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What to look for: Fixed side rails: Side rails should be fixed, not adjustable. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) banned the sale of adjustable side rails for safety reasons. Do not buy or accept a used crib with an adjustable side rail. Proper slat distance: The distance between slats must be no more than 2-3/8 inches (6 centimeters) to protect infants from falling out and toddlers from trapping their heads between the slats. Get the firmest mattress you can find. Don't rely on manufacturers' labels — test it yourself by pushing firmly on the center and all sides of the mattress. Make sure the mattress holds firm and springs back in place quickly. This is extremely important because soft mattresses may play a role in sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Be sure that the mattress fits snugly in the crib. This keeps a baby from slipping in between the mattress and the crib sides. Make sure to remove any plastic mattress packaging before use. If you use a mattress pad, buy one that fits tightly.
Corner posts: If the crib has corner posts, they must be either flush with the top of the headboard and footboard or very tall — over 16 inches (41 centimeters). Anything in between is a potential strangulation hazard. If you are getting a used crib, check it with extra care: Avoid cribs older than 10 years old: They may not meet the most recent safety standards. There may be too much space between slats or elaborate cut-outs in the headboard and footboard that can trap a baby's head. A crib made before 1978 may have a finish that contains lead, so a crib that has been in the family for generations may not be the best one to use! Check the condition of the crib: Check that the crib has all of its hardware and that all parts and slats are in good condition. Only use manufacturer-provided parts if any repairs are needed. Make sure you have a manual to assemble it properly. Always place your baby on his or her back to sleep. Make sure the crib has not been recalled by the manufacturer.
Check all screws and hardware regularly and tighten them if necessary. A bare bed is best. Never place bumper pads, soft bedding, or soft toys (blankets, fluffy comforters, pillows, plush toys) in your baby's crib. Any of these items could cause your baby to suffocate. Remove mobiles when your baby starts to push to his or her hands and knees or when your baby turns 5 months old, whichever comes first. Do not place a crib near a window or drapes. Your baby could fall or become entangled in window blind and drape cords. Remove bibs and necklaces from your baby’s neck before putting your baby in the crib. Do not hang toys by strings. Reviewed by: Rupal Christine Gupta, MD and Samantha Hill, MDThere is no “best” time to move your toddler from a crib to a bed. While most little ones begin transitioning to a big kid bed somewhere between ages 2 -3 ½, there really are no rules about making the switch. Moving from a crib to a bed is a huge transition for little ones that can result in night wandering, new fears, and new insecurities.
To make the transition as smooth as possible, it’s best to avoid making the switch during other major transitions (potty training, starting preschool, moving, or the arrival of a new baby). As toddlers grow, they are suddenly faced with numerous transitions. They experience a fair amount of pressure to “grow up”. It’s best to conquer one major milestone at a time, whenever possible, to avoid bombarding toddlers with several transitions at once. Many parents move toddlers into beds the minute they start climbing out of the crib. While climbing out of the crib is scary, one episode does not necessarily mean that your toddler will try again (case in point: My son jumped once, cried for a few minutes, and never jumped again). As long as your toddler isn’t hurt, try not to overreact. Toddlers love attention, positive and negative, but will often move on if they don’t get the intended reaction. *If you do have a new baby on the way, consider either making the switch 8 weeks prior to your due date, so that your toddler has ample time to adjust or borrowing a second crib (or using a co-sleeper or pack and play) for the new baby for the first few months.
Here are some tips to help ease the transition: 1. Assess for readiness: It’s tempting to move a toddler to a big bed the minute they turn two, but many toddlers are not actually ready until closer to 3 ½. Toddlers can become very attached to their crib and the associations with it (being a baby and security). Ideally, the best time to make the transition is when your child asks for it. Try not to rush the transition based on input from others or external pressure. Toddlers do know when they are ready to move on. If you have a toddler who sleeps well in his crib without much complaint, don’t make a change. Try to avoid excessive “big boy” or “big girl” talk when discussing the topic, as this tends to add pressure to the situation. Mention it, point out beds and bedding, and wait for your child to show signs of readiness. 2. Shop together: Changing from the safety of a crib to the strange new world of a bed is big. Allow your child to play an active role in making the transition by allowing him to choose the bed and new bedding.
You want your child to feel as safe and secure as possible. Allowing him to choose how his bed looks and feels gives him some much-needed control over the situation. 3. Placement: Consistency is always essential when introducing big transitions. Try to place the new bed in the same place (or as close to it as possible) as the crib. Moving everything around can cause stress for some toddlers. Try to keep the room as similar as possible. **Note: Some toddlers like to watch the crib leave the room, but most become upset when watching the crib leave…you be the judge. 4. Comfort items: Yes, your child picked out a nice new bed and fabulous new bedding…but it’s very possible that he will still want his old comfort items. Coveted toddler blankets, loveys, a favorite stuffed animal, and other comfort items should all make the transition. The most important factor is that your child feels safe and secure in his new bed. Let him choose what that looks like. 5. Safety items: Even if you used a small toddler bed for a while or converted your crib, moving to a bed is still a big jump.