While you may want to use an antique crib that has been in your family for many years, you may want to reconsider and buy a new crib. Previous to 1974, there were no regulations on how cribs were built. However cribs manufactured after 1974 have strict safety standards the must be built by that will ensure a greater about of security for your child.
Standard cribs must have slats that are no more than 2 and 3/8 inches apart. This is to keep infants from getting their heads stuck between them. Standard cribs corner posts should be the same height or less than 1/16 higher than the headboard and footboard panels. The top rails of crib sides on standard cribs should be at least 26 inches at its lowest position from the top of the mattress.
Picking out the right crib mattress is just as important as picking out the right crib. Whether you are searching online for cribs or in a store, a popular phrase you will see while looking at cribs is “fits standard size crib mattresses” or “fits all standard crib mattresses.” Well, this of course leads to the question, “What is a standard crib mattress size?” The standard size of a crib mattress is approximately 51 and 5/8 inches by 27 and 1/4 inches. Almost all cribs you find for sale these days are stand cribs and will fid these standard crib mattresses.
If you use a crib that was built before 1974, chances are that crib will not fit a standard size crib mattress. Since it is very important that the mattress fit snugly into the crib for safety measures, it is best to buy a standard size crib and mattress to use for your baby. Standard cribs come in many different styles these days, so you could probably even find one that looks antique if that is the look you are going for.
A toddler bed will be the next step up for you child from a crib. Fortunately, standard crib mattresses and toddler beds fit together perfectly, since a toddler bed basically has the same dimensions as a crib. These means that you can use your standard crib mattress and not have to worry about going out and buying another.
