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Inspect the crib carefully! All elements and parts must be well processed, without chips, gaps or drips. Ideally, the side rails and railings of the crib are made of solid wood - this is an additional environmentally friendly bonus. All wood parts must be smooth to the touch, cleanly processed and have a uniform silky varnish coating. The type of wood is not important; hardwood species (oak, beech, etc.) are used for these parts.
For reference:
In cheaper products that use wood board (chipboard, or MDF), the environmental safety class of this board must be documented (class no more than E 0.5). It’s good if the crib base for the mattress is made of plywood or glued wood elements - these are strips of wood with a slightly curved shape (another name is “slats”). It is believed that a slatted base under a mattress has better ventilation.
Safety requirements for cribs
Any children's product must first of all be as safe as possible for the baby, this also applies to cribs. In order to choose a really high-quality and optimally safe children's accessory of this type, be sure to pay attention to the following parameters
- Bottom - as mentioned above in our article, the ideal crib is one in which the bottom is not solid, but slatted. In addition, the slats should not be longitudinal but transverse, and the distance between them should not exceed two centimeters. A solid bottom will prevent the free penetration of air, and this is harmful to the baby’s health.
- Legs - the legs of a crib should be so strong that they can withstand the weight of an adult, in addition, they should be as stable as possible, even if they are runners or wheels.
- Depth - the depth of the crib should be at least half a meter, but this is more for the mother’s convenience, but at the same time it is also necessary for the safety of the grown-up baby, so that he does not fall out of the crib in an attempt to climb over the side.
- Distance between the bars - if the crib is equipped with bars, make sure that the distance between them does not exceed 6-7 centimeters; the baby’s hand should pass freely between the bars, but should not pass at all.
Important!!! If the rail at the side of the crib breaks, urgently replace it with a new one to avoid the danger that the baby will fall through the hole or get hurt on a piece of debris.
Each material from which the crib is made also has special requirements.
- Wooden crib - make sure that all parts are thoroughly polished, without any burrs or roughness. In addition, keep in mind that most wooden cribs are treated with a certain substance, coated with varnish or paint, and before purchasing a painted crib, pay attention to ensure that its coating does not cause an allergy in your baby.
- Metal crib - test it for strength and check for rust, damage to the metal, and for sharp parts and sharp corners in the design of the product.
- Plastic crib - here, first of all, you need to check the product for the strength of the material and, in addition, what kind of plastic the crib is made from. It is best if the product is made from one material, and not from an alloy of different materials.
Be careful, the box is opening!
If the design of the crib involves a box, the solid sides of the box should be made of solid wood, laminated wood (wooden slats glued together at the joint, have a minimum of synthetic adhesive composition).
But the mechanism of drawers (roller, ball or roll-out) is not of fundamental importance. The main thing is that it is installed correctly, ensures free movement of the drawer and is convenient for you to use. Experts have determined which brands of cribs are safe and of high quality.
Types of cribs
To choose the most suitable crib for your child, you must first understand what types of cribs exist. At the moment, cribs are usually divided into several main types, which we will discuss below.
Interesting fact. Several centuries ago, cribs for newborns were considered a rarity. That is why most mothers put their babies to sleep next to them.
Cradle
This bed is designed for very young children. It is a small cradle that can be rocked or left in a calm position. Such cribs may also differ depending on the model, for example, there are cribs with springs or runners, but which one is right for you cannot be said - this is a matter of taste.
The cradle will be an excellent choice for your baby if you have not yet decided which crib to choose for your newborn. It is not that expensive and you are unlikely to make a mistake when choosing a crib of this type.
My sister gave birth to long-awaited daughters and two at once, double mother’s happiness. When one daughter woke up, and their routines became different almost immediately, we simply took the awakened baby to the kitchen or to another room, where the mother continued to do her business. With beds it would be much more difficult.
— Man from the cradle forum
Standard cot
Probably every person has seen a crib like this at some point in their life. Essentially, it's just a small bed surrounded by boards or a mesh base.
Such a crib can have completely different design styles, which will allow it to fit into almost every interior. Often the material chosen for such a crib greatly reduces the number of options, so it’s also worth thinking about it right away. Most often you can see rectangular cribs, but if you try, you can find unusual options; in extreme cases, you can make it to order.
Rocking bed
This is some mixture of a lullaby and a standard bed. It can also be used for newborns, as it rocks them to sleep quite well, but there are many more design options than a lullaby.
Many models provide a fixation that prevents the crib from rocking due to the child’s movements. If you don't think about changing your crib in the next few years, then a rocking bed will be an excellent choice.
I didn’t swing, although we had a pendulum. I think, just in case, you need a rocking chair, you don’t have to pump it... But you definitely won’t be able to rock a regular one.
— Man from the forum
Manege
The most popular type of crib and it gained its popularity for a reason. A playpen-type crib is very versatile; it can serve as a place for a child to play actively or as a comfortable place to sleep.
By choosing such a crib, you don’t have to worry that you will have to change it very soon. It can serve as a toy warehouse or be a baby’s personal area.
Transformable bed
This type of crib should be chosen for older children. If your child is already going to kindergarten, then he may need a table or drawers for completing assignments and storing some things. In order not to buy all this separately, you can purchase a transforming bed, which, in addition, will not take up much space.
If you choose such a crib wisely, it can be useful for a child even in primary school, so if you do not want to spend a lot of money and effort on selecting different furniture that should be combined, then a transforming bed will be an excellent choice.
It is impossible to say which of the above models is right for you; a lot depends on the age of the baby, his activity and your personal preferences. If you have a very active baby, then a playpen crib would be a good choice, but if he is quite calm and falls asleep easily, then you can look towards standard models.
Let's do without extremes
There is an opinion that a crib should be heavy, because supposedly in this case it is more stable. In fact, the weight of the product should be within reasonable sufficiency. And stability can be influenced by other indicators, such as height and width. Narrow and tall cribs are easier to tip over than wide and low cribs.
For reference:
The dimensions and weight characteristics and the stability indicator of the crib are parameters provided for by the relevant GOSTs and ensure the reliability and safety of its operation.
Which crib is best for a newborn baby?
Indeed, what material should you prefer when choosing a crib: birch or pine? Should the crib rock or stop on wheels? Removable wall or lowering? What are three positions and how do they differ from removable slats? It is impossible to understand this without special training. This is what we will do now.
Transformable cribs for newborns
A crib for a newborn can be a regular type, or it can be a transformer that increases in size as the baby grows. Typically, the standard parameters of cribs can be different: 120x60, 125x65 and even 140x70. True, the latter size is quite rare, and a mattress for such a crib is difficult to find. On the other hand, it will serve you for a longer time. So, when thinking about which crib to choose, you should not lose sight of this factor.
Baby crib rocking chair
Regardless of how you feel about rocking cribs right now, keep in mind that if your baby turns out to be restless, you still have the additional opportunity to put him to sleep. In the end, you can always block the rocking chair if you are fundamentally against it.
By the way, you can choose a crib for your baby in two versions: a rocking chair on runners and with a pendulum system. Both have their pros and cons, so to choose a crib for your newborn, you need to decide on your priorities. Of course, a crib on skids is significantly cheaper and lighter in weight, and you can easily move it, even without wheels. There is less chance that something will break in such a crib. But on the other hand, the pendulum system is more convenient in terms of swinging, and the child will not dangle in such a crib.
Pendulum cribs for newborns
If you decide to choose a crib for a newborn with a pendulum system, then know that it has quite a few disadvantages. Firstly, they are more expensive. Secondly, they are simply more massive and more difficult to move when cleaning. In addition, the crib itself has additional surfaces on which dust accumulates. However, such a crib can be rocked literally with one finger, which is important, especially at night. However, if you decide to choose a bed with a pendulum, pay special attention to how reliable this mechanism is, because if it breaks, the rocker will be useless.
Crib playpen for newborns
You can choose a crib playpen. It is designed for a child from birth to 3-4 years or more, it has many functions. A child spends almost all his time in the crib during the first months of life - both when he sleeps and when he is awake; after the child grows a little and learns to stand on his feet, the bottom of the crib drops to the lower level and from that moment on it is used not only as a crib, but also as a playpen.
How to choose the best crib for a newborn
In order for your purchase to serve you faithfully, be sure to check it for quality and functionality. If this product has a removable side, check how easily the removable element can be removed and installed, and also check how well and firmly it is attached to the grooves. For a crib on wheels and runners, check how easily the crib moves; remember, it should not move with a slight impact. Also check the swing radius if the crib is mounted on skids. With a playpen crib, everything is also not simple; here you need to check almost everything, from the folding and unfolding mechanism to the stability of the product.
Primary requirements
You should choose a crib for your baby according to the criteria that are responsible for the safety of the child.
At the same time, you should not forget about convenience, because you will have to go to the crib several times a night and pick up the baby in your arms. Therefore, when choosing, the following requirements should be taken into account: - the bed must have a safe shape without sharp corners, otherwise the baby may be injured; — a wooden bed should be made of high-quality wood with an ideal varnish coating, since a growing baby chews on everything that comes to hand; - the walls and bottom of the crib should have small gaps, this is necessary for good ventilation; — the width between the side slats should be no less and no more than 7-8 cm, otherwise the child’s head, arm or leg may get stuck between the slats; — the crib should have two levels of height, the lower level will be needed when the child grows up and begins to stand on his feet, this will protect him from falling out of the crib.
Which set of crib accessories should I choose for a newborn?
If you want the crib to be not only practical, but also attractive, it can be further decorated. For this purpose, functional elements are most often used, for example, mobiles with small toys.
There is a large selection of mobiles for boys and girls that you can choose according to your own taste.
The crib set includes:
- bed sheets;
- blanket and pillow;
- lining-sides;
- bedding set.
Set for a crib with sides
For a newborn, it will be enough to have two sets of high-quality, natural bed linen; in addition, you can purchase several sheets, since they get dirty quickly, or diapers.
The linen is made of cotton, it should have a pleasant, not too bright color, there should be no ruffles, ties or loops so that the baby does not get entangled in small details. It is important that the fabric does not fade after washing.
Each type of bed may have different accessories, but some are a necessity rather than just add-ons.
So, what can you buy additionally?
