Before we bring home that new born baby we fuss about so many things, one of which is the nursery and the crib where we expect to let our precious baby sleep. And, yes, it is important to have a safe place for our new baby. As a mother and a grandmother, not to mention, church nursery supervisor for several years, I have dealt with babies and sleeping and safety issues. How can we make sure our baby has a safe place to sleep?
An older crib might present safety problems. Cribs that have been in the family for generations may have sentimental value, but they may also present safety hazards for your baby. Are the slats far enough apart that your baby might get caught between them? Does the mattress fit all sides tightly? Is the mattress firm rather than soft? Does the raising and lowering mechanism on the crib present a safety hazard for the active baby? Older cribs might also have safety issues with the finishing product. Is the finishing, paint or other top coat, safe for a baby who touches, pulls, tugs, chews on and sucks any and everything?
(Be sure to check cribs any place you leave your little one including day care, church nursery, and the homes of the grandparents where it is most likely a crib may show some wear and tear. Remember, safety for your child is more important than hurt feelings, though tact should be used when dealing with what you consider a less than perfect sleep situation for your little one.)
As they grow older, babies get very creative and this, too, presents a safety problem. Is there any way they can reach the mechanism that changes height in the crib? Can they get their little fingers caught in tight corners of the mechanism, slats, etc.? Parents need to think pro-actively about ways their little one can possibly be injured.
Is the crib sturdy enough for a bouncing baby or for an adult trying handle a struggling baby?
Most of us figure a crib is a crib. We don’t look at a crib as a safety issue. What we look for is something to match the décor in the nursery. But the color of the crib is not near as important as the age and condition of the crib. Even a new crib may not be as safe as you’d like. Check for certifications on the packaging material. Does it meet current Consumer Product Safety Commission standards for safety? And, always check the Federal recall list before buying a crib.
Be careful about dangling toys in the crib. Though we think of a toy as a way to calm and distract that little one, we don’t often consider them in terms of safety. It doesn’t take all that long before a baby is able to reach. Be careful that any toys in the sleep area won’t be a choking hazard, a tangle danger with cords or strings or has any small pieces and parts that could pop loose and cause a safety problem.
Sheets need to be snug on the crib bed mattress. Be careful about blanket usage in the crib. They can slip and tangle or even strangle a baby as the little one squirms and turns during sleep.
Finding and outfitting a crib safely is important, but a crib is often not the best first bed for the baby. Many start the new born out in a bassinet in the parent’s bed room. This makes sure, as you adjust to the new little one’s schedule, parents hear their baby and can respond quickly. It also means, Mom may get a whole lot more rest. Having that new born close is a safety issue.
While many swear the family bed is dangerous, others swear by it. Taking a new born baby into bed with the parents needs to be considered carefully before a decision is made. Those on medications of any kind, should not have a baby in the same bed. If the parent or parents are hard sleepers and do not wake easily, having a baby in the bed is very dangerous. If a parent resents the intrusion, the baby should not be in the parent’s bed.
As for me, I don’t turn over easily and wake quickly. Because of my need for rest and my limitations, having each of my babies in bed with me those first months proved invaluable for us all. As a nursing mother, I was able to quickly meet my baby’s needs during the night with a minimum of stress.
Still this is a situation that should be approached cautiously and each parent must be on board with having the baby in bed. A baby should not continue to sleep with the parents. A baby needs to learn to sleep in his/her own space and a family bed, if not handled properly, can be harmful to the baby and to the marriage when the parents have no time, even in bed, without the baby calling the shots.
Having our babies in our bed was not something we prolonged. We graduated each of our children to the crib down the hall as soon as possible. To help in the transition, we played music to help them sleep, let them know we weren’t far away and learned to distinguish the cries of need and pain from those of “I just want my way” cries.
Providing a safe sleeping bed situation for the new born baby, and older babies, is important and can be accomplished by considering your options and using the practical tips given in this article.
