Choosing a Crib: Put Safety First

"Make Every Night a Safe Night" is the theme of Baby Safety Month 2010, sponsored by The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA).

Furniture and gear designed for baby's sleep needs for both night and daytime, and at home and away, are among the most important purchases that new parents make. Choosing which products to buy for your baby can be difficult, especially since there are so many options these days, but, without question, the most important criteria for selecting cribs and naptime gear is safety.

Follow these guidelines from JPMA when shopping for your baby's crib:

Each year, approximately 50 babies suffocate or strangle when they become trapped between broken crib parts or in cribs with older, unsafe designs. Many older cribs, including the one that was used for you or your younger children, do not meet all current safety standards. Even if you are on a tight budget, resist purchase an old crib at a garage sale or accept a hand-me-down that does not meet the following guidelines:

Choosing Your Baby's Crib

• Infants should ALWAYS sleep in a crib, which meets current Federal and ASTM standards.
• The crib mattress should fit snugly with no more than two fingers width, one-inch, between the edge of the mattress and the crib side. Otherwise, the baby can get trapped between the mattress and the side of the crib.
• No pillow-like bumpers.
• Look for the JPMA Certification Seal