By: Laura A. Jana, MD, FAAP & Jennifer Shu, MD, FAAP
Before you lay your baby down to sleep at night or for a nap, consider these safety tips and practical considerations.
Crib safety
Whether you decide to set up a crib for your baby as soon as your pregnancy test turns positive or months after your newborn's much-anticipated arrival, there are a few general safety principles that you'll want to follow to ensure your baby's safety. Some may not seem particularly relevant during your baby's first few months, but given that cribs tend to be big-ticket items and the one you invest in is going to be put to the test for years to come as your baby learns to roll, sit, stand and climb in it, it's well worth considering present and future safety concerns.
Crib slats. The slats should be no more than 2-3/8 inches apart. All new cribs must meet this standard, but older cribs may not. Avoid using any crib that does not meet this 2011 standard.
Posts & cutouts. Steer clear of bedposts taller than 1/16th of an inch (we realize that's almost nothing, but that's the point) and/or cutouts in the headboard or any other parts of the crib, where a baby's or toddler's body parts could get stuck.
Bumpers and pillows. Yes, they're soft and cute. But soft and cute should not be your deciding factor. For safety's sake, keep crib bumpers and pillows out of your baby's crib.
Crib toys. They may seem harmless, entertaining, cute and cuddly, but keep all stuffed animals (and most toys) out of your newborn's crib because they can pose a small but nevertheless real safety risk. The exceptions are the types of toys that strap securely to the side of the crib. Some babies like mirrors or toys with parts they can play with (such as spinners, rattles, and music), but your newborn probably won't be terribly interested in them for at least a few weeks.
Mobiles. Mobiles are special hanging toys designed to entertain your baby and can be attached to the crib, ceiling or wall. Some are even adorned with lights or play music. They are fun but definitely optional. If you do choose to use mobiles, make sure they do not hang low enough to entangle your baby, especially once they begin to roll. In fact, once your baby is able to sit up, it will definitely be time for their mobile to come down.
Crib placement. Unless you don't mind a bit of redecorating and rearranging when your baby starts to get around, we suggest you place your crib well away from any windows and no less than an arm's reach away from any nearby dressers or tabletops. Knowing that it won't be long before anything and everything within reach will be fair game, we also recommend limiting your over-the-crib wall decorations to painted walls and wallpaper. Picture frames and mirrors over cribs may be cute, but they are also injuries waiting to happen. Be forewarned that while they may be safe, even paper borders placed within reach of the crib don't often stand up well to prying fingers.
Firm-fitting mattress/fitted sheet. While they seem to be mostly standardized, cribs and mattresses can and do come in more than one size. So be sure to double-check measurements and read labels to make sure you end up with a mattress that fits snugly into your chosen crib. Any extra space between the mattress and crib frame has the potential to trap a baby's arm, leg or head. Also make sure your fitted sheets are tight enough that they don't slip off easily, thus posing a serious safety hazard.
Tooth-resistant rails. Some railings are covered by a special plastic to prevent teething babies from gnawing on the paint or wood.
Adjustable mattress height. Many cribs have adjustable heights so you can lower the mattress as your baby gets taller, making it more difficult for them to climb out. You will likely want to keep it at the highest level while your newborn is relatively immobile and you are coming and going frequently because it will allow you to save a good deal of strain on your back. Remember that by the time your baby is able to sit or stand up, you'll want to lower the level of the crib mattress accordingly.
Bare is best when it comes to cribs
If you come to find that the excitement you feel about having a new baby is wrapped up in the buying of a fancy baby bedding set complete with bumper and quilted blanket, we suggest you work on changing your mindset rather than your nursery décor. Simply remember that the AAP recommends that nothing but a snugly fitted sheet be placed with your baby in the crib during the first year.
Why drop-side cribs are a thing of the past
In years past, crib railings were almost always adjustable—meaning you could raise and lower one or both side railings. While this feature had long been appealing to parents as a convenience, it became a safety concern. Numerous injuries from crib side-rails resulted in the largest crib recall in history (2.1 million cribs!) in 2009. As a result, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), which sets voluntary industry safety standards, required that going forward, all full-sized cribs be manufactured with 4 immovable sides. The take-home message for all parents: Always check out the latest safety information on the
CPSC website before dropping your guard.
Bed-sharing safety concerns
Many new parents are tempted to take their newborn into bed with them—often out of fatigue and convenience, as well as for cultural and philosophical reasons. Whether bed-sharing is safe, however, has been the subject of much debate.
Recent studies suggest that bed-sharing may significantly increase the risk of infant suffocation. So, you'll find that many experts (including those responsible for writing AAP policy) now strongly advise against it and instead suggest the very practical and safer alternative of sharing the same room but not the same bed during your baby's first year. If there is a chance that you may fall asleep with your baby in your bed, even if only infrequently, here are some extremely important safety considerations.
Make your bed like a crib. The heavy blankets, comforters, pillows, and other accessories typically found on adult beds can suffocate or smother a baby and therefore have no place being in the same location where newborns sleep. (While we're on the subject of simple yet potentially lifesaving measures, we also strongly recommend removing any and all such items that may have already found their way into your baby's crib.)
Bed-sharing babies are at risk from falls or the possibility of being trapped between the mattress and the wall, headboard, or other furniture.
Bed-sharing and the use of tobacco, alcohol, or drugs don't mix. These substances, including over-the-counter or prescription medications, all have the distinct potential to cause excessive drowsiness or impaired judgment, making those who choose to indulge at risk of being less aware of a baby in the bed.
More information
About Dr. Jana
Laura A. Jana, MD, FAAP, is a pediatrician and mother of 3 with a faculty appointment at the Penn State University Edna Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center. She is the author of more than 30 parenting and children's books and serves as an early childhood expert/contributor for organizations including the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Primrose Schools, and
US News & World Report. She lives in Omaha, NE.
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About Dr. Shu
Jennifer Shu, MD, FAAP serves as the medical editor of HealthyChildren.org and provides oversight and direction for the site in conjunction with the staff editor. Dr. Shu is a practicing pediatrician at Children's Medical Group in Atlanta, Georgia, and she is also a mom. She earned her medical degree at the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond and specialized in pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco. Her experience includes working in private practice, as well as working in an academic medical center. She served as director of the normal newborn nursery at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in New Hampshire. Dr. Shu is also co-author of
Food Fights and
Heading Home with Your Newborn published by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
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