June 2008
Cribs
The best beds for babies are full-size cribs. Cribs are covered by federal safety standards.
Shopping Tips tell you what to look for when you buy a crib.
Safety Tips tell how to use a crib safely.
Shopping Tips
If you get a used crib, make sure:
Safety Tips
More safety tips
Shopping Tips tell you what to look for when you buy a crib.
Safety Tips tell how to use a crib safely.
Shopping Tips
- Buy a new crib if you can.
- Look for a JPMA (Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association) sticker. Cribs with this sticker meet certain safety standards.
- Cribs with metal bars under the frame (known as mattress support hangers) are the most solid.
- Cribs with sides that do not move are more stable than cribs with sides that go down. There is also less chance of parts breaking
or falling off or hardware failure due to wear and tear.
- Buy the crib mattress when you buy the crib. Make sure it fits snugly. Otherwise, a baby may get trapped in the space between
the mattress and the crib. You should not be able to put more than 2 fingers between the mattress and the crib frame.
- It was made in 2000 or later. Look on the label for the date.
- It does not have any broken, missing, or loose slats, spindles, cornerposts, or hardware.
- Cornerposts are less than 1/16 inch. Otherwise, clothing could get caught and your baby could be strangled.
- The paint is not peeling or cracking.
- There are no splinters or rough edges.
- It does not have cut-out designs in the headboard or footboard.
For more information
- Always place your baby on his back to sleep, unless your health care provider tells you not to.
- Dress your baby in a sleep sack or pajamas with feet.
- Do not use an electric blanket or heating pad. A baby's skin burns easily.
- Only use a sheet made specifically for a crib.
- If you feed your baby in your bed, put her back in her crib to sleep. Do not let her sleep in your bed. You could roll over
on her, or she could fall off or suffocate.
- Do not put your baby to sleep on a sofa, waterbed, quilt, sheepskin, pillow, or soft mattress. He could fall or suffocate.
- Do not use bumpers or any type of soft bedding in the crib.
- Do not use sleep positioners. They do not have to meet any safety standards.
- Do not use co-sleepers. These are baby beds that attach to the adult bed. They do not have to meet any safety standards.
