What do you look for in a baby crib?

Question

When I look a cribs I am looking for how cute it is or how it will match with the sheets and blankets I want to get. What type of safety features should I look for when purchasing a crib?

Answer 1

NUMBER ONE. Make sure the bars are the correct width apart for saftey. If you buy an older version that would apply.

I would go to Babys R Us if you have one near you and talk with them. They should show you all the new and cute styles.

Answer 2

1) Be sure there are no little spaces for decoration that could pose a risk for children

2) The biggest thing is cost. What can you honestly afford? We have a $100 crib that works great.

3) Right now the biggest thing are convertible cribs. However, if you want to have more than one kid it's not going to be very practical.

4) When purchasing a crib, look for how the side rails drop. That will be VERY important for the baby as s/he grows older.

Answer 3

Biggest safety feature of course is the distance between the vertical slats being no more than 2- 3/8 inches. Other than that, I would look for a height-adjustable crib that will set the mattress at the same level as the parents bed, to use alongside the bed for co-sleeping. Also, check the latches to make sure there isn't any way for the baby to get their fingers pinched in the mechanism. Lots of older cribs were notorious for this; I'm not sure if they still use those sorts of latches.

Answer 4

When you look for a crib, make sure that the bars go up high enough so that when the baby gets older, say one year or so, it still can't get out. Also, try to find one where the bars can lower, so it is easier to get your baby out. Of course, how cute it is, and how well it will match with the sheets is also important, lol, but the above that I listed are the main features I would look for., Also, you should get a cloth guard to put around the rails after you buy it, so that your baby's arms or legs don't get stuck in-between the bars:) good luck!!

Answer 5

I bought my crib because I thought it was beautiful and it matched the furniture. Now that I have a baby I know what I should have looked for. For one, a drop side is awesome (my crib doesn't have one) they are so handy for putting a sleeping baby into the crib, something that's almost impossible now that I have to have his crib on the lowest setting. Secondly, make sure the bumber ties match up with where the rails are and that the ties will actually fit around the slats, I had to cut my ties off and sew them back on in a different place. Also important, make sure it is very sturdy, the mattress fits snugly, it shouldn't rock very much if you shake it because the baby will pull hard on the rails and some older cribs the screws will pull out or it can even tip.

Answer 6

When me and my fiance went crib shopping we looked for stability. We found one at Babies R Us. They have a great selection. We got a solid wooden one that is very sturdy and it didn't have the plastic brackets that you see on alot of cribs. We paid $299 for our crib and it is a lifetime crib. It is a crib, then turns to a toddler bed and then turns into a full size bed. But if you can get to a Babies R Us then you should go-they have a great selection in all price ranges. Good Luck!!

Answer 7

I would buy new and cheap. My son was only in a crib for a year and about 6 months. The child will chew on it once they get teeth which will probally be in the first 9 months of life. Make sure you can adjust the height of the mattress and the side moves up and down. Most K-Mart, Target, and Walmart stores offer a 99 dollar crib that meets all current safety requirements. We spent about 400 dollars and it was a complete waste of money. I resold the crib for about 50 dollars on craigslist once I was done with it. Get a good mattress. Sink your money into the stroller and diaper bag they will get the most use of anything you purchase.

Answer 8

Make sure the bars are not too wide. If they are wider than a pop can (in diameter, not length) than the bars are too wide and it is not safe. Don't look for cutsie stuff, look for durable quality stuff. I would also recommend getting a crib that converts into the toddler bed and eventually the full size bed. Cost efficient to do it that way.

Answer 9

cribs now a days are so safe, it's almost silly. but look for one with strong sturdy bars that aren't too far apart. if it looks like you could easily put your foot thru it with little or no effort at all, move on to the next one. the way in which you can raise and lower the sides was also very important to me. i didn't want to be fussing with trying to get it open at 3 am and i also didn't want a crib that didn't have moveable sides since i'm short i didn't want to feel like i was dropping him into the bed. it was also important to me that i be able to use it for a while...i got one that was convertible into a twin sized bed by removing a few pieces. it was great!!

Answer 10

I'm a first time mom and asked my mom and grandma about it and talked to many doctors and other moms and i was out looking for one for my baby boy and they said as long as theres no carved designs in the headboard or foot board and the bars width are less then the size of a pop can and it has a steady base to it your find just remember not to put any pillows in it make sure that the sheets you choose are very tight fitting so that way they don't get any means of suffocating