Choosing Cribs Beds For Your Baby

Sleep is a vital part of your baby’s life. A crib can aid your baby in developing the habit of sleeping on their own, and keep you and your baby safe in the evening.

There are a myriad of cribs with different dimensions, styles, and mattress support heights. We searched for cribs that are secure and simple to use and aesthetically pleasing.

Size

A crib is a tiny bed that is designed for infants and babies. There are many different types of cribs, however they are all smaller than a toddler's mattress and offer a safe place to sleep for your child. Some cribs come with wheels that allow them to be moved from room-to-room and the majority are designed to minimize the risk of SIDS by providing a supportive and comfortable environment similar to the birthing womb.

Some parents prefer to keep their baby in the crib as long as they can, but others may be ready to move to a toddler's bed sooner. The most common crib is the standard crib. It can be used for your child's first year until they reach 18 months old, or they can be taken away.

Bassinets can be used by infants from birth to four months, or until they are big. They are smaller cribs, which are more compact, that provide the intimacy and comfort that parents of infants require in the early years. They also are smaller and therefore a great alternative if you're not certain what type of bedding your child will prefer.

Both bassinets and cribs are required to adhere to safety guidelines to follow to ensure the safety of your child. For example, there should be no gaps greater than two fingers between the mattress and the frame of the crib and the slats must not be missing or loose. Additionally the bed shouldn't have cutouts on the footboard or headboard, because they could restrict a child's head or legs and increase the chance of suffocation.

You can buy cribs in a variety of styles and finishes. Some have integrated shelving units or changing tables. They are particularly useful for breastfeeding moms and allowing you to breastfeed your baby in the crib. If you're not a lot of space and have the funds to purchase a crib there are cribs that just feature the bare essentials.

If you are willing to spend a little extra it is possible to purchase cribs that can be transformed into daybeds, toddler beds or sofas. These are often called 4-in-1 cribs. They are a good choice for parents who do not want to invest in an entirely new crib each time their child outgrows the current one.

Style

When you are looking for a crib, consider its style in relation to the style of the nursery. If the style of your home is in an inclination, such as rustic or contemporary it is possible to choose the crib that is in line with the overall theme. There are many cribs available in a variety of shapes and styles and with natural wood or colored finishes.

Cribs are a safe place to sleep for babies. Initially, they were simple cradles that could be rocked. As the understanding of child safety grew and stationary cribs became the norm, and the designs changed to provide better protection against accidents or entrapment. Modern cribs have features like solid construction, appropriate spacing of slats and non-toxic materials, all of which are geared towards your baby's safety as well as his wellbeing.

There are cribs that combine with a changing table or shelving unit to make it easier for parents in the early stages of infanthood. However, it's not recommended that you use this kind of crib if your child is ready to stand or climb because it can make it easier for them to escape.

Some cribs offer adjustable heights for mattress support so that you can lower the mattress as your baby grows. The higher setting is ideal for newborns, and the lower position should be used before your baby is able to sit or roll in bed, which usually happens before they turn one year old.

The crib's mattress can be set on a one-piece board, a grid of wood slats or spring-wire frames. Both What to Expect and Baby Cot Bed Bargains, recommend a metal spring frame as it is more stable than wood slats, which may break or loosen with time. The base should be firm and firm to stop the air from circulating around the mattress. This could create a suffocation hazard for infants.

If you're planning to keep your baby in a crib for as long as possible, then consider a 4-in-1 crib that can be transformed into a toddler bed, daybed and eventually a full-size bed. They usually have rails that can be removed to make the transition to a regular bed easier and, in most cases, they come with adjustable mattress heights.

Safety

No matter what design or style you pick, it's essential to look for cribs that comply with stringent safety standards. In the United States, this includes certifications from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and conformity to ASTM International standards. These certifications can be found on the packaging of the crib or in the description. Also, check the crib frame to see if there are any wood or paint flaws that could be dangerous for your baby.

If you are looking to purchase an infant's mattress for their crib, choose the firmest mattress you can find. This will decrease the risk of accidental death due to the suffocation. Make sure that the mattress is able to fit snugly inside the crib. A mattress that's too big or too small can be dangerous, as your baby could get caught between the mattress and the headboard or sides of the crib.

Certain reports of nonfatal accidents that include 21 fatalities identified in the NPR and two additional fatalities reported during the NPR update, are based on a crib mattress that was too soft. These incidents include a variety dangers, including gaps between the crib mattress and the sides, or between the footboard and the head, that can cause trapping. Infants can also roll on the mattress, or be trapped between it and the headboard or the wall.

Some manufacturers now offer "breathable" crib mattresses, which they claim promote safe sleep and prevent rebreathing, or breathing in the baby's carbon dioxide, which is hypothesized to be a contributing factor to SIDS. However, there is no evidence from an epidemiological perspective that breathable mattresses lower the risk of SIDS.

Conversion

If you are adding the addition of a new child to your family, you will likely need to buy a lot of new items. This includes everything from clothing and toys to nursery furniture. Investing in cribs that can be converted into toddler beds or full-size cot beds can aid in saving money on furniture purchases and help make the transition from infant to adulthood easier for your child and the family. These conversion kits can be purchased for many brands of cots to tots. They also come with a footboard and headboard. Some models are also GREENGUARD Gold Certified, which means they have low emissions of chemicals, which makes for better indoor air quality.

If you decide to go with convertible cribs or a standard crib it is essential to purchase the right mattress so that your child has a comfortable night's rest. You can pick between foam mattress, innerspring or gel in various sizes to suit your needs. Pick a foam mattress that is at least 2 3/8 inches thick or an innerspring bed that meets the safety standards of the federal government.

You'll need to purchase a full-size bed conversion, or a toddler bed when your child is ready for larger beds. You should do this before your child turns 2 to ensure the smooth transition and ensure that your child feels comfortable. Once you have your crib mattress and kit in place, it should take two people less than 30 minutes to transform the crib into an adult-sized bed or a toddler bed.

It is possible to make the transition from a crib a toddler-sized bed more comfortable by keeping the bedding and decor same, and putting the bed into the room where the crib is located. Engaging your child in the transition by giving them a choice of favorite toys or stuffed animals to sleep with and encouraging them to get into cot bed sales at a regular time can also help them adjust to the new bed arrangement.

A crib that converts into a full size bed is an excellent way to extend the life of your investment. It also offers a bed for your teenager. The conversion kits for these cribs are available in different styles to match your furniture pieces and can be used on various kinds of mattresses, including twin and full size.