Simple suggestions to keep children safe while sleeping in the crib.
Have you ever
stopped and considered just how much time your child spends in his/her crib if
you have transitioned them out of sleeping in your room? It's a LOT of time.
Typically, half the day or more when including both day and night time sleep.
And all of this time your child is unattended. That's why it is so important to
make sure the baby's crib is one of the safest places in the home. There are
several easy recommendations that can be followed to ensure the safety of your
child while sleeping in a crib. Please note: this post is not about
co-sleeping or bed sharing and the information in this post are not related to
those topics.
Co-sleepers such as Arm's Reach or any style of bassinet:
The use of these should be stopped once your child is able to put herself into a sitting position. The side rails on these types of beds are very short and a child can easily flip over them once she is able to get herself into a sitting position.
Crib Heights:
There are generally 3 different crib
heights and it is important to change these as your child meets the exciting
first year milestones. The highest setting is appropriate when your child is
first born and while she can do little more than roll side to side. This is a
wonderful setting because you only have to reach down a little and it really
saves the back. Unfortunately, it is also the setting that is used for the
shortest period of time. Once your child can pull herself into a sitting
position it's time to move the crib to the middle height. The reason for
this is the same as with the co-sleeper or bassinet. Once your child can
pull herself up to stand it is time to go to the lowest setting.
Always check your crib's manufacture's instructions for more details on these
safety suggestions.
Entanglement Risks:
Baby monitors with cords should not
be placed in or on cribs and should be kept away from a child's reach at all
ages. Mobiles should be removed from the crib once a child can get onto
their hands or knees or pull self up to stand.
Crib Items:
Simply put: there should be NONE for
the first year of life. This includes no blankets, pillows, or stuffed animals.
Absolutely nothing should be in the crib with your child. There is some
new information that is suggesting bumpers are safe as long as they are
installed correctly. A concern regarding this is that bumpers (just like car
seats) are so often NOT installed properly. If you are concerned about those
tiny limbs getting stuck between the rails there is the breathablebaby
bumper that can be used and has much lower risks than those associated with
traditional bumpers. And as for the child's warmth with no blankets there are
several alternative items that can be used to keep your child warm including
the Halo sleep sacks and the Summer infant swaddle blankets (to name just
two).
Trying to Climb:
Once your child begins to show an
interest in climbing out of the crib, it's time to begin the transition to a
toddler bed. You never know when a child will succeed for the first time.
There are a few safety precautions that can be taken since transitioning from a
crib to a big kid bed doesn't always happen over night.
- Minimize the number of pillows,
stuffed animals, blankets, etc that are in the crib as these can be used to
stack and ease climbing. Remove the bumpers if they are in use.
- Keep furniture away from the crib
(such as end tables) since these, too, can be used in some pretty fancy climbing
maneuvers.
- Place some large pillows or other
padding around the outside of the crib in the case that you have a successful launch.
Again, always check the
manufacturer's instructions for all baby products and talk with
your child's pediatrician if you have questions or concerns.
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