9 . What Your Parents Taught You About Cribs Beds
Choosing Cribs Beds For Your Baby
Sleep is a vital part of your baby’s life. A crib will aid your baby in developing the habit of sleeping on their own and keep you and your baby safe during the night.
There are a variety of cribs, all with varying dimensions styles, designs, and mattress support heights. We looked for cribs that are secure, simple to use, and aesthetically pleasing.
Size
A crib is a bed designed for babies and infants. There are a variety of cribs, however they all are smaller than a toddler bed and provide a safe place for your child to sleep. Some cribs come with wheels that allow them to be moved from room-to-room and are designed to minimize the chance of SIDS by providing a safe and comfortable space similar to the mother's womb.
While a lot of parents want their children to stay in their cribs for as long as they can but some children are ready to move them to a toddler bed sooner than others. The most commonly used type of crib is a standard crib, which can be used from birth until your child is 18 months old old or is capable of climbing out.
There are bassinets too, that are suitable from the time of birth to four months or until the baby becomes too large for it. These are smaller and smaller than cribs, but they can give parents the intimacy that some infants need in their early months. They also come in smaller sizes and therefore a great option if you're not sure what kind of bedding your child would like.
Both cribs and bassinets have safety guidelines to follow for the safety of your child. There shouldn't be a gap larger than two fingers between a crib's frame and mattress and the slats should not be sagging or missing. In addition, the bed should not be fitted with cutouts in the headboard or footboard as these can hold a child's head and legs and increase the risk of being suffocated.
Cribs are available in various designs and finishes, and some even include changing tables and shelving units. If you are planning to breastfeed, these cribs can be very useful as you can feed your baby in the crib. If, however, you are limited in space and have a a limited budget there are cribs that only have the bare essentials.
If you have a little more money to spend, you can find cribs that will expand with your child to toddler beds, or even daybeds and sofas. These are commonly referred to as 4-in-1 cribs and can be an ideal option for parents who do not want to invest in a new crib every when their child grows out of the current one.
Style
If you are in the market for a crib, think about the design of the crib in relation to the nursery cots of your baby. It is possible to pick a crib that matches the overall theme of your home, whether contemporary or rustic. There are a variety of cribs available in natural wood or bright finishes, and in many unique shapes and styles.
Cribs have a long tradition of providing safe sleeping environments for babies. They were initially simple cribs that could be rocked. As understanding of child safety increased, stationary cribs became the norm, and the designs changed to ensure better protection against falls or entrapment. Today's cribs include features like solid construction, appropriate spacing of slats and non-toxic materials that are all geared towards your baby's safety and wellbeing.
You'll also find cribs that incorporate with a changing table or shelving unit for convenience during the newborn stage. This type of crib is not recommended for babies who are ready to climb or stand. It can make it easier to get out.
Some cribs offer adjustable mattress support heights, so you can lower the mattress as your baby grows. The higher setting works well for newborns. The lower position is ideal when your child can sit up or roll over in bed. This usually happens around the age of a year.
The mattress can be set on a single-piece wooden board, wood-slat grid, or spring-wire frames. Both What to Expect, and Baby Bargains, recommend a metal spring frame because it is more stable than wood slats that can break or loosen with time. The base should be firm and firm to stop excessive air from moving around the mattress. This could create an hazard of suffocation to infants.
If you're planning to keep your baby in a crib for as long as you can, then think about a crib that can be transformed into a daybed, baby Cot toddler bed and eventually, a full-size bed. These cribs generally feature removable rails to make the transition to a regular bed easier and often come with adjustable mattress heights.
Safety
No matter what style or design you choose regardless of the style or design you choose, it's important to search for cribs that comply with stringent safety standards. In the United States this includes certifications from the Consumer Product Safety Commission and compliance with ASTM International Standards. Look for these certifications on the crib's packaging or in its description. Also, look over the crib's frame for flaws in the paint or the wood that could pose a risk for your baby.
If you are planning to purchase an additional crib mattress for your baby's crib choose the most firm one you can find. This will lower the chance of accidental suffocation which is a leading cause of sudden infant cot bed death syndrome. Also, make sure the mattress is firmly seated in the crib. A mattress that is too large or too small could be hazardous for your baby because they could get trapped between the mattress's sides and the headboard or crib sides.
There are reports of accidents that are not fatal, including 21 reported deaths identified by the NPR as well as two additional reported deaths received during the NPR Update, involve the crib mattress being too soft. These incidents can lead to a range of dangers, such as gaps between the mattress and the crib side or head and footboard that pose entrapment hazards; infants rolling on or being trapped between the mattress and the headboard or wall pillows and blankets that pose dangers of suffocation; and mattresses that are too hot, causing infants to be afflicted with burns, rashes and other health issues.
Some manufacturers now offer "breathable" crib mattresses that claim to promote the safety of sleep and stop breathing in the baby's own carbon dioxide, which is hypothesized to be a contributing factor to SIDS. However there is no epidemiological evidence that breathable mattresses decrease the risk of SIDS.
Conversion
A Baby beds joining your family usually results in an influx of new things including toys and clothes to furniture for the nursery. The purchase of cribs that convert into toddler beds or full-size beds can aid in saving money on furniture purchases and make the transition from baby to adolescence easier for your child and family. These conversion kits are available for a variety of brands of cribs (just click the following document) and typically come with a headboard and footboard. Some models are GREENGUARD Gold Certified that means they have low emissions of chemicals, which makes for a healthier indoor environment.
If you decide to go with convertible cribs or a standard crib it is crucial to choose the right mattress to ensure your child is comfortable night's rest. You can pick from foam mattresses, innerspring and gel in a variety of sizes to suit your needs. For safety, choose the mattress made of foam that is at least 2 and 3/8 inches thick or an innerspring mattress that meets the federal safety standards for cribs and toddler beds.
You will have to purchase a full-size bed conversion or a toddler bed when your child is old enough to be in an additional bed. It is best to have this in place before your child turns two years old to ensure the process is smooth and your child is comfortable with the transition. After your crib mattress and conversion kit is installed, converting the crib to a toddler or full-size bed will take no more than 30 minutes when you have two people.
It is possible to make the transition from a crib to a toddler-sized bed more comfortable by keeping the bedding and decor the same, and putting the bed into the room where the crib is. Getting your child involved in the transition by offering them a choice of favorite toys or stuffed animals to sleep with and encouraging them to get into bed at a regular time will help them adjust to the new sleeping arrangement.
Having a crib that can convert to a full-size bed is a great way to extend the lifespan of your investment, and provide the bed your child needs through their teens. The conversion kits that are available for these cribs are available in various styles to match your other furniture pieces and can be fitted on many different types of mattresses, such as twin and full size.