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Baby Crib Safety Helpful Tips
All About Baby Crib Safety
The miracle of birth is one of the greatest wonders in the world. In fact, it is regarded by many parents as their most important and blessed accomplishment in life. You must have realized that while parenting brings happiness, it also involves a lot of responsibility, primarily on the safety and well-being of your child. And this responsibility starts long before the child is born -- the need to stay away from cigarettes and alcohol, regular prenatal check-ups, diet and nutrition, and many other healthy practices to make sure that the baby is born healthy and strong. And as the much awaited time draws near, it is time to focus your thoughts on how to keep the baby safe when he or she comes home. This includes the aspect of baby crib safety among other things. Baby crib safety involves a number of factors like selecting the right crib, getting the appropriate crib accessories, and proper positioning of the crib.
Choosing the Right Crib
Foremost in baby crib safety is choosing the right crib. You may be considering the offer of some well meaning relatives regarding the older cribs that their children used. However, no matter how tempting the offer is, either for sentimental or financial reasons, you must think twice before accepting it. You have to be aware that there are dangers involved in using those old cribs. Older cribs been painted with lead based material and they have widely spaced slats and decorative cut-out designs that could serve as entrapment for your child’s head and other extremities.
Baby crib safety requires that corner posts are kept at the same height as the head and foot boards of the crib. If ever, corner posts or any other decorative projections should not exceed 1/16 of an inch above the panels on either end of the crib. The reason for this restriction is that they (corner posts) can serve as catch points for items placed around a child’s neck or clothing worn by the child and are, therefore, strangulation risks.
Baby crib safety also involves containing the baby within the confines of the crib without openings where the baby’s head or limbs can get stuck. This is the reason federal safety standards prohibit the use of cut-out designs at the end panels of the crib. Make sure that there are no missing or loose slats as this can also serve as entrapment for body parts. Furthermore, check the side bar as it must be at least 26 inches above the mattress when it is in its lowest position. Another important factor is the distance or space between bars or slats. They should not be more than 2-3/8 inches apart, again to avoid entrapment.
Baby crib safety starts before the baby uses the crib and extends until the child is old enough to leave it for a regular bed. Stop using the crib when the child’s height reaches 32-35 inches or if the child has learned how to climb out of the crib.
Crib Accessories
Crib safety necessitates a periodic check for any rough edges, splinters or other wear and tear, like loose bolts, that may injure the child. Be sure to install teething rails to protect your baby’s tender gums. Also, keep the crib clear of huge stuffed toys, pillows, blankets and any other soft or small items that can pose a suffocation or choking risk.
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Bumper pads are useful baby crib safety accessories as they can prevent your baby from hurting in case he or she hits the hard sides of the crib. These pads should cover the crib's entire lower interior perimeter and must be secured by ties or snaps. Remove any of the excess length from the bumper straps so the baby cannot chew on them.
Positioning the Crib
When the crib has been assembled and accessorized, the next thing to be concerned with is its location. Keep the crib away from window curtains or drapery cords as they are strangulation hazards. Make sure that lamps and other potentially harmful objects are out of reach of the baby. To prevent serious falls, do not place the crib against a window or near furniture that could help your baby climb out.
Other than seeing to the comfort of your child and preventing accidents, give due consideration to your baby's health. Do not position the crib near radiators, heating or cooling vents as extreme temperature is detrimental to your child’s health.
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