Choosing Cribs Beds For Your Baby
Sleep is an essential aspect of the life of your baby. A crib will help your baby develop the habit of sleeping on their own and keep you both safe at night.
There are a variety of cribs, each with different sizes styles, designs, and mattress support heights. We looked for cribs that are secure and easy to use and compatible with modern aesthetics.
Size
A crib is a bed made for infants and babies. There are several different types of cribs available, but they are all smaller than a toddler bed and offer an appropriate place for your child to sleep. Some cribs have wheels that let them be moved from room to room, and most are designed to lower the risk of SIDS by providing a supportive and comfortable environment similar to the womb.
Some parents would prefer to keep their baby in the crib for as long as they can, but others may be ready to switch them to a toddler's bed sooner. The most commonly used type of crib is a standard crib which can be used from birth until your child is around 18 months older or is capable of getting out.
Bassinets can be used for infants from birth to four months, or until they become too big. They are smaller and less bulky than cribs, yet they offer the comfort and closeness to parents that some infants need during their first few months. They also are smaller and therefore a great alternative if you're not sure which bedding type your child will prefer.
Both bassinets and cribs are required to adhere to safety guidelines to follow in order to protect your child. For instance, there must be no gaps greater than two fingers between the mattress and the crib frame and the slats shouldn't be loose or missing. The bed should not have any cutouts on the footboard or headboard as this can trap the child's head or legs and increase the risk for the child to suffocate.
There are cribs available in many different styles and finishes. Some have integrated shelves or changing tables. If you plan to breastfeed, these cribs can be very useful as you can nurse your baby inside the crib. If you're short on space or have a small budget you can still find cribs with all the necessities.
If you have a little more money to spend on a crib, you can find one that can be adapted to expand with your child to toddler beds, and even daybeds and sofas. Best cot for newborn are known as 4-in-1 cribs, and they can be a great choice for parents who don't want a new one every time their child grows out of the old crib.
Style
When choosing a crib, consider its style in relation to the style of the nursery. If the style of your home is influenced by an inclination like rustic or contemporary it is possible to pick the crib that is in line with the overall theme. There are many cribs available in various designs and shapes that come with natural wood or color finishes.
Cribs have a long-standing tradition of providing safe sleeping areas for infants. At first, they were cradles which could be rocked. As the understanding of child safety evolved and cribs became stationary design, the cribs were redesigned to provide more protection from falls or entrapment. Today's cribs are equipped with features like sturdy construction, the right spacing of slats and non-toxic materials, all prioritizing your baby's safety and wellbeing.
For ease of use You can also find cribs that have a changing table and shelving unit. This kind of crib is not recommended for infants who are not yet ready to climb or stand. It could make it easier for them to escape.
Some cribs have adjustable mattress support heights, meaning you can lower it as your baby grows. The higher setting works well for babies. The lower position is best used when your baby can sit up or roll over in the bed. This is usually at the age of one year.
The mattress can be placed on a single piece of board or grid of wood slats, or spring-wire frame. Both What to Expect and Baby Bargains recommend springs made of metal, because it is believed to be more sturdy than wooden slats which can break or become loose over the course of time. The base must be secure and firm to prevent excess air from circulating around the mattress. This could cause a suffocation hazard for infants.
If you plan to keep your baby in the crib as long as you can, think about a 4-in-1 crib that can be transformed into a toddler's bed, a daybed and eventually a full size bed. They typically have rails that are removable, making the transition from a crib to a regular mattress easier. They also typically come with adjustable mattress levels.
Safety
No matter what design or style you pick regardless of the style or design you choose, it's important to search for cribs that comply with stringent safety standards. In the United States, this includes certifications from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and compliance with ASTM International standards. Look for these certifications on the crib's packaging or in its description. Also, look over cot beds for sale to see whether there are any wood or paint imperfections that could pose a risk for your baby.
If you're planning to buy a mattress for your child's crib, select the most firm mattress you can find. This will lower the chance of accidental suffocation, which is the most common cause of sudden infant death syndrome. Also, make sure the mattress fits snugly in the crib. A mattress that is too big or too small could pose dangerous, as your baby could be trapped between the mattress and the crib sides or headboard.
Certain reports of nonfatal accidents which include 21 deaths identified in the NPR, and two deaths that were reported during the NPR Update, are based on a crib bed that is too soft. These incidents can involve a range of dangers, including gaps between the crib mattress and the side or between the head and footboard that could cause the entrapment of. Infants could also roll on the mattress, or be trapped between the headboard or the wall.
Some manufacturers now offer "breathable" crib mattresses which claim to encourage the safety of sleep and stop rebreathing, or breathing in the baby's own carbon dioxide, which is hypothesized to contribute to SIDS. There is no evidence from an epidemiological study that breathable crib mattresses decrease the risk of SIDS.
Conversion
If you are adding a new baby to your family, you will likely need to buy a lot of new items. This includes everything from clothing to toys to furniture for the nursery. Making the investment in cribs that convert to toddler beds or full-size beds can help you save on furniture purchases and make the transition from baby to childhood easier for your child and the family. These conversion kits are available for many brands of cribs and typically include a headboard and a footboard. Some models are also GREENGUARD Gold Certified which means they emit very low chemical emissions, resulting in better indoor air quality.
It is important to choose the right mattress for your child's crib whether it's a convertible crib or a standard crib. This will ensure they have an uncomfortably sleep. You can choose from foam mattresses, innerspring and gel in various sizes to meet your requirements. To ensure safety, select a foam mattress that is at least 2 and 3/8 inches thick, or an innerspring mattress that meets the federal safety standards for toddler beds and cribs.
You'll need to purchase a full-size bed conversion or toddler bed when your child is ready to move on to larger beds. It is recommended that you have it installed before your child turns two years old to ensure the transition goes smoothly and your child is at ease with the new transition. Once cot beds for sale have your mattress and crib kit in place it should take two people less than 30 minutes to transform the crib into an adult size bed.
A few things can help make the transition to a toddler bed more comfortable for your child, including keeping the bedding and bedroom decor constant and putting the toddler bed into the same room as their crib. Involving your child in the transition by offering them a choice of stuffed animals or toys to sleep with and encouraging them to get into bed at a regular time can help them adapt to the new arrangement of sleeping.
A crib that is able to convert to a full-size bed is a great way to extend the lifespan of your investment, and provide an additional bed for your child through their teenage years. The conversion kits that are available for these cribs come in various styles to match your furniture pieces and can be fitted on many different types of mattresses, such as twin and full size.