Baby Cribs: safe, comfortable, and appealing

Neonates spend a lot of their time sleeping, so the crib will play an important role in ensuring that they are safe while sleeping. A good crib will keep the baby sleeping comfortably for hours, and will also protect him/ her from SIDS. Parents have to be extremely careful when shopping for cribs, as the safety of their baby depends on it.

The crib has to be sturdy in structure so that it can support the continually increasing weight of the baby. This is important, because no one would want buy a new crib every few months in order to accommodate a growing baby. It is important to note that the building material for the crib plays almost no role in determining how sturdy it would be. Wood, metal, and plastic cribs are equally capable of supporting a baby's weight, if the structural design is correct.

Cribs need to be visually appealing too. Babies prefer looking at bright colors more than adults do, so, a bright red crib with yellow motifs painted on the crib walls would make it quite attractive for the baby. However, glossy finishes are to be avoided, because babies' sensitive eyes cannot withstand much glare.

A teething rail is an optional crib accessory, but very effective for calming teething babies. A removable teething rail made of non-toxic plastic is a worthy addition to any crib.

When a crib is being purchased, it should be checked thoroughly to make sure that the design of the crib conforms to the usual safety precautions. The precautions to look out for are,

1. There should be no cut-outs on headboard, footboard, or any side wall of the crib. This ensures that the baby's head or limbs cannot get trapped in the hole in case of an accident. Restless babies tend to move around at times. So, this precaution has to be taken without fail.


2. In mesh-walled cribs, the holes in the mesh must be smaller than one-fourth of an inch in diameter. This will make sure that the baby's tiny fingers or toes cannot get stuck in those. Also, if any staple pins are used to hold mesh nets in place, those pins must not get exposed in any way.


3. If a used crib is being purchased, care must be taken to ensure that no slat or bar anywhere in the crib is missing or broken. This can lead to danger in future, especially if one or more slats come off when the baby rests his/ her weight on it.


4. The color used in the crib must be non-allergenic and non-toxic in nature. No parent can be sure about his/ her baby's allergies.

A crib can be a safe haven for a baby, if some precautions are taken while purchasing it. A convertible crib that can transform into a playpen, a changing table, and finally a day bed for a toddler can also be opted for, if the price isn't too much of a burden. These cribs usually last for years, and are economical in the long run. The ultimate goal is to purchase a crib that would be safe, comfortable and would look appealing to the baby.