broken parts), but if you are not tall, it can be hard to get your baby. Use the mattress' lowest setting to see how easy it is for you to bend in and pick up your baby.
If you're shopping for a crib with drop sides, operate them in the store to make sure they raise and lower smoothly and quietly. Models that open with a lift-and-leg-press action or those with a lift-and-foot-release mechanism can usually be operated with one hand--an advantage when you've got a baby in the other. Still, you'll probably raise and lower the side of the crib only during the first few months. Once babies get bigger and stand up in the crib, many parents pick them up without lowering the side. So a crib that doesn't have the best drop-side mechanism but is satisfactory in other ways can still be a good option. Of course, if the crib will be against a wall, you'll have no use for a second drop side.
Check construction and workmanship. The simplest in-store test is to shake the crib slightly to see if the frame seems loose. But be aware that display models aren't always as tightly assembled as they could be. Without applying excessive pressure, try rotating each slat to see if it's well secured to the railings. You shouldn't find loose bars on a new crib.
Look for the JPMA sticker. Manufacturers in the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association certification program are required to adhere to voluntary and mandatory standards. Look for the JPMA sticker on the crib or packaging. JPMA currently certifies the following full-size crib brands: Astro Child, Avalon Products, Baby's Dream Furniture, Bassett Furniture Industries, Bella D'Este Ltd., Bellini, Child Craft, Delta Enterprise, Dorel Juvenile Group, Evenflo, Ever Bright International, Homelegance by Topline Furniture, Jardine Enterprise, NettoCollection, Pt. Domusindo Perdana, Simmons Juvenile Furniture, Simplicity, Stork Craft, Young America, and Yu Wei Co. Ltd. For the very latest JPMA certified full-size cribs, log on to www.jpma.org and click on "Certification Program" under the "Consumer" heading.
Buy the mattress at the same time. In the store, pair the mattress and crib you plan to buy to make sure they're a good fit. (Mattresses typically are sold separately.) By law, a mattress used in a full-size crib must be at least 27 1/4 inches by 51 5/8 inches and no more than 6 inches thick. Still, do a quick check. If you can place more than two fingers between the mattress and the crib frame, the fit isn't snug enough.
WHAT'S AVAILABLE
Major brands of cribs include, in alphabetical order: Angel Line (www.angelline.com), Bellini (www.bellini.com), Bonavita (www.bonavita-cribs.com), Child Craft (makers of Child Craft and Legacy cribs, www.childcraftindustries.com), Da Vinci (can be found online at e-tailers such as www.dreamtimebaby.com and www.babyuniverse.com), Delta Enterprise (www.deltaenterprise.com), Dorel Juvenile Group (www.djgusa.com, also Cosco), Nursery Smart (www.nurserysmart.com), Simmons Kids (www.simmonskids.com), Simplicity (www.simplicityforchildren.com), Sorelle (www.sorellefurniture.com), Stanley Furniture (www.stanleyfurniture.com), Stokke (www.stokkeusa.com), Storkcraft (www.storkcraft.com), and Westwood Design (www.westwoodbaby.com). Crib prices range from $100 for economy models to over $3,000 for convertible custom models. While good values can be found, cribs are getting more expensive. In general, paying more will get you better quality in the finish, wood, design, and operating mechanism. Still, price and quality don't necessarily correlate. You can find good-quality cribs at the lowest end. Here's more on what you'll get at the various price points.
Economy cribs ($100 to $199). Models at the low end of the price scale can be adequate. Prices are low because manufacturers use less expensive materials and simpler finishes and designs. These models tend to be lighter than top-of-the-line cribs. White or pastel paint or shiny lacquer-like finish may cover wood defects, such as knots and variations in shading. You may notice minor finishing flaws, such as poorly sanded rough spots, uneven patches of paint, and the heads of metal brads or glue residue at the base of the slats. On a low-priced model, typically only one side of the crib can be released. The metal mattress support hooks at each corner may be loose. The springs supporting the mattress are lighter in construction than those in pricier models. When you shake the crib, make sure it is sturdy, not rattly.
Midpriced cribs ($200 to $499). At this price level, it becomes increasingly difficult to discern quality differences from brand to brand. You'll find a lot in this price range. These models are sturdier and more decorative than economy models. They come in an array of wood finishes, from Scandinavian-style natural to golden maple and oak shades, reddish-brown cherries, and deep mahoganies. End boards may be solid and smoothly finished, and many models have slats on all sides. The gentle curves of the end boards are well finished with rounded edges. Slats are thicker than those of economy models and may be round or flat, with rounded edges. The mattress supports on these models tend to be sturdy, the springs heavier. These cribs have single, double, or no drop sides. Locking wheels or casters (sometimes optional) provide stability. There may be one or two stabilizer bars--metal rods that extend between the two end rods--running underneath for greater rigidity. The best-made cribs in this category have recessed guides--a grooved channel in each end board for the drop side, no exposed brads or glue residue where the slats are fastened to the rails, and a uniform finish. They may have extra-high posts, canopies, or a storage drawer underneath.
In this price range you'll find cribs that convert into other configurations. One type, typically called a 3-in-1 crib, converts to a daybed and to a full size bed. You'll also find 4-in-1 cribs that convert to a toddler bed, a daybed, and a full-size bed. The most versatile cribs can become a toddler bed, a full-size bed and a love seat.
High-end cribs ($500 and up). These models, many of them imported from Europe, have hand-rubbed, glazed, or burnished finishes. You'll see round cribs (still a novelty, though they've been around awhile), sleigh styles with curved end boards and hand-painted details, and models handcrafted from wrought iron. These cribs may have single, double, or no drop sides. On some with drop sides, the hardware is recessed and may be so well hidden that it's difficult to tell if the side lowers. The mattress is supported by heavy-gauge springs and heavyweight metal frames and may adjust to four heights. These cribs may include a drawer and convert to a daybed/toddler bed or other nursery furniture. At the highest end, you'll find custom-made regular and convertible cribs that may be sold as part of a nursery suite; a fairy-tale canopy may be part of the ensemble.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Buy a new, full-size crib made after 2000 that is JPMA-certified or certified to meet the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) voluntary standards (ASTM F-1169 and ASTM F-966). Certification assures you that the crib conforms to the latest federal and voluntary safety standards. Still, be on the lookout for safety hazards. Even when you're buying new, take along a soda can when you shop. If you can pass the can between the slats, they're too far apart. Check for sharp edges and protruding screws, nuts, corner posts, decorative knobs, and other pieces that could catch a baby's clothing at the neck. Buying new will help protect your baby from hidden dangers such as drop sides, slats, or hardware that may have been weakened by rough use, or excessive dampness or heat during storage. By law, the production date of the crib has to be displayed both on the crib and on its shipping carton.
Cribs are shipped unassembled, so if you're not certain you can put a crib together correctly (typically a two-person job that requires a full hour--from unpacking to complete assembly), ask the retailer to send a qualified assembly crew to your home. This can cost an extra $70 or more unless assembly is included in the retail price, but it can give you valuable peace of mind. Besides saving tempers and fingers, having the store assemble the crib allows you to inspect it on the spot--and reject it if you discover flaws.
If you assemble the crib, put it together where your baby will be sleeping initially, such as in your bedroom (recommended for your baby's first six months). Once it's put together, the crib may not fit through a small door, and you may need to dissemble and reassemble it again in your baby's nursery six months later. That's not convenient, but you'll have the reassurance that your baby is sleeping in the safest possible place.
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SAFETY TIP |
