With another big crib recall last week, new and expecting moms must be wondering -- how in the world do I buy and put together a crib that keeps my baby safe?
For today's Monday Consult, I'm going to pass along some crib tips from the On Safety blog of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. (Read the full post here.)
--The CPSC is developing new crib safety guidelines, in part to deal with increasing problems with drop-side cribs. The agency doesn't say there are problems with all such cribs, but writes: "In general, cribs with drop sides have a tendency to be less structurally sound than cribs with fixed sides and are more susceptible to problems from use, being moved, storage and assembly."
--Before you do use or buy a crib, check the agency's recall list.
--Make sure that you check that all hardware is tight and secure and that a drop side is on its track.
--Don't try to repair a broken crib yourself. Stop using the crib and call the manufacturer and the CPSC, the blog advises. If the baby is less than 6 months old, she can sleep in a bassinet; older babies can sleep in an approved play yard.
--"Every time you change the sheets, make sure there are no gaps larger than two fingers between the sides of the crib and the mattress," the blog says.
--No matter what kind of crib your baby is sleeping in, keep out extra bedding such as pillows, thick quilts, or anything plush. All are suffocation risks, the blog says.