Crib Safety Dos and Don’ts

Cribs are a wonderful place for a baby to sleep, but they can also lead to danger if you are not careful. The following are some crib safety do’s and don’ts to help your baby be secure and safe in their crib:

Crib Safety Dos

Do dress your baby warmly rather than use blankets. A blanket can get up over their face and smother then, or get twisted around their body and choke or hurt them. It is better to put your baby in a blanket sleeper, or warm pajamas, and not use a blanket, or put a lightweight, or knitted blanket over top of them.

Do put your baby down on their back. Many babies like sleeping on their tummies, but it is not safe. If they roll on to their tummy themselves that is fine, but always place baby on his/her back.

Do choose your crib carefully. You should also select a firm, tight-fitting mattress. Most cribs these days are designed to meet safety regulations, but if your crib is older, take the time to check width on slats, and how the mattress fits. The slats in a crib or bassinet should be no farther apart than 2 3/8 inches.

Do use bedding made specifically for crib mattresses. Other bedding may not fit right or stay in place, which can cause problems.

Do feed them before bed, rather than putting them to bed with a bottle, which can be dangerous if they fall asleep with it in their mouth.

Crib Safety Don’ts

Don’t put pillows, big quilts, toys, etc. in the crib, they can get in the way and can be a danger to baby.

Don’t use a crib with any missing or broken hardware.

Don’t use a crib with slats further than 2 3/8 inches apart, an arm, head, leg, etc. could get stuck and the baby could be hurt.

Don’t use a crib with corner posts over 1/16th inch high. They pose a risk to the baby’s safety, especially as they get older and try to climb out of the crib. They could catch the baby’s clothing.

Don’t use a crib with cutouts in the headboard or foot boar, as a baby’s head could get trapped.

Don’t hang stuff above the crib, or put the crib near window blinds, as cords can be choking hazards, and small pieces may end up in a baby’s mouth, blocking their airways.

Don’t ever use electric heating blankets or mattress covers of any kind. Babies tend to stay warm without them, and they pose a risk of fire hazard. If you are concerned about your baby’s temperature, turn the heat up in your home, and close the vents in rooms you don’t want the temperature to raise in.

Don’t take baby out of the crib by lifting them over the side, instead, use the latches to put the side down, otherwise you are showing baby how to try and escape the confines of the crib, which can be dangerous.