Choosing Cribs Beds For Your Baby
Sleep is an essential part of your baby's life. A crib helps them develop the habit of sleeping independently, and it also keeps you both safe during the night.
There are many cribs with different dimensions, styles, and mattress support heights. We searched for cribs that are secure and easy to use and compatible with modern aesthetics.
Size
A crib is a tiny bed made for babies and infants. There are a variety of cribs, but they are all smaller than a toddler's mattress and offer a safe place to sleep for your baby. Some cribs come with wheels so they can be moved around the house. They are generally designed to decrease SIDS risk by providing a comfortable and safe environment that is similar to the mother's womb.
While many parents would like their children to remain in their cribs as long as they can but some children are ready to move them to a toddler bed faster than others. The most common type of crib is a standard crib, that is suitable from birth until your child is about 18 months old or is capable of climbing out.
There are bassinets too, which can be used from birth to four months, or until the baby is large for it. These are smaller and more compact than cribs, but can offer the comfort and closeness to parents that some infants need in their early months. They also are smaller and therefore a great crib option if you're not sure what type of bedding your child would prefer.
To ensure your child's safety cribs and bassinets also have safety guidelines. There should not be a gap of more than two fingers between the crib's frame and mattress, and slats shouldn't be missing or loose. In addition the bed shouldn't be fitted with cutouts in the footboard or headboard, because they could restrict a child's head or legs and increase the risk of being suffocated.
Cribs can be purchased in different styles and finishes, and some even include changing tables and shelving units. If you are planning to breastfeed, these cribs could be very useful as you can feed your baby in the crib. If, however, you are short on space and have an extremely limited budget you can find cribs that have only the bare essentials.
If you have a little more money, you can find cribs that will grow with your child into toddler beds, or 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 a new one every time their child outgrows the old one.
Style
When you're looking for a crib, think about the style of the crib in relation to the nursery of your baby. If the design of your home is influenced by an inclination such as modern or rustic then you might want to pick the crib that is in line with the overall theme. There are a variety of cribs available in various shapes and styles that come with natural wood or color finishes.
Cribs are a safe place to sleep for infants. At first, they were just cradles that could be rocked. As understanding of child safety evolved and stationary cribs became the norm, and the designs changed to provide better protection against falls or entrapment. The cribs of today are made with features like sturdy construction, the right spacing of slats, as well as non-toxic materials. They prioritize your baby's well-being and safety.
There are cribs that include shelves or a changing table unit to make it easier for parents during the newborn stage. However, it's not recommended that you use this type of crib when your Baby beds is ready to stand up or climb because it can make it easier for them to escape.
Some cribs have adjustable mattress support heights so you can lower the mattress as your baby grows. The higher position is suitable for newborns. The lower position is best used when your baby is able to sit up or roll in bed. This is usually around the age of a year.
The crib's mattress can be set on a one-piece board, a wood-slat grid or spring-wire frames. Both What to Expect and Baby Bargains recommend choosing springs made of metal because it is believed to be more sturdy than wooden slats, which could break or become loose over the course of time. The base should be sturdy and securely attached to the crib so that it does not allow air to circulate around the mattress, a possible risk of suffocation for infants.
If you're planning on keeping your baby in a crib for as long as you can, then think about a crib that can be converted into a toddler bed, daybed and eventually, a full-size bed. They typically have removable rails to facilitate the transition from the regular bed more straightforward, and they often have adjustable mattress heights.
Safety
Whatever style or design you select it's crucial to look for cribs that are in compliance with strict safety standards. In the United States this includes certifications by the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the conformity to ASTM International Standards. These certifications can be found on the crib's packaging or in its description. Also, check the crib's frame to determine whether there are any paint or wood defects that could pose danger for your baby cots online.
If you are looking to purchase a mattress for your child's crib, select the most firm mattress you can find. This will decrease the risk of accidental death from the suffocation. Be sure that the mattress fits comfortably within the crib. A mattress that is either too large or too small could be dangerous for your baby, because they could get trapped between the mattress' sides and the headboard or crib sides.
Certain reports of nonfatal accidents that include 21 fatalities reported in the NPR and two other fatalities reported during the NPR update, involve the crib mattress being too soft. These incidents are characterized by a variety of dangers, such as gaps between the mattress and the crib side or footboard, which create entrapment risks and infants slipping 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 suffer burns, rashes, and other health issues.
Certain manufacturers are now advertising "breathable" crib mattresses, which they claim will help your baby sleep more safely and will prevent breathing or rebreathing into your baby's carbon dioxide. This is believed to contribute to SIDS. There is no evidence from an epidemiological study that breathable crib mattresses reduce the risk for SIDS.
Conversion
If you are adding a new baby to your family, you will likely need to buy many new items. This includes everything from clothing to toys to furniture for the nursery. The purchase of cribs that convert into toddler mini cot beds or full-size beds can help you save on furniture purchases and make the transition from baby to adolescence easier for your child and family. These conversion kits can be bought for a variety of cots, and come with the headboard and footboard. Some models are GREENGUARD Certified Gold, which means they emit low levels of chemicals for a healthier indoor atmosphere.
It is crucial to select the correct mattress for your child's crib whether it be a convertible crib or standard crib. This will ensure they have an enjoyable sleeping. Choose between foam, innerspring, or gel mattresses that come in different sizes to meet your needs. For safety, choose a foam mattress that is between 2 and 3/8 inches thick, or an innerspring mattress that satisfies federal safety standards for toddler beds and cribs.
If your child is ready to move on from the crib, you'll have to buy an adult bed or a full-size bed conversion kit. It is recommended that you have this in place before your child turns two years old to ensure the process goes smoothly and your child is at ease with the new transition. Once your mattress and crib conversion kit is in place, converting the crib to a toddler or full-size bed should take less than 30 minutes with two people.
A few things can help make the transition to the toddler bed more enjoyable for your child, including keeping the bedroom decor and bedding constant and putting the toddler bed into the same room as their crib. Give your child a variety of toys, stuffed animals or other to sleep with, and urging them to go to bed on a regular basis will help them settle.
A crib that converts to an adult-sized bed is an excellent way to extend the time-to-value of your investment. It also gives you a bed for your teenager. Conversion kits are available in a variety of styles to complement other furniture and can be used with a wide variety of mattresses including twin or full size.