Crib Safety Standards - What You Need To Know

Choosing a crib for your baby is the first of many important decisions you will make concerning your child. While shopping for the crib may be fun and exciting it should also be taken quite seriously. Each year many children are hurt or killed in their very own cribs. Crib safety standards have come a long way in the last 30 years but it's up to you as parents to ensure that the crib you choose isn't going to harm your little one.

Crib Design Safety

Cribs are designed with vertical bars or slats to keep the child safely contained inside. These bars can be too far apart and pose a possible threat to children if they get their head stuck. Vertical slats should be no more than 2+3/8 inches apart. All new cribs are built to meet this standard; however, to be sure you should always measure the crib.

The corner posts of the crib should be no higher than 1/16 inch above the end panels. This is so that the child can't get a loop of clothing accidentally caught on the ends. Choose a crib without cutouts on the ends as these can pose a threat for small hands and feet to become stuck. The top rails of the sides at their highest position should be at least 26 inches above the top of the mattress support at its lowest position.

Once the child can pull himself up to a standing position keep the mattress support on the lowest setting. You should stop using the crib once the height of the child is more than ¾ of the height of the raised rail. The drop sides of the crib should be latched securely and require at least ten pounds of pressure to release. Crib hardware should be smooth with no sharp points or protruding edges.

Crib Mattress Safety

The mattress itself is another safety concern. Choose a mattress that fits snugly into the crib. Cribs and crib mattresses are designed with specific sizes for this purpose. Infants can become wedged in between the mattress and crib if there is even a small amount of room. Use the two-finger rule. If you can fit two fingers in-between the mattress and the crib the space is too large and a new mattress needs to be obtained.

Never leave the plastic covering on the mattress once you get it home. Also, avoid using plastic sheets as these can cause a suffocation hazard to infants. Choose a firm mattress so that the child lies on top rather than sinks into it. Use tight bedding on the mattress as well.

Baby crib safety is an important consideration when thinking about using an antique crib. While the style may go well with the décor of the room remember that cribs made before 1974 likely don't adhere to the safety standards. When shopping for the crib be sure to measure all aspects of the crib, even those that are brand new.

Most cribs need to be assembled at home. Incorrect assembly can make an otherwise safe crib into a safety hazard instead. Follow directions completely and always test the crib features before placing an infant inside.

Article written by Randi Reese, she offers a wide selection of unique baby cribs, including the popular Davinci crib.

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Soft Organic Toys - Know What Goes Into Your Child's Mouth

In these days of frightening toy recalls, parents worry a great deal about their children's toys. This is especially true for parents of infants and toddlers who just have to put everything in their mouths. The children can't help it, but what is a parent to do to ensure that what their children are mouthing and chewing on is really safe?

Soft organic toys are one answer to take away the worry and stress about your child's toys. Organic toys can be made from either ultra-soft cotton or wool. The manufacturers use only vegetable dyes to give them color. They also don't have anything on or in them that could be a potential choking hazard.

This makes soft organic toys great for little ones who have to taste the world as they go. Soft organic toys are also a good choice for infants and toddlers who are teething. Simply wet them with water and stick them in the freezer. Once they're frozen, give them to your child to chew on.

These types of organic toys are a wonderful alternative to the regular teething products you find on the market which contain water that you have no idea where it comes from or how safe it is. Some of them use a gel that is even more "iffy" when it comes to being certain that it's safe. In fact, there was a recent recall on teething rings such as these.

The fact that the cotton and wool the soft organic toys are made from is grown under strict conditions and processed using no dangerous chemicals at all makes organic toys even more appealing to parents who are looking for safe toy alternatives. And this can probably be said of most every parent these days as the toy recalls just keep coming and get more serious each day.

You can find soft organic toys at some retailers. The selection, though, is extremely limited. There's a much wider selection to be found online. You just want to be sure that you're buying from a reputable site that is truly selling completely organic soft toys.

So when it comes to toy safety for the infant and toddler set, you can rest assured that you're buying the best alternative when you purchase soft organic toys. Your child will love them-and you'll feel comfortable knowing that what your child is chewing on is totally safe. And you need that security today more than ever.

Alma Newton is mother of four and grandmother of three, and takes great pleasure in offering you the very best of the organic cotton bedding, clothing and cloth diapers that she can find. Please visit her website at Soft Organic Cotton Baby Toys and find what you need for your special little person.

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