How to Keep Baby Cribs Safe

There are times that minor damage can occur to baby cribs either through bumps and dings or through regular use. To be sure that baby cribs work correctly and look great for years to come, follow these uncomplicated maintenance tips.

Screws and bolts from your baby's crib can loosen from daily use. This can make the crib unstable or even misfunction. To keep crib hardware tight, check each bolt and screw once a month but do not over tighten since that can damage wood as well.

We already discussed that dings and chips can occur on even the newest of baby cribs. When touching those areas up, be sure to use a 100% non-toxic paint in a color that matches for the best blending. This job is best done when the crib can be taken outside to keep fumes away from baby as well.

If you see that your baby is teething and chewing on some of the crib rails you should consider adding a plastic guard to the crib. This will allow baby to safely chew on the rail without risking slivers or other injuries from damaged wood.

Mobiles are a great way to entertain small babies. They give an element of visual stimulation to an area that baby is in often and could become rather boring. Since mobiles are suspended out of baby’s reach, they are safe until baby starts sitting up. At that point mobiles should be abstracted from the crib space.

Babies are fragile; that is no secret. To keep baby as safe as possible keep all thick bedding, pillows and stuffed animals out of baby’s crib. These things can pose a suffocation risk while baby is asleep, but can be fun play things when baby is awake and supervised.

To keep baby safe from a moving or falling accidental injury make sure that all moving parts are locked whenever baby is in the crib. This includes casters and the drop rail. Double checking is worth skipping a trip to the emergency room.

Sometimes families pass cribs down through the ages and across siblings. This is a great way to use and love a family heirloom, but never use a crib that was owned by someone you don’t know. Baby cribs from unnamed sources could hide potential dangers and put your baby at risk.

Double check to see if your baby's crib was involved in a recall to ensure that there are no safety concerns with your little one's sleep space. A great place to start is at the US Consumer Product Safety Commission at www.cpsc.gov

Cribs are configured to lower the mattress as your baby grows to keep them within the crib and prevent crawling out. Follow your instincts, manufacturers’ recommendations, and your doctor’s advice on when to lower the crib mattress for the greatest safety.

Since babies are typically curious, it's a good idea to keep dangly things far away from the crib. Dangly items include things like: dresser runners, lamp cords, blind cords, lights and anything else that your baby can grab and pull off a shelf or dresser top.