Choosing cribs beds (see page) For Your Baby

Sleep is an important part of your baby's life. A crib can help your cheap baby cots develop the habit of sleeping on their own and ensure your safety at night.

There are a variety of cribs, each with varying sizes, styles, and mattress-support heights. We searched for cribs which are safe, easy to use and in line with the latest design trends.

Size

A crib is a bed designed for babies and infants. There are many different types of cribs, however they are all smaller than a toddler's mattress and provide a safe sleeping place for your infant. Some cribs come with wheels, which allows them to be moved around the house. Most are designed to reduce SIDS risk by providing a comfy and supportive environment similar to that of the baby's womb.

While many parents may want their children to stay in their cribs as long as they can but some children are prepared to transition to a toddler bed faster than others. The most popular crib is the standard crib. It can be used for your child's first year until they reach 18 months old, or can be taken away.

Bassinets can be used by babies from birth to four months or until they are big. These are smaller and less bulky than cribs, but they can provide the closeness to parents that infants require in their early months. They are also more compact, making them a good alternative if you're not sure what kind of bedding your child will prefer.

To ensure your child's safety the bassinets and cribs have safety guidelines. For instance, there must be no gaps bigger than two fingers between the mattress and the crib frame and the slats must not be missing or loose. The bed should also not have any cutouts on the headboard or footboard as this could entrap the child's head or legs and increase the risk of suffocation.

Cribs can be bought in various styles and finishes, and some even include changing tables and shelving units. If you intend to breastfeed, these cribs could be extremely convenient since you can nurse your baby in the crib. If you're short of space or have a limited budget, you can still find cribs that have the essentials.

If you're willing to pay a little more you can purchase cribs that can be converted into toddler beds, daybeds or sofas. These cribs are known as 4-in-1 cribs and can be a great choice for parents who don't want to purchase another one each time their child outgrows the old crib.

Style

When you are looking for a crib, take into consideration its style and design in relation to the design of your baby's nursery. It is possible to pick an option that fits the overall theme of your home, whether rustic or contemporary. There are numerous cribs to choose from in various shapes and styles, with natural wood or color finishes.

Cribs are safe sleeping places for infants. At first, they were cradles which could be rocked. As understanding of child safety increased and the need for a stationary crib became standard, and designs shifted to provide better protection from accidents or entrapment. Modern cribs have features such as sturdy construction, appropriate spacing of slats, and non-toxic materials, all of which are geared towards your baby's safety and wellbeing.

There are cribs that include with a changing table or shelving unit for ease during the infant stage. It's not recommended to use this type of crib until your baby is ready to stand up or climb, as it could make it easier for them to escape.

Some cribs come with adjustable mattress support heights so you can lower the mattress as your baby grows. The higher setting is ideal for babies, and the lower setting should be used before your baby learns to sit up or roll in bed, which typically occurs by the time they reach the age of a year.

The mattress of a crib can be set on a single-piece board, a grid of wood slats or spring-wire frames. Both What to Expect and Baby Bargains recommend a metal spring base, as this is believed to be more stable than wooden slats which can break or loosen over time. The base should be firm and tightly fitted to the crib so it does not allow air to circulate over the mattress, which could pose a possibility of suffocation in infants.

If you're planning on keeping your baby in a crib as long as possible, then look into a crib that can be transformed into a toddler Cot Bed, daybed and eventually a full-size bed. They typically have removable rails to facilitate the transition to an adult bed much easier, and they often have adjustable mattress heights.

Safety

It is essential to select cribs that adhere to strict safety standards, regardless of the style and design you select. In the United States this includes certifications by the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the conformity to ASTM International Standards. Check for these certifications on the crib's packaging or in its description. Also, examine the crib frame to see if there are any paint or wood imperfections that could pose a risk for your baby.

If you're planning to buy an infant's mattress for their crib, pick the most solid mattress you can find. This will reduce the risk of accidental suffocation, which is a leading cause of sudden infant death syndrome. Make sure the mattress is able to fit snugly inside the crib. A mattress that's too big or too small can be dangerous, as your baby could be trapped between the mattress and headboard or sides of the crib.

There are reports of non-fatal incidents, including 21 reported deaths reported in the NPR and two other fatalities reported during the NPR update, involve the crib mattress that was too soft. These incidents involve a variety of dangers, such as gaps between the mattress and the crib's side, or head and footboard that create entrapment risks and infants slipping into or getting trapped between the mattress and the wall or headboard pillows and blankets, which pose dangers of suffocation; and mattresses that are overheated which causes infants to suffer burns, rashes and other health issues.

Some manufacturers now offer "breathable" crib mattresses, which they claim promote sleeping in a safe manner and reduce the risk of rebreathing, or breathing in the baby's own carbon dioxide, thought to contribute to SIDS. However, there is no evidence from an epidemiological perspective that breathable mattresses lower the risk of SIDS.

Conversion

If you are adding a new baby to your family, you'll likely have to purchase lots of new items. This includes everything from clothing and toys to nursery furniture. Making the investment in best rated cribs that convert to toddler beds or full-size beds can help you save money on furniture purchases and make the transition from infant to adolescence easier for your child and family. These conversion kits can be bought for various brands of best cots for newborns and include the headboard and footboard. Some models are GREENGUARD Certified Gold, meaning that they emit low levels of chemicals to create a healthier indoor environment.

Whether you opt for convertible cribs or a standard crib, it is important to buy the right mattress so that your child is comfortable night's sleep. Choose between foam, innerspring, or gel mattresses that come in various sizes to meet your requirements. Pick a foam mattress that is at least 2 3/8 inches thick or an innerspring bed that is in compliance with federal safety standards.

When your child is ready to transition from the crib, you will require an adult bed or a full-size bed conversion kit. It is recommended that you have this in place before your child turns two years old to ensure the process is smooth and your child will be comfortable with the transition. Once your crib and mattress conversion kit is installed, converting the crib into a toddler or full-size bed is not more than 30 minutes when you have two people.

It is possible to make the transition from a crib the toddler bed more comfortable by keeping the bedding and decor same and moving the bed into the room in which the crib is. Getting your child involved in the transition by giving them a selection of their favorite stuffed animals or toys to sleep with and encouraging them to go to bed at a regular time can help them adapt to the new sleeping arrangement.

Having a crib that can transform into a bed that is full size is an excellent option to prolong the life of your investment, and provide an additional bed for your child throughout their teenage years. The conversion kits for these cribs are available in different designs to complement your other furniture pieces and can be fitted on many different types of mattresses, such as twin and full size.