Congratulations!  You have just learned that you are having a baby.  Whether this is your first or not you need to look at cribs.  Do you have one already?  Is it an antique?  A second hand crib whether antique or not needs to be carefully looked at.  This is for the safety of your new baby.

The screws, bolts, and/or other fasteners should all be in place. Are they loose?  Will the position of the mattress hold under your baby's weight? It is imperative that this be tested before you put your baby in the crib. Take something that approximates the weight of your baby at about 4 months old.  Bounce it off the mattress to be certain it will hold its position. If it doesn't it could cause serious injury to your baby or worse.

When setting up the nursery (if it isn't already up) consider very carefully where you will place the crib.  If you place the crib near a window and you have Venetian blinds, either shorten the cords or anchor them somewhere that your baby can't reach and get a hold of them.  If it all possible avoid placing the crib near the window. As your baby grows into a toddler and s/he attempts to climb out of the crib; s/he could possibly fall which could cause serious injury to your baby.

Blankets and your baby are not necessarily a good mix. With the incidents of SIDS today, you want to be sure to do everything that could possibly put your infant at risk.  It is more advisable to put your baby to bed in a sleeper. If you absolutely have to have a blanket on the baby, tuck it tightly around and under the foot of the mattress with your baby's feet touching the footboard.  Also you don't want to put the blanket any higher on the baby than up to his chest as that will help prevent him from slipping under the blankets and suffocating.  

Bumper pads are a great concept but unless they are secured properly, there is a risk of your baby slipping between the mattress and the bumpers and possibly suffocating.  If you use them they should be anchored in at least eight places one at each corner of the crib and at least two spaced evenly on each of the sides. There should be a total of 16 ties in all, for the top and bottom.

Mobiles are a nice addition and look adorable but... the caution here is that if you use a mobile as soon as your baby starts to sit up on his own the mobile should be taken down to prevent your baby from getting tangled in it. Also make sure that it has no small removable parts that your baby could choke on.
If your crib is second hand no matter whether you had for a previous child or you got it from someone else check out the mattress carefully. Make sure there are no cracks or holes in the mattress covering. Make sure too that the mattress properly fits in the crib. Here again, your child could slip between the mattress and the sidebars or the end boards and suffocate.  The mattress should fit snugly in the crib.  Now the sheets you use in your baby's crib should also fit properly and not slip and slide.  Sheet anchors are available that hook on the sheet under the mattress and keep it in place.

The position of the mattress is imperative for your child's safety. Most parents put the mattress at the highest position when the baby first comes home because it is so much easier to change him in that position. As your baby becomes more active you will want to lower the mattress accordingly. Once your baby is able to pull up to a standing position put the mattress in the lowest possible position and to be sure your baby is safe, measure the distance between the top of the side bar and the mattress.  In the lowest position the distance of the top of the side bar should be no more than 26 inches above the mattress.  If your child's head is over the side bar or they climb out of the crib, it maybe time to move your child to a regular bed. Some cribs are convertible into beds tat will grow with your child.

The crib itself should be looked over for things that might put your baby at risk. Have you seen those cribs that have ornate designs carved into the end boards?  They are beautiful but they pose a danger to your child. Your child could get his head or arm and leg caught and sustain an injury. The simpler the design of the crib the safer your child may be.

Since approximately 1974 federal safety guidelines for cribs state that the slats should be no more than 2 3/8 inches apart. This is to prevent your baby from getting his head stuck between the slats.  This could cause injury to your baby but it would necessitate the removal of some of the slats and that alone would compromise your baby's safety.

You have just learned that you are expecting a baby. Even if you have other children, you must take a look at cribs. Is the crib you already have an antique? You should look carefully at your second hand crib whether it is an antique or not.

The safety of your new baby makes this necessary. The screws and/or other fasteners such as bolts must be in place and not loose. It is of the utmost importance that this is tested before you place your baby in the crib.

Take something that is almost equal to your 4-month-old baby's weight. In order to be certain that it will hold its position bounce it off the mattress. If it doesn't your baby could be hurt seriously or worse. When you set up your nursery, if it isn't set-up already, seriously consider where you will place your crib.

If you have to place the crib near a window with Venetian blinds, you can either shorten the cords or anchor them to prevent your baby from reaching and getting hold of them. Avoid, if possible placing the crib near the window. As your baby grows into a toddler and begins to climb out of the crib, s/he could become seriously injured in a fall.

Blankets are not necessarily a good idea to use with your baby. Be sure that you avoid anything that could put your baby at risk, especially in the light of SIDS incidents today. The most advisable way to put your baby to bed is in a blanket sleeper.

Make sure to tuck the blanket tightly around and under the foot of the mattress with you baby's feet touching the footboard if you must have a blanket on your baby. You also want to help prevent your baby from sliding under the blanket and suffocating by not putting the blanket any higher than his chest.

There is a risk of your baby slipping between the mattress and the bumper pads causing suffocation, if bumper pads, which are a great concept, are not secured properly. Bumper pads if used should be fastened in each of the four corners and evenly spaced on each of the two sides. There should be sixteen ties in all, eight for the top and eight for the bottom.

Although mobiles are nice additions you need to take a precaution to prevent your baby from getting entangled in it. It must be removed when your baby starts sitting up by himself. You must also check to see if there are small parts that are removable that your baby could choke on.

No matter is your crib is second hand or one you had for a previous child, or you got it from someone else, the mattress must by checked out carefully. The mattress covering should be checked for any holes or cracks.

The mattress must fit in the crib properly. Your baby could slip between the mattress and side or end bars and suffocate if you are not careful. The mattress should be snug in the crib. The sheets you use in your baby crib should fit properly and not slip and slide.

There are sheet hooks available that attach to the sheet under the mattress and keep it in place. Placing the mattress in the proper position is extremely important to your baby's safety. When the baby comes home most parents put the mattress in the highest position because it is easier to reach the baby and change him.

Lower the mattress according to the growth and activity of your baby. If your baby can come to a standing position in the crib the mattress should be put in the lowest position and to add to his safety you should measure the distance between the mattress and the top of the sidebar.

There should be no more than 26 inches from the top of the side bar to the mattress when it is in the lowest position. Moving your child to a regular bed might be a good idea if your child is climbing out of the crib or his head is above the side bar.

There are convertible cribs that become beds and grow with your child. Inspect your child's crib to be sure there is nothing that will put your baby at risk. The ornate designs carved into the end boards of cribs are beautiful but could pose a hazard to your child. Have you seen them?

Your child could be injured if his head, arm, or leg get caught in them and possibly sustain an injury. A simpler design may increase your child's safety. Safety guidelines from 1974 for cribs state that slats should be no more than 2 and 3/8th inches apart; to keep your baby from getting his head caught between the slats.

Your baby's safety could be compromised if getting stuck caused him injury and necessitating the removal of some slats.

Having a crib makes your baby safe while playing and helps make your baby sitting easier. When it comes to babies, safety is first in the list, next should be the comfort. Cribs do not provide the comfort that a baby needs that's why we have beddings specially made for cribs. Crib beddings provide the comfort that your baby deserves with its soft and smooth texture.

Crib beddings are using a special matte that will prevent your baby's sensitive skin from irritation Essentially, crib bedding is made of durable and soft yet dense mattress for the pillows, pillowcases and pouf. Crib bedding is available in different styles and patterns, and always come with a set of accessories that includes dust ruffles, diaper stackers and valances. Crib sets are normally sold/bought in four or six pieces, you can either purchase it as a set or separately.

Since babies grow fast they tend to outgrow their cribs in a year or two and parents are unlikely to buy crib bedding several times since it will be of no use when the baby won't stay inside the crib it is best to purchase a stain-proof and waterproof mattress. The crib mattress must cuddly fit into the crib and there'll be no slots to prevent a leg, arm or head being jammed.

When we talk about sheets natural fabrics are the advisable. Silks and satins should be removed from the list of fabric choices for crib bedding , yes they do look fancy but babies do have tender skin, and silks and satins do not feel as comfortable as cotton and flannel. To avoid suffocation in the future it is advisable to avoid using pillows inside the crib when the baby is left unattended.

Cribs are used today for all infants up until about age 2 or 3. But this wasn't always the case. The history of baby cribs goes back several hundred years ago.

Before babies had cribs they usually slept with their parents. Bedrooms were rare until the mid 17th century. At that time beds were present in each room and were also used as sitting areas similar to the way a daybed is used today.

Early beds were actually enclosures that had either walls or draped fabric to keep the bed and its occupants warm at night. As homes became more well-insulated and better heated bedrooms started to become popular.

The first type of cribs used were probably more like cradles. They typically were small free-standing beds that could be placed right next to the parent's bed for easy accessibility. The baby cradle was homemade with the first ones often being made from a hollowed out log. Many cradles were made on a frame so they could rock gently.

Once the child outgrew the tiny cradle they often slept in a small bed that could fit under the parent's bed for storage during the day. This was the beginning of the trundle bed and was considered a toddler bed. Cradles were made of many different materials but were most often made of wood that could be found easily. Cradles began to be designed and produced by woodworkers who also designed other home furnishings of the time.

The baby crib, as we know it didn't come into common use until the 19th century. The crib was most likely designed to take the place of the cradle. As homes became larger there was enough space to use a crib that the child could sleep in for more than a year. Most cribs were constructed of wood and were often made by the husband. Cribs were often passed down through many children of the household.

During this time there were many children in a family and each one would use the crib for the first year or until the next child came along. The nursery started as a small nook located adjacent to the parent's bedroom. Eventually the idea of the child having his or her own room came to be the standard. Wealthy families who could afford a full time nanny were able to have a separate room for the child.

As children outgrew the crib they would take a bed in the children's bedroom, which was often shared by many children. Eventually homes were built with more bedrooms so they could accommodate more children.

Crib design through the years has shown a steady improvement of features yet the same basic shape and form have remained the same. Nowadays cribs are under stringent safety rules to ensure that children are safe from harm in their cribs. These standards are continually updated and new products are tested for safety. Parents still need to take precautions to ensure the safety of their child in the crib. A visual inspection of the crib and its hardware should be done monthly and any loose hardware should be fixed.

Consumer Reports Best Baby Products gives information about the best baby cribs based on their tests and product reviews. A baby crib is one of the most important items that new parents purchase for their child. The baby spends most of its time in the crib, particularly as a newborn.

Consumer reports on baby cribs advises that the safest cribs are those which use the least loose fitting bedding such as blankets and pillows. These items cause the most risk to babies due to the possibility of suffocation and SIDS hazard.

According to consumer reports, the best cribs are those that are most simple. The first decision is whether to get a crib with a drop side. The drop side allows for easy access to the baby but if installed incorrectly can pose a threat to the infant. Some cribs have two drop sides. To check the structure of the crib Consumer Reports suggests that you check the in-store model of the crib before making any decisions. The crib sides should lock into place and should not move down without excessive pressure applied. You should not be able to move the sides without at least ten pounds or more of pressure.

The best cribs, according to consumer reports on baby cribs, are those that have the simplest lines. When purchasing a new crib be sure that it made well and that all the slats are held tightly in place. Avoid cribs that have cutouts on the head or foot ends as these can catch tiny fingers and hands. Slats should be no further than 2 3/8 inches apart. All cribs manufactured after 1974 must adhere to these standards.

The crib mattress is important also. The mattress must fit tightly into the crib. You should not be able to put two fingers width between the mattress and the side of the crib. If you can, the mattress is too small and can pose a hazard. The mattress should not be covered in protective plastic as this can cause a possible suffocation problem. Bedding should be kept tight on the bed. Do not use a loose pillow with an infant. Pillows should be decorative only and must be removed when the child is in the crib.

Through the years new criteria continue to be added to the crib safety standards. If you are planning on using a crib that was made before 1986 be sure to check it for all possible problems. Review the site to find out if the crib was recalled for safety. Measure the slats and check all hardware for possible choking hazards. Be sure that the mattress you get will fit into the crib snugly. When in doubt it is best to purchase a new crib.

A new single-drop side crib is typically priced below $300, making it an affordable purchase. Check safety and convenience features. Cribs are now available that convert into toddler beds, daybeds and even full size beds to grow with the child. Check these as you would any crib to ensure that it is safe.

As children grow you need to ensure that they cannot climb or fall out of the crib. Most cribs have adjustable mattress positions which allow you to lower the bed as a child grows. When the child stands the top of the crib side should not be lower than his chest, with the side in the highest position. Once the child reaches this size you need to move the child from the crib to a toddler bed.