Your baby spends a lot of time in a crib, and much of that time is unsupervised, so it’s important to make sure it is a safe place. Here are some helpful tips.

Buying a Safe Crib

All new cribs on the market today meet the safety standards of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA).

Before getting a used crib, check to see if it has been recalled at www.recalls.gov. Also, look for the following suffocation and strangulation hazards:

• Sharp or jagged edges

• Missing, broken or loose parts

• Loose hardware

• Cut out designs in the headboard or footboard

• Crib slats more than 2 3/8 inches apart (width of a soda can)

• Corner post extension over 1/16 of an inch high

• Gaps larger than 2 fingers width between the sides of the crib and the mattress

• Drop side latches that could be easily released by your baby

When using any crib

• Follow the directions for assembly.

• Don’t try to fix any part of it with tape, wire, a rope, or by putting a broken side up against the wall.

Related Resources

• Choking, Suffocation and Strangulation Prevention
• Suffocation Prevention Tips
• Babies (0-12 months)
• Consumer Product Safety Commission
• Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association
• www.recalls.gov
• Cribs for Kids