Be sure the crib does NOT have:
- missing, loose, broken, or improperly installed screws, brackets, or other hardware on the crib or mattress support. Cribs that are assembled incorrectly and have missing, loose, or broken hardware or broken slats can cause entrapment or suffocation.
- more than 2³/8" (about the width of a soda can) between crib slats; no missing or cracked slats.
- corner posts ¹/16" higher than end panels.
- more than the width of two fingers (one inch) between the crib and the edge of the mattress.
- cutouts in the headboard or footboard that can entrap a baby’s head.
- adjustable (drop-down) sides, which can separate from the crib and create a deadly gap in which a baby’s head can get caught, causing strangulation. As of June 2010, it is illegal to manufacture, sell, or even donate drop-side cribs in the US, according to safety standards put in place by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
Safety basics
- Put your baby to sleep on his back to help prevent SIDS.
- To prevent suffocation, keep pillows, quilts, comforters, pillow-like bumper pads, and stuffed toys out of the crib.
- Consider using a one-piece sleeper instead of a blanket.
- If you use a blanket, place your baby’s feet to the foot of the crib. Tuck a thin blanket around the mattress, covering baby only as high as her chest.
- Use only a fitted bottom sheet made specifically for cribs.
- Never place a crib near windows, drapes, or blinds with long cords, which pose a strangulation hazard.
- Experts now warn against the use of sleep positioners unless prescribed by a pediatrician. The devices have been associated with suffocation.
Sources: US Consumer Product Safety Commission; the Juvenile Product Manufacturers Association; Keenan’s Kids Foundation
