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Safety Regulations for Baby Cribs

Debopriya Bose
The Consumer Products Safety Commission has laid certain safety regulations and guidelines for baby cribs. Adhering to these guidelines is the best way to ensure your baby's safety. This write-up deals with those regulations.
A crib is the place where your baby spends most time in, whenever he is out of your arms. For all parents, baby safety is the first priority. It is this regard, the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) has set some regulations for baby cribs.
New regulations and guidelines have been introduced as recently as 1996. Hence, if you want to use your own crib or any other one that is quite old, then there are chances that it will not meet the current standards. Want to ensure that your baby's crib meets the current standards? Then you should know the latest safety regulations for the same.

Safety Rules and Regulations for Baby Cribs- By the CPSC
● First and foremost, all the crib slats must be intact. Be it slats or any wooden part of the crib, there shouldn't be any splits, cracks, or any other damage on them.
● The space between two slats should not exceed 2.375 inches. This is to prevent the infant from slipping out through the slats.
● Even if the corner posts have knobs or other pieces of decoration, it should not rise more than 1/16" above the end panels. This safety regulation has been set to minimize the probability of clothing getting entangled on the crib.
● There should be mattress support hangers secured to the frame of the crib with bolts or closed hooks. If open hooks are used to secure the mattress supporters, then there are chances of the support hanger getting unhooked. This would create a space between the mattress and the sides of the crib. The baby could slide into this place and get trapped or hurt.
● The distance between the inner side of the crib and the edge of the mattress should not exceed two fingers width. The mattress should be of a proper size with respect to the crib, such that it just not slip out of place every time the little one turns.
● It should be firm so that it provides proper support to the baby as he/she grows. This is to ensure that he/she is comfortable in it.
● As he/she grows, the mattress support should be adjusted so that he/she can't climb out. For newborns, the mattress support should be set at the highest level. When the infant is about 4 to 6 months and is able to push up on his/her hands and knees, set the mattress holder at the middle level.
When he/she is able to stand up at around 8 to 12 months, the mattress support should be reduced to the lowest level.
● CPSC health and safety regulations prohibit the use of any decorative cut-outs on the headboards or the footboards. This step is to prevent the baby's hands, legs, or for that matter, any part of his/her body from getting injured.
● Be it screws, bolts, or brackets, these regulations and guidelines do not allow any loose, damaged, missing, or improperly installed hardware on a crib.

General Safety Regulations and Guidelines

Just ensuring that the crib physically meets all the safety regulations set by CPSC is not where the responsibilities of parents end. For proper baby care, they must be careful about where they place it and how. To ensure optimum safety, keep it at least one foot away from any wall or furniture.
Never place it close to any drapery, blind cords, or wall hangings. Also, do not put large toys or pillows in it, as the little one may use these as a support to climb out. Check all its parts for damage. If you see any defect, get the part replaced or repaired. Also, ensure that your baby's bedding is comfortable, as per as his/her age.
CPSC discourages the use of second hand cribs. However, in case you do opt for one, check for all the safety concerns set by the body. Whether you use a second hand one or a brand new one, ensure that you are careful about its condition, as it is one place where your baby mostly lies unattended.