9 . What Your Parents Taught You About Cribs Beds

Choosing Cribs Beds For Your Baby

Sleep is a crucial element of your baby's development. A crib helps them develop the habit of sleeping independently, and it keeps you both safe during the night.

There are a myriad of cribs that come in different sizes, styles and mattress support heights. We looked for cribs that are safe, simple to use and in line with the latest design trends.

Size

A crib is a bed made for infants and babies. There are a variety of cribs, but they are all smaller than a toddler's bed, and provide a safe sleeping place for your child. Some cribs come with wheels that allow them to be moved from room-to-room and are designed to reduce the risk of SIDS by providing a secure and comfortable environment similar to the mother's womb.

While a lot of parents want their children to stay in their cribs as long as possible, some will be ready to move them to a toddler bed sooner than others. The most common type of crib is a standard crib, that can be used from birth until the time your child is 18 months old older or is capable of climbing out.

There are also bassinets, which can be used from birth to four months, or until the baby becomes too large for it. They are smaller cribs, which are more compact, that can offer the closeness and comfort parents infants require in the early years. They are also more portable which makes them a desirable option if you are unsure of what kind of bedding you'd like for your child.

Both cribs and bassinets have safety guidelines to follow in order to protect your child. There shouldn't be a gap of more than two fingers between the crib's frame and mattress, and the slats should not be loose or absent. The bed should not have any cutouts on the headboard or footboard as this can trap the child's legs or head and increase the chance of suffocation.

Cribs can be purchased in various designs and finishes, and some have integrated changing tables or shelving units. If you intend to breastfeed, these cribs can be very convenient as you can feed your baby in the crib. If you're short on space or have a tight budget, you can still find cribs that have all the necessities.

If you have a bit more money there are cribs that will develop with your child into toddler beds, and even sofas and daybeds. These cribs are known as 4-in-1 cribs. They can be a great choice for parents who don't want to purchase an entirely new crib each time their child is out of the old one.

Style

When you are looking for a crib, consider the style of the crib in relation to your baby's nursery. If the design of your home reflects a particular direction such as rustic or contemporary it is possible to select the crib that is in line with the overall theme. There are many cribs available in various designs and shapes, with natural wood or colored finishes.

Cribs are safe places to sleep for infants. At first, they were just cribs that could be rocked. As the understanding of child safety grew, stationary cribs became the standard, and designs were adapted to provide better protection from falls or entrapment. Today's cribs come with features such as sturdy construction, the right spacing of slats, and non-toxic materials. They focus on your baby's safety and well-being.

To make life easier For convenience, you can also locate cribs with a changing table and shelving unit. It's not recommended that you use this type of crib when your baby is ready to stand up or climb, as it could make it easier for them to escape.

Some cribs come with adjustable mattress support heights, so you can lower the mattress as your baby grows. The higher setting is ideal for newborns. The lower position is ideal when your baby is able to sit up or roll over in bed. This is usually at the age of one year.

The crib's mattress can be set on a one-piece board, a grid of wood slats or spring-wire frames. Both What to Expect and Baby Bargains recommend springs made of metal because it is believed to be more stable than wood slats that can break or become loose over the course of time. The base should be solid and tightly fitted to the crib so that it does not allow air to circulate over the mattress, which could pose a potential suffocation risk for infants.

If you are planning to keep your baby in the crib for as long as you can, look into a 4-in-1 bed which can be used as an infant's bed, a daybed, and eventually, a full-size bed. They usually have rails that can be removed to facilitate the transition from a regular bed easier and, in most cases, they come with adjustable mattress heights.

Safety

It is essential to select cribs that comply with strict safety standards, irrespective of the style and design you select. In the United States this includes certifications by the Consumer Product Safety Commission and conformity with ASTM International Standards. These certifications can be found on the crib's packaging or in its description. Also, check the crib frame to see whether there are any paint or wood flaws that could be dangerous for your baby.

If you plan to buy an additional mattress for your baby's crib choose the most firm one you can find. This will decrease the risk of accidental death from inhalation. Also, ensure that the mattress is firmly seated in the crib. If the mattress is too large or too small could be dangerous for your baby, as they could be trapped between the mattress's sides and the headboard or crib sides.

Certain reports of nonfatal accidents, including 21 reported fatalities identified in the NPR and two additional fatalities reported during the NPR update, are based on the crib mattress being too soft. These incidents can lead to a range of dangers, such as gaps between the mattress and the crib's side or head and footboard that pose entrapment hazards; infants rolling onto or becoming wedged between the mattress and the wall or headboard pillows and blankets that pose risk of suffocation; mattresses that are too hot, causing infants to be afflicted with burns, rashes and other health issues.

Some manufacturers now offer "breathable" crib mattresses which claim to encourage safe sleep and prevent rebreathing, or breathing in baby's own carbon dioxide, which is hypothesized to be a contributing factor to SIDS. There is no scientific evidence that breathable crib mattresses lower the risk of SIDS.

Conversion

Adding a baby to your family typically leads to an increase in the number of items including toys and clothes to furniture for the nursery. Investing in cribs that convert into toddler beds or full-size cot beds could aid in saving money on furniture purchases and help make the transition from infant to adulthood easier for your child as well as your family. These conversion kits can be purchased for many brands of top rated cots and include an adjustable headboard and footboard. Some models are also GREENGUARD Gold Certified which means they emit low emissions of chemicals, which makes for better indoor air quality.

No matter if you choose convertible cribs or a standard crib, it is crucial to choose the correct mattress to ensure your child gets a good cribs night's rest. You can choose from foam mattress, innerspring or gel in a variety of sizes to suit your needs. To ensure your safety, pick an innerspring mattress that is at a minimum of 2 and 3/8 inches thick or an innerspring mattress that is in compliance with federal safety standards for cribs and toddler beds.

If your child is ready to transition from the crib, you'll have to buy an adult bed or a full-size bed conversion kit. It is recommended to do this before your child turns two to ensure an easy transition and to ensure that your child is at ease. Once you have your mattress and crib kit in place, it will take less than 30 minutes to change the crib into an adult-sized bed or a toddler bed.

Certain things can make the transition to the toddler bed more enjoyable for your child, such as keeping the decor and bedding uniform and moving the toddler bed into the same room as their crib. Give your child a variety of toys and stuffed animals to sleep with, and urging them to sleep at a regular schedule can help them to adjust.

A crib that converts to an adult-sized bed is an excellent way to extend the life of your investment. It also gives you an extra bed for your child. The conversion kits for these cribs come in different styles to match your other furniture pieces and are suitable for various kinds of mattresses, including twin and full size.