Getting the Right Baby Bed
More important than that of adults are the sleeping arrangement for babies. Studies have shown that a one-month old baby will be asleep for between fifteen and sixteen hours each day and by the time the baby is a year old, almost fourteen hours is still required. It is essential, therefore, to ensure you purchase the right baby bed.
The very first thing that you have to consider is of course the safety of your child. It is true that there are several standards these items should comply to in order to assure a child’s safety. However, as parents, it is still your duty to make sure that your baby is safe with the items that you will be buying. You should be careful if you will be buying second hand cribs from flea markets or even garage sales. Remember that the standards for safety are ever changing so these old cribs may not meet modern standards. It is important for you to be up to speed on these standards.
Another important aspect to think about is the mattress. It should be quite firm and fit snugly inside the crib. Spaces between the crib railings and the mattress can trap fingers of children and therefore it’s essential that the mattress fits really well, all the way around. The most common accident statistic in infants is the simple fall, often from a crib or bed. Take care to ensure the crib has an effective safety rail which goes all the way around the bed. Some accidents have occurred when the child gets its head stuck between a wall and the bed and this often proves fatal if they are not discovered immediately.
There are also some instances where infant accidents are happening due to very soft mattresses. This has also been known to cause SIDS or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
Secondly consider the options that the crib has for accessorizing, such as mobiles and other items that are intended to stimulate the child. This stimulation is extremely important for a child and whatever you attach to the crib should be capable of being fastened securely and also be adjustable to keep it far enough away from grasping hands and hungry mouths. The accessories come in all shapes and sizes with varying methods of attachment so look at what you might want to attach and how it will be fastened before purchase.
Thirdly consider the type of crib you need. A lot of beds have sides that you can slide up and down making it possible to attend to the baby without reaching over the guard rail and exposing yourself to injury. Think also about available storage. Many cribs come with an option of drawers positioned under the mattress and these should come with the right safety locks to keep the baby safe.
Price and color/style of the baby bed is last aspect to consider. Whilst baby beds can be expensive, good quality beds will last a considerable length of time if looked after and remember that it is the place where they will spend most of their time during those first few years.
Discover more information on buying a baby bed and other baby items at Adorababy.com, a great resource for useful tips, advice and stories about being a parent.
