Baby Crib Safety

More infants die every year in accidents involving cribs than
with any other nursery product. Thousands of infants are
injured seriously enough to require treatment in hospital
emergency rooms.

If You’re Buying a New Full-Size Crib:

1. Corner posts should not extend more than 1/16 inch (1
1/2 mm) above the top of the end panel. Corner posts can
be catchpoints for items placed around a child’s neck or
clothing worn by the child.

2. Mattress support hangers should be secured by bolts or
closed hooks. All crib hardware should be securely tightened
and checked frequently.

3. Bumper pads, if used, should (a) fit around the entire crib,
(b) tie or snap into place, and (c) have straps or ties at
least in each corner, in the middle of each long side, and
on both the top and the bottom edges. To prevent your
baby from becoming entangled in the ties, trim off excess
length after tying. Use the bumpers until the baby can pull
up to a standing position, then remove them so that the
baby will not use them to try to climb out of the crib.

4. Remove and destroy all plastic wrapping material. Never
use plastic bags as mattress covers. The plastic film may
cling to your baby's face and cause suffocation.

If You Already Have a Crib:

1. CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) discourages
the use of used cribs. Use a crib that meets Federal safety
regulations and industry voluntary standards "ASTM"
(American Standards of Testing and Measurement) and
make sure it has a tight fitting mattress. Check the
labeling on these products to make sure they meet safety
requirements.

2. Check the crib and replace any missing parts, such as
screws, bolts or mattress support hangers, before placing
your child in it. Make sure all screws or bolts are securely
tightened. Any screw inserted into a wood component that
cannot be tightened securely should be replaced by one that
fits. On cribs where the mattress support is suspended by
hangers attached to hooks on the end panels, check frequently
to be sure they have not become disconnected. Never use a crib
with broken or missing parts.

3. Use a mattress that fits tightly. If you can fit more than
two fingers between the edge of the mattress and crib side,the
mattress is too small. An infant can suffocate if it's
head or body becomes wedged between the mattress and the crib sides.

4. Avoid older cribs with headboard and footboard designs
that may allow an infant’s head to become caught in the
openings between the corner post and the top rail, or in
other openings in the top edge of the headboard structure.
These openings may lead to strangulation.

5. Corner posts should be less than 1/16 inches high. (1-1/2
mm) unless the crib has a canopy. Do not use a crib that
has decorative knobs on corner posts. If you already have
a crib with such knobs, the knobs should be unscrewed or
sawed off flush with the headboard or footboard. Sand off
splinters and sharp corners.

6. Never use a crib that has loose or missing slats. Be sure
that all slats are securely fastened in place and the space
between slats is no more than 2-3/8 inches (60 mm) to avoid
head entrapment/strangulation.

7. If you paint or refinish the crib, use only high quality
household lead-free enamel paint and let it dry thoroughly so
there are no residual fumes. Check the label on the paint can
to make sure the manufacturer does not recommend against using
the paint on items such as cribs.

SOME SAFETY TIPS:

1. To reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
(SIDS) and prevent suffocation, put your baby to sleep on
his/her back in a crib on a firm, flat mattress. Make sure
there is no soft bedding underneath your baby.

2. Temporary beds: Never place your infant to sleep on an
adult bed, water bed, or bunk bed. Infants up to 18 months
can suffocate in their sleep when their bodies or faces
become wedged between the mattress and bed frame or the
mattress and wall.

3. Never put a crib, child bed, or furniture near window
blinds or drapery. Children can strangle on window cords
or fall through screens. If local fire codes permit window
guards, install them. Make sure all drapery or window
blind cords are out of a child’s reach. CPSC receives
numerous reports of strangulation deaths on window blind
cords. To keep cords out of reach of children, use tie-down
devices, or take the cord loop and cut it in half to make two
separate cords.

Consumers can call 800-506-4634 or visit www.windowcoverings.org/
to get free repair kits.

4. Never use strings to hang any object, such as a mobile
or a toy or a diaper bag, on or near the crib where a child
could become caught in it and strangle. If you have toys
with cords or elastic for hanging, cut the strings/cords off.

5. To prevent strangulation, NEVER tie pacifiers/teethers
around your child’s neck. Remove bibs and necklaces
whenever you put your baby in crib or playpen.

6. Always lock the side rail in its raised position whenever
you place your child in the crib. As soon as your child can
stand up, adjust the mattress to its lowest position and
remove the bumper pads. Also, remove any large toys—
an active toddler will use anything for climbing out of
the crib.

7. When your child reaches 35 inches (890 mm) in height,
he/she has outgrown the crib and should sleep in a bed.

8. Never use plastic bags as mattress covers. The plastic
film may cause suffocation.

9. Check all crib hardware; tighten all nuts, bolts, and
screws frequently. After a crib is moved, be sure all
mattress support hangers are secure. Check hooks regularly
to be sure none are broken or bent. Open hooks may allow
the mattress to fall.

10. Secure bumper pads around the entire crib and snap or tie
in place at least in each corner, in the middle of each long
side, and on both the top and the bottom edges. Cut off any
excess string length.

CRIB TOYS:

Crib gyms and other toys that stretch across the crib with
strings, cords or ribbons can be a hazard for older or more
active babies. The Commission knows of cases in which infants
strangled or became entangled in crib gyms or other toys
stretched across their cribs.

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