Choosing a Baby Crib

A Baby crib is a small sized bed with sides made especially for babies to sleep. This bed should be constructed according to the standards of US Consumer Product Safety Commission to enhance safety. The crib should be fitted with a tight mattress. The frame should be at least 28” wide and 52” long. There should not be any joint pieces or cutouts. The gaps between slats should not be more than 2.5”. The height of the corner posts should be at least 1/16”. The baby crib can have one drop side or two. Drop sides when lowered should be at a minimum of 9” above the mattress support. From this point, the drop side can be raised through 26”. The mattress height can be adjusted according to the mother’s requirement. The baby cribs mattress is usually supported with metal springs.

The parents or the nanny taking care of the baby should know certain safety rules before using the baby crib. The surface of the newly bought bedding must be smooth and should not have splinters or sharp edges. The fastening screws have to be tightened periodically. Tight fitting crib mattress originally made should be used. Worn out or softened crib mattress has to be replaced. No additional items like toys or bumper pads should be left in the baby’s crib when the baby is lying there.

The baby should be allowed to freely move inside the crib. Materials like necklace and strings which carries the risk of wounding the baby’s neck should be avoided from the vicinity of even the best baby cribs. This bed should be away from electrical wires and connections, windows and curtains. No material should be kept near the baby’s crib which may be used by the baby to step out of the bed. The baby’s head should not be covered with any cloth as it may create breathing difficulty. The baby should not be left on a sofa or a pillow.

An elegant and versatile convertible babies crib is handcrafted by skilled artisans. The Victorian inspired carvings on the panel with white finish give warmth to the environment. This crib can be converted into a toddler bed and full sized bed as the baby grows. The conversion accessory is usually not included in the pricing of the crib. The crib can be extended to a full sized bed by using a slat roll and bed rails. Even the solid poplar wood used in making the babies crib is dried in kiln for moisture control which ensures durability.

The white finish given to the crib structure is free of formaldehyde or lead. The springs supporting the crib mattress can be adjusted at four different positions. One of the brands of crib uses pine wood for constructing a lighter and sturdier frame to contain the crib mattress. It does not have a drop side which usually cause for baby injury.
           
Synthetic mattresses are best avoided as they come with a vinyl top. The fire blocker stuffed inside contains roach repellant of 7.5% boric acid and 2.4% antimony. Antimony is the dangerous chemical for the health of the baby. It reaches through the top vinyl covering and gets into the baby’s body by skin absorption. Research shows that the reason for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is due to high antimony levels in the baby’s body. The vinyl covering not being porous prevents the baby from breathing when it sleeps upside down with its face directly on the cover.

The baby spends more than 60% of the day in its crib. The chances of the baby’s exposure to toxins should be completely avoided. The baby has the habit of biting any handy material. The toxins which are already present in the synthetic diaper and the crib mattress get into the digestive canal of the baby resulting in allergies and asthma attack. The baby’s skin absorbs the toxic vapors of the vinyl covering in addition to inhaling those vapors.

The synthetic used baby crib mattress has now been replaced by organic crib mattress which is toxin proof. Pure organic wool from sheep and goat reared in organic farming is used as the fire retardant to stuff the crib mattress. The mattress is given shape by springs inside which are oiled by tung oil and beeswax. Toxic oils used in synthetic mattress are avoided in organic cribs. Rubber taken naturally from rubber trees is used in the making of this crib.

Cotton grown by organic farming is used for batting and the outer cover. Organic cotton and organic wool are softer and more workable because of the absence of any residual chemical. Baby crib thus made is sold in undyed condition. If there is a request for colorful crib mattress, the manufacturer uses dyes of vegetable origin to color the products. With an eye on the baby’s welfare, it is the duty of parents to choose the best quality organic crib mattress.

As the old saying goes, healthy sleep happy baby  :-)

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