Choosing the right crib for your baby is one of the most important tasks you will do for your baby. We have all heard of the recalls regarding cribs and it can be scary that we place our trust and the lives of our babies in the hands of crib manufacturers and their products turn out to be less than perfect. Safety for our children should be our number one priorities. So how do we choose the right crib for our babies?

Baby Crib Requirements

The first thing that you should look for are the sizes of the slots of the crib. By law these slots should be no more than 2-3/8 inches, it is about the width of the soda can not the length. The corner posts of the crib should be no higher than 1/16”. There are may be some parents who feel that they will be using the baby bumpers around the crib so the slots don’t matter but they do. Babies tend to roll and grab as they get older. Not having the right slots on the crib could endanger your child.

Drop Sides or Stationary Side Crib?

There are so many factors to consider when choosing a crib. One of these factors is to decide if you want drop sides on a crib or stationary sides. This is simply a matter of preference for parents. Some parents get nervous with drop sides in the event that their child can pull them down as they learn to stand. While this could happen, it is the parents who have to make sure that the crib is put together securely and that the drop sides are well secured. Drop Sides on a crib make it easier for Moms to pick up her baby.

If you choose the stationary sides, Moms’ who are a bit on the shorter side may have a hard time picking up the babies. You may have a choice of a crib with wheels or no wheels. Wheels are not necessary on a crib unless you plan on wheeling the baby from room to room. If you do decide to use the wheels make sure that they are equipped with caster locks.

Adjustable Mattress Height

You want to make sure that your crib uses adjustable mattress heights. This comes in very handy, as your baby gets bigger. As a newborn you want to use the highest setting and as the baby grows the lower you will want the mattress. When baby starts to climb you don’t want to have the mattress on the high setting, it could very dangerous for the baby.

Where Should I Purchase My Crib?

Though cribs can be expensive, you want to purchase your crib from a store that specializes in baby items. Places like Babies R US or Toys R US are great places to start. There are some stores like Wal-Mart or Target that have baby sections. Choose a crib with the requirements we mentioned and make sure that these cribs are not on a recall list. You can also check the website, Consumer Reports and see what they recommend in the way of cribs.

When it comes to cribs, some parents want the very best and the very expensive for their baby. Buying the most expensive and the trendiest cribs may not be the safest for your baby. Do some research when it comes to cribs. Your baby as a newborn will spend a lot of time in that crib and it is our job as parents to ensure their safety. Read the consumer reports and read all of the recall lists and choose your crib based on safety features not on how great it will look in the nursery.

Make sure that you read the warranty information and the store’s return policy. Read the directions very carefully before putting the crib together, make sure you have all of the parts and all of the necessary tools needed. Invite some friends over to help you, the more hands the better.