Crib Safety & Your Baby

Bringing your new baby home is an exciting – and busy – time! From stocking the diaper cabinet to baby proofing every corner of your home, there’s a ton to consider. Remember to add prepping a safe crib to that to-do list.

Here’s everything you need to know about making sure your baby has a safe sleeping environment:

Size it up. Check that the crib’s slats are not more than 2 3/8 inches apart and make sure your crib meets the JPMA safety standards (Opens in a new tab).

Safety trumps decoration. Make sure the crib’s corner posts don’t have any raised or protruding ornamentation. Don’t hang anything heavy above your baby’s crib, and avoid anything with ribbons or strings that they could tear down. 

Check the hardware. Triple check all the screws, bolts and nails. It’s important they be completely flat against the surface of your crib.

Skip vintage models. Avoid using a crib made before 2012. In 2011, the safety standards changed and determined that drop side cribs are dangerous for babies and young children.

Snuggle securely. Get a mattress that fits snugly inside the crib – you’ll want no more than two fingers’ space between the mattress and the crib.

Embrace minimalism. Cute decorations and stuffed animals are tempting, but the safest cribs are ones without extra blankets, pillows or ornamentation. The only items that should be inside the crib are a firm mattress, a crib sheet and a mattress protector pad.

Prime real estate. Move your crib away from windows and far from reach of window cords and drapes – you don’t want your little one to mistake them for toys.

No matter how busy this time is, you deserve to enjoy every minute of it. Keep these safety tips in mind as your family grows and get the peace of mind you need knowing they’ll be safe every step of the way.