Crib Safety For Babies

Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010 at 4:35 am

The safety of your baby, while left unattended in his crib, is always a concern. You can ensure your child's safety by taking safeguards to avoid accidents. These are among the things you can do: • Ensure that the crib rails are high enough to prevent your baby from climbing over them. Do not leave pillows or mattresses that can make it easy for him to climb over.

• Ensure that you place your child's crib a safe distance from any windows. The curtain cords could pose a risk of strangling. If you do decide to have the crib within reach of the window, remove the cords, or use safety tassles or some other device so that your baby cannot reach for them.

• Always keep the side of the crib that drops pulled up and fastened to prevent your baby falling. This is, of course, especially crucial when the baby is alone and unattended.

• When your child starts using a bed, ensure that it has guardrails to prevent falls.

• Dress your baby in snugly fitting clothes. Clothes that fit loosely increase the risk of catching fire and burn more easily. Always buy flame resistant clothes. However, if you purchase clothes that are not flame resistant, (with yellow tag labels), ensure that they fit snugly.

• Install a smoke detector in your child's room near the crib. Remember to put in new batteries about once every year.

Your baby's crib needs to be a very safe place. Here are some tips to follow to make sure the crib will not harm your baby:

• If you buy a new mattress, be sure to remove and discard all plastic wrapping.

• The mattress should fit the crib snugly so your baby cannot slip between it and the side of the crib.

• Be sure the crib slats are no more than 2 3/8 inches apart so that your baby's head can't get caught between them.

• If you use a bumper pad, make sure that it goes all the way around the crib. Make sure the bumper pad is tied with at least six straps or ties. Ties should be no more than six inches long to prevent strangulation. Make sure your baby cannot get caught between the mattress and the bumper pad.

• Mobiles and other hanging toys should be high enough so that your baby cannot reach them.

• Do not put toys, stuffed animals, pillows or extra bedding in your baby's crib. These things can block your baby's breathing.

• Toys should not be tied to the crib because your baby can get caught in the cords.

• Cutouts in the headboard and footboard should be smaller than your baby's head so she doesn't get trapped in them.

• Place the crib away from windows. Cords attached to blinds or curtains can choke your baby if she gets caught in them.

Your baby spends the major part of the day in bed, sleeping. Therefore, it is important that the baby bedding you provide your child is comfortable, as well as easy to maintain.

Paul Banas is a founder of GreatDad.com. Breastfeeding tips for new and expecting dads. Breastfeeding is natural and important for your newborn babies.

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