A First-Time Guide to Crib Shopping and Preparing a Newborn’s Nursery
There’s nothing quite like the joy of becoming a parent, but parenting comes with a great deal of responsibilities, and often times, new parents can get a little overwhelmed with baby-proofing the entire house and fretting over minute details. One of the most helpful things to remember when preparing your home for a new baby is that, for the most part, your child will spend its formative years sleeping in his or her bedroom or nursery.
As tempting as it might be to give into nostalgia and save a little bit of money, a crib should be new, no earlier than the’90s. Older cribs simply aren’t up to safety standards, even if they are beautiful, and many of them were painted with lead paint, which you definitely don’t want a newborn chewing on. Invest in a new crib with a classic design for the ultimate baby safety.
Most children will sleep in their crib until two or three years of age, so invest wisely and make sure that the crib you choose is going to last. This is also especially important if there are plans for more children in the future, as the crib might be housing more than one baby throughout the course of its time in your home.
All cribs sold are supposed to comply with universal safety standards, which include a sturdy and durable design and railings that lower, to make picking up your child and putting him or her down easier on your arms and back. Some cribs have railings that lower on both sides, while others only have them on one side. Depending on the layout of the room, you might only need a railing that lowers on one side.
Most cribs have one or both railings that lower. Circular cribs, one of the more chic and contemporary designs that are supposed to promote a good night’s sleep because of the cozy nature, usually only have a railing that lowers on one side. Whether you go with something more classic or more contemporary is largely a matter of taste, since safety standards are the same for both.
If your family is more interested in a device that can grow with the child, or is only planning on having one child, there are convertible cribs that will serve as a bed from the time you bring your child home until the time he or she moves out. These convertible cribs start out as cribs, convert to toddler beds, and then some even convert to day-beds after that. It’s a good investment for the long-term.
But buying a crib isn’t the only part of providing a safe and comfortable sleeping environment for your new child. The crib mattress is also an important purchase. Crib mattresses usually are either innerspring mattresses or foam mattresses, much in the same style as regular beds. Usually, a foam mattress is less expensive.
No matter the type of crib being purchased, there are a few things to look out for. For one, make sure that the mattress fits snugly into the crib, with no more than a finger’s width between the side of the crib and the mattress itself. The best possible choice of mattress will actually attach to the crib somehow, so there isn’t any accidental jostling or room for injury.
As for the crib itself, be sure to double-check that there isn’t enough room between the crib’s slats for a child to fit his or her head and get stuck. Also make sure that the railing mechanism is secure, and that a child hoisting himself onto his feet isn’t going to pull the railing down.
As your child grows, it might be important to add a teething rail, so that when your child begins teething, he or she won’t be chewing on the actual wood of the crib. Bumper guards are also a good bet, as they line the crib and make it so your child won’t hit his or her head when rolling around during sleep.
The most important crib accessory, though, is a good arsenal of educational and interactive toys. More than just comforting a child when his or her parents aren’t in the room, good toys provide entertainment and mental stimulation. Mobiles, toys that play music, and toys with safe, movable parts are the best choices. It’s never too early to think about your child’s mental growth, and early toy exposure is also proven to improve coordination later on. Stock that crib with toys for more than just entertainment purposes.
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