Cribs and crib safety
Description
The following article offers recommendations for choosing a crib that meets current safety standards and implementing safe sleep practices for infants.
New Crib or old one?
Whether new or old, your crib should meet all current government safety standards:
If you have an older crib that was made before the new safety standards were put into place:
Whether the Crib is New or Older
Always use a firm, tight-fitting mattress. This will help keep the baby from getting trapped between the mattress and the crib.
Do a crib-safety check. There should be:
Using a Crib
Read and follow the directions to set up, use, and care for the crib.
Hanging crib toys (mobiles, crib gyms) should be out of the baby's reach.
Children should be taken out of a crib by the time they are 35 in (90 cm) tall.
Safe Bedding for Children
Though it is rare, some babies die in their sleep without any known reason. This is known as sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
You can do many things to keep your baby safe during sleep and reduce the chance of a SIDS death.
Do not place your baby on a water bed, sofa, soft mattress, pillow, or other soft surface.
References
Hauck FR, Carlin RF, Moon RY, Hunt CE. Sudden infant death syndrome. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, et al, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 423.
United States Consumer Product Safety Commission website. Crib safety tips. www.cpsc.gov/safety-education/safety-guides/cribs/crib-safety-tips. Accessed April 15, 2024.
Wesley SE, Allen E, Bartsch H. Care of the newborn. In: Rakel RE, Rakel DP, eds. Textbook of Family Medicine. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 21.
Review Date: 4/1/2024
Reviewed By: Charles I. Schwartz, MD, FAAP, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, General Pediatrician at PennCare for Kids, Phoenixville, PA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
-
© 1997-2024
All rights reserved.