Baby Crib Safety Tips

Use Your Crib Safely
For infants less than 12 months of age, follow these practices to reduce the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) and prevent suffocation:
Place baby on his/her back in a crib with a firm,
tight-fitting mattress.
Do not put pillows, quilts, comforters, sheepskins,
pillow-like bumper pads or pillow-like stuffed toys
in the crib.
Consider using a sleeper instead of a blanket.
If you do use a blanket, place baby with feet to
foot of the crib. Tuck a thin blanket around the
crib mattress, covering baby only as high as his/her chest.
Use only a fitted bottom sheet made specifically for crib use.
Check Your Crib for Safety
There should be:
A firm, tight-fitting mattress so baby can't get trapped between the mattress and the crib.
No missing, loose, broken or improperly installed screws, brackets, or other hardware
on the crib or mattress support.
No more than 2 3/8 inches (about the width of a soda can) between the crib slats so a
baby's body can't fit through the slats; no missing or cracked slats.
No corner posts over 1/16th inch high so a baby's clothing can't catch.
No cutouts in the headboard or foot board so a baby's head can't get trapped.
± more on the other side
For mesh-sided cribs and playpens, look for:
Mesh less than ¼ inch in size, smaller than the tiny buttons on a baby's clothing.
Mesh with no tears, holes or loose threads that could entangle a baby.
Mesh securely attached to the top rail and floor plate.
Top rail cover with no tears or holes.
If staples are used, they are not missing, loose or exposed.