Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Types of Cribs to Buy

The crib is the crown jewel of the nursery. It is the centerpiece which will tie together the entire nursery. Cribs are an important element of the baby?s life because it is their first real home. They will spend most of their first couple of years sleeping or lying in the crib. In the past cribs were big and wooden with little room for comfort or style. Modern cribs feature trendy looks with tons of safety and comfort features for both mom and dad and baby. But, don?t mistake trendy for shoddy as most modern cribs are equally as durable as their predecessors.

Most baby cribs are made of wood, but some are made of metal or wrought iron. Medium density fiber boards are also being used in the making of cribs. There are several different types of cribs. Standard cribs offer a traditional look to the nursery and come in a variety of finishes. Convertible cribs grow with the child. They go from crib to bed and can often finish up as a full size adult bed. It is all done with the help of convertible crib rails. Sleigh cribs feature a different look and will work well in just about any nursery. Round cribs give a completely different look to the standard, rectangular shape of most other cribs. There are no nasty corners for the child to bump into with a round crib. Canopy cribs provide an elegant look which parents are often after.

Since the first few years of the child?s life will be spent in the crib it is essential to have safety elements in place. Parents need to check the rail height to ensure it is three quarters the height of the baby. An ideal distance between the lowest mattress slot and the top of the rail is 26 inches. Side slat width is also important. The pickets should be 2.38 inches and less. If the opening is wide between pickets it is likely the baby could get his head or body stuck. The sides and joints should be round and flat so no accidents occur.

While safety is at the forefront it is equally important to make life comfortable on the child. The crib mattress should be fireproof and offer a high quality fabric. The higher the spring count the more comfort for the child. Standard crib mattress can fit just about any crib. Adjustable mattress positions allow the crib to accommodate a growing child. It also improves the function of the crib. Drop down sides make life easier on the parent as it is easier to remove a sleeping child. Comfortable crib bedding should match the theme of the room and should include a quilt, crib sheet, dust ruffle, bumper and diaper stack. Blanket use and pillow use should be reserved for older children. Suffocation can occur with loose bedding and pillows.

About the Author

LynnMarie is On-Line Editor for Babyage.com which is one of the top online retailers of Cribs including a wide variety of Crib Bedding to match any nursery decor.


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