Throughout the first year of your baby’s life they will spend around 70% of their time in their crib. So it is important that you choose wisely as this is a very important piece of equipment that you are going to be purchasing. Along with looking at baby crib safety issues you need to choose one that is going to provide them with comfort not only when a sleep but when awake.

It is important that you make sure that the crib you select has reached the relevant safety standards. To do this make sure that in the USA it has the JPMA certification or in the UK BSI Kite Safety logo on it.

But how does one know which cribs do actually meet the relevant safety standards in order to achieve these certificates? Below we take a look at what to look for when purchasing your baby’s crib.

1. Make sure that the slats or bars in your baby’s crib are no more than 2-3/8 inches apart. Any further apart than this and a baby will find it very easy to slip their head through the railings and may then become stuck.

2. Although there are some cribs available that have designs cut into the rails or along the tops and bottoms of them these types should be avoided. Again there is a much greater chance of your baby’s arm or neck getting stuck in them.

3. It is important that the crib you select is a sturdy model, because as your child grows older they move around a great deal more when they sleep at night. So it is a good idea when out shopping to shake the crib you are considering purchasing well. As you shake it look to see how much it wobbles or how much it rattles.

4. Look for cribs which have been constructed from either maple, beech, oak or ash wood which has been painted or stained. These hardwoods are not only more durable and so unlike many other woods are must less likely to warp or weaken over time and how much they are used.

5. When looking at the way in which the crib has been finished again make sure that the stain or paint used is of the non toxic, lead free varieties. Remember when babies are teething they like to chew on things and this may well include their crib.

6. When it comes to choosing the right kind of crib for your new arrival go for those kinds that the sides don’t drop to less than 9 inches above the height of the mattress when lowered. Also the sides when raised must be at least 26 inches above the height of the mattress to ensure that the child when standing cannot actually attempt to climb up and over the sides.

7. Finally when it comes to baby crib safety issues check to make sure that the mattress that comes with it fits snugly into the space provided. Avoid those that allow you to fit two fingers between it and the sides of the crib and regularly check the condition of the mattress if made from foam. These types of mattresses do eventually begin to break down and can result in gaps forming between it and the sides of the crib where small hands and fingers can become trapped.