Many new parents are not sure what to look for when purchasing a new crib for their infant to sleep in. We've covered what to look for in a crib as well as the top-rated cribs on the market. While crib hunting, make sure to keep up to date with recalls. Before purchasing, check with the sales assistant to see if any related models have been recently recalled.
Slats and Sides
The safety of the crib is top priority. When looking at the slats in a crib, there should be no more than 2 and 3/8 inch between them so a child cannot fall out or catch an arm in the slats. The sides should be at least 9 inches above the top of the mattress when they are lowered to make sure a child cannot fall out over the sides. The top of the sides when raised should be at least 26 inches from the top of the mattress.
Mattress Height
Many cribs offer adjustable mattress heights, and this is normally done with the raising or lowering of the support. Lower the mattress when the child can sit up, and always check the safety and security of the mattress height adjustment so that the child's wiggling does not engage the mattress selector.
Releases
A hands-on inspection is required when buying. Raise and lower the sides and the mattress if applicable, to see which is the easiest to operate. Finding a crib that is not noisy and has a one-handed release is ideal due to the fact that you will probably have a child in one arm while operating the sides. If the releases for sides are too easy to operate, the child may be able to learn to lower them alone.
Stability
Shake a crib vigorously in the store, and if it wobbles or rattles it could be put together wrong. This could also be a sign that you should continue searching for a crib because it may not be as stable as it appears.
Frame Size and Casters
The frame size makes a difference as to the stability of the crib. The interior should snugly hold a standard crib mattress measuring a minimum of 51 and three-quarter inches long with a width of 27 and three-quarter inches. If 2 fingers can fit between the mattress and crib sides, the mattress is too small. The baby can get trapped in this tiny space and this is dangerous. The crib should be tall enough to hold the baby safely inside with the mattress in place. Casters or wheels on the crib should be metal. Plastic holds up, but can be noisy and harder to move around. Casters make the crib easy to move when cleaning and changing sheets.
Best Cribs on The Market
The top rated cribs on the market include the Arm's Reach Mini Co-Sleeper for the metal construction and storage basket with metal casters and mattress. The Delta Fold-A-Way Crib is rated 2nd for its wood construction and plastic casters with only a single side that drops and 2 mattress levels. The third rated crib is the Clark & Less Round Crib for its wooden circular construction with canopy and single drop side with no casters.
