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A Safe Place to Sleep
When Rose Lineweaver put her 23-month-old son Danny down for a nap in his crib on July 14, 1984, she never imagined she was leaving him in a dangerous place. When she checked on him just a few minutes later, she found Danny strangling after his shirt caught on a post on the corner of his crib. He suffered severe, permanent brain damage and later died at the age of 11.
It's stories like this that highlight the absolute necessity of ensuring the crib and mattress you choose for your baby is as safe as possible. Lineweaver has dedicated her life to educating other parents about the dangers of cribs and other nursery equipment by starting the Danny Foundation in memory of her son.
And cribs aren't the only things that can be hazardous to your baby. So take the time to educate yourself about selecting the right products to keep your little one safe and sound.
Crib Precautions
"Cribs, usually used cribs, are the leading cause of death to infants out of all the nursery products,"
says Nychelle Fleming, a spokesperson for the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). "We see
on average about 32 deaths annually."
Crib hazards can include corner posts, like the one on which Danny was caught, loose hardware, slats that are too far apart, cutouts in headboards and footboards and more. One way to be sure you have a safe crib is to buy it new in the United States.
"If you're buying a new crib in the U.S., you can feel pretty good that it's a safe crib," says Leah Severson, author of Bargain Buys for Baby's First Year (Griffin, 2000) and mother of two. "The government has certain safety standards that all cribs must meet."
Many parents may worry about the expense of a new crib and instead use older cribs or hand-me-downs, but Lineweaver says it's simply not worth it. "The cost of a new crib, while substantial, is nothing compared to the pain and suffering associated with a crib injury or accidental death," she says. "Resist your mom or mother-in-law's effort to have you use the crib that you or your husband were raised in."
Fleming suggests asking friends and family to help. "In lieu of a 'baby shower' with lots of gifts, ask friends and family to consider pooling money together to purchase a new crib that meets current standards," she says.
An organization independent from the government called the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association also offers certification that goes above and beyond government standards. While Bette LaGow, managing editor for Consumer Reports Guide to Baby Products, recommends you buy a crib with the JPMA seal, Severson feels it is unnecessary. She says that just because the crib does not have that certification does not mean that it's not safe.
One of the best tests for the safety of a crib is to measure the
distance between the slats. "That's probably the key factor with the safety regulations," says LaGow.
The slats should be no further than 2 3/8 inches apart or about the width of a soda can. If the can
goes through easily, it's too wide.
Other things to be mindful of include ensuring the crib is sturdy and not missing any parts. You should also check for loose screws and nuts and any broken or bent parts. The CPSC recommends you inspect the crib frequently, especially after moving or reassembling.
Log on to the CPSC Web site to learn more about crib safety and to receive free e-mails about the latest crib recalls.
Get Firm
When it comes to mattresses, the firmer the better. The softer a mattress, the more malleable it is,
and the more likely that your little one could suffocate.
None of the experts had a preference over foam or coil mattresses. Instead they recommend buying whichever is the firmest. Severson suggests taking an object that weighs about 10 pounds – about the size of a newborn baby – and setting it on several mattresses. It should sit on top of the mattress without sinking into it.
It's also important that the mattress fit the crib snugly. "A little gap between a crib and a mattress can be a big danger for a baby," says Severson, as babies can get their heads caught in the gap. However, you can easily test the snugness of a mattress using your fingers. "If you can fit two fingers between the mattress and any side of the crib, the mattress is too small," says LaGow.
Safety With Sheets
Believe it or not, crib sheets can also be a hazard. According to the CPSC, 17 babies have died since
1984 after suffocating or strangling when they became entangled in their sheets.
Sheets should fit so tightly around the mattress that they can't be removed by pulling on a corner. "Babies may flail up in their sleep and pull something over their face," says LaGow.
According to Severson, there should also be 2 inches of material under each mattress corner. She also cautions to check the sheets again after washing them, as many inexpensive brands tend to shrink. You can log onto www.babysheets.com to purchase sheets by a mother who lost her baby to this hazard. Her sheets are made like a pillowcase and have Velcro on the end for maximum safety.
Other Bedding
Many parents don't realize that bumper pads, comforters and quilts can also present a danger to their
baby. Parents often buy the complete ensemble after seeing the adorable set in a catalog or store.
Quilts should never be in the crib at the same time as the baby
because of the risk of suffocation. If you must have one, Fleming suggests hanging it on the wall of
the nursery or using it to make up the crib when your baby's not in there. Some bumper pads are OK as
long as they are not quilted and if the ties are no longer than 7 inches. "What you're trying to reduce
is any plush, soft, pillow-type item that molds to the baby's nose and mouth and can cut off the air
supply causing asphyxiation," says Fleming.
Besides, points out Severson, newborns can't move close enough to the slats to ever hit their head anyway. You also can't use them once the baby begins to pull himself up either, because he can use the bumper pads to hoist himself up and over the crib. So why not save your money or put it toward a new crib?
With just a little forethought and research, you can be sure you've given your baby a safe place to slumber and hopefully prevent any major accidents. Says Lineweaver, "Danny died nearly 10 years ago, and his injury was 18 years ago, but I am reminded of him daily, and the happy memories are still overwhelmed by the sadness, injustice and preventability of his loss."
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