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.
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.
For more information, please visit the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
at www.cpsc.gov
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