Infants, according to medical standards, require at least 12 to 16 hours of sleep per day for healthy development. This gradually reduces to 11 to 14 hours per day for children between 1 and 2 years of age.
Choosing the right crib for your child is, therefore, a key decision. It will determine the comfort and safety that they experience in these vital early days. It can also make your parenting tasks a little easier or a little harder if you make the wrong pick.
In today’s blog, we shine a light on how to choose the right crib for your child. Come along as we highlight the different types of cribs in the market and share tips and guidelines to help you as you compare various options.
What Types of Cribs Are Available to You?
Cribs vary based on their sizes, designs, and how you can use them. The most common types you are likely to encounter include:
Standard Cribs
A standard crib measures about 52 inches by 28 inches in length and width, respectively. It is the most common type of crib and is also quite popular. It provides enough room for most babies from the infant stage to at least the 2-year mark, and its size can adapt to most nursery spaces.
Modern standard cribs, additionally, come with different mattress height settings. It is a vital provision because lowering a crib mattress keeps babies safe in cribs as they grow taller and gain more motor skills.
Recommended for: standard cribs are a suitable choice for any parent/family looking for a crib for a baby between birth and the age of 1 to 3 years.
Mini Cribs
Mini cribs are comparatively smaller than standard cribs. They measure approximately 38 by 24 inches in length and width, respectively. They can safely accommodate babies from birth to around 18 months.
The idea behind this type of crib is to provide a space-efficient crib option for small nurseries. Mini cribs are equally ideal for parents who plan to share a room with their little one through the infancy stage.
Recommended for: parents looking for affordable cribs or cribs that can fit in small spaces. Mini cribs are ideal too for anyone in need of a crib for a secondary home or guest house.
Convertible Cribs
Convertible cribs are adjustable from a crib to a toddler bed in most cases. In some instances though, a convertible crib may also be adjustable to become a day bed or a full-size bed; it all depends on the provisions that the design has.
In the crib setting, convertible crib dimensions are often similar to that of a standard crib; 52 inches(L) by 28 inches(W). This may, however, change slightly when you adjust it to a toddler bed setting and so forth.
Recommended for: parents looking for a one-off crib that will serve them for the long run.
Portable/Travel Cribs
Portable/travel cribs are typically small, lightweight, and foldable. They are particularly designed with these features to make them easy to move and pack for travel.
Travel cribs vary quite a bit in size. Most designs are, nevertheless, smaller than a standard crib. They measure between 39 to 48 inches in length and between 25 to 36 inches in width. Naturally, these dimensions are smaller when the cribs are folded.
Recommended for: parents looking for cribs that are convenient for travel or outdoor activities like picnics and camping.
We have a more thorough analysis of crib types in our blog Crib Types and Styles: The Complete Guide
What Are the Safety Standards for Cribs?
Crib safety standards are usually based on research by health bodies, like the American Association for Pediatrics(AAP) and government regulatory bodies. Some of the basic safety standards address the following:
Flat Sleeping Surfaces
Studies into Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) indicate that inclined or uneven sleeping surfaces can lead to suffocation, choking, and blocked airways in babies. Consequently, cribs with flat sleeping surfaces are the safest option.
Crib Slats
The slats of a safe crib should be sturdy and not more than 2.38 inches or 6 centimeters apart.
The size of this gap allows for visibility and good airflow. However, it is also small enough to ensure that babies cannot squeeze themselves through the slats or get their hands stuck between slats.
Solid Head and Footboard Structures
Crib headboards and footboards should not have any hollow cutouts or spaces larger than a slat. The cutouts leave room where babies’ heads or limbs can get stuck and result in tragic outcomes.
Smooth Finishes
All surfaces on a crib should be smooth and carefully finished to ensure they are splinter-free even with wear and tear. Rounded corners are equally more ideal than sharp corners which can cause injuries upon impact.
Structural Integrity
Every crib should have a strong stable structure that can bear weight without falling apart. The crib manufacturer should indicate the corresponding weight limit of the crib and parents/caregivers should ensure that they do not exceed the set limits.
Safe Inputs/Materials
Safe cribs should be made using non-toxic materials like quality wood and water-based finishes. Toxic chemicals and high VOC emissions can have severe negative effects on child development.
You can learn more in our separate blog dedicated to crib safety standards and certifications.
What Factors Should You Consider When Choosing a Crib?
Crib options are a dime a dozen. Still, as you compare different designs consider:
Nursery Dimensions
A crib often takes up the most space in a nursery. It should, however, leave enough room for you to comfortably move around and have enough space for other essential furniture.
Make an effort to measure your nursery space and consider how you would like to furnish it before shopping for a crib. Such planning will give you a clear idea of the type and size of crib you should choose.
Usage and Lifestyle
Evaluate your lifestyle or how you plan to use a crib and then let your needs guide you as you compare crib options.
For example, if you travel or often need to use a crib away from home, then a travel crib may be a prime option for you. Alternatively, if you would like to invest in a crib for the long haul, a convertible crib would be more suitable.
Budget
Crib prices vary based on the features that a crib has and the quality of the crib. Where possible, aim for cribs that are fairly priced but deliver on safety and quality.
Standard cribs are quite common in the market which makes them fairly affordable. They offer great value for money too because you can use them from birth to the early toddler stages.
Most mini cribs and travel cribs, on the other hand, are often cheaper than standard cribs. On the downside, you may only be able to use them for a short time due to their low age and weight limits.
Convertible cribs tend to cost a little more compared to other cribs but they are worth it because they offer way more value in terms of longevity.
What to Look for in a Crib?
We have, so far, discussed safety features and key factors to consider when choosing a crib in general. Here are some specific features to look out for in a quality crib.
Quality Natural Wood
Natural wood is not made from any chemicals and thus natural wood cribs are safer for the health of your child. Plus, it is more durable because it is not prone to warping, chipping, or breaking easily like engineered wood.
Additionally, a wooden crib can be more comfortable and warm than a cold metal crib. Metal can easily develop sharp edges or rust, which is also a cause for concern for parents.
Sturdiness and Quality Construction
Always inspect and test the sturdiness of a crib’s construction to ascertain that it can bear weight reliably. The crib should not wobble when you push it neither should it creak when you exert weight on it.
On quality, ensure that all the parts of the crib such as the slats, headboards, and footboards meet the safety standards we have outlined above.
Adjustable Mattress Height
Aim for a crib with at least three mattress adjustment levels. This will make it easy to reach your child in the early post-birth days and lower the crib mattress for their safety as they grow and become more independently mobile.
Convertible Mechanism
A convertible crib will serve you and your baby much longer because you can adjust it to a toddler bed or a full-size bed when you need to. It can also make transitions easier compared to getting a new bed at different stages because your child is already familiar with this bed.
Prioritize convertible cribs that are easy to adjust and maintain their stability even when you convert them.
Well-fitting Mattress
Look out for crib models that come with a mattress specifically designed for them. It takes away the guesswork of having to figure out the best mattress for the crib. Such package deals can sometimes also be cheaper.
However, if your preferred crib does not come with a mattress, be sure to check for the recommended mattress size for that crib from the manufacturer. As a rule of thumb, the space between the crib frame and a well-fitting mattress should not be larger than the width of two fingers.
Safety Certifications
It is highly advisable to review cribs and see whether they have any verifiable safety certifications. A crib that is duly tested should have markings to indicate it either meets the standards or is certified by regulators like CE, ASTM, CPSC, JPMA, or Greenguard among others.
Ease of Assembly
The structural integrity of a crib largely depends on proper crib assembly. An ideal crib should thus have a design that is straightforward enough to assemble and adjust when necessary.
It should also come with accurate and detailed crib assembly instructions including how to check for stability and confirm proper assembly.
Is it Recommended to Buy a Second-Hand Crib?
Unfortunately, there is no hard yes or no answer to this. However, on the upside, there are rules that you can refer to to determine whether it is safe to buy a second-hand crib.
First, ensure that the secondhand crib was not manufactured more than 10 years ago. Manufacturers and medics review crib safety standards regularly and this is a fair time frame to guarantee that the crib meets current safety standards.
Take a step further to also confirm that the model of the second-hand crib you plan to buy is not on any crib recall list. Recalled cribs usually have significant design or production defects and are, therefore, unsafe.
If the secondhand crib passes these initial checks, you can proceed to check its structural integrity. Inspect it thoroughly as well to confirm whether it has all its parts and if they are in good condition.
Finally, be sure to clean and air the secondhand crib before use. It may also be a worthwhile idea to invest in a new mattress rather than using the one that was previously used with the crib – for hygiene and comfort purposes.
Conclusion
Buying baby items can feel rather overwhelming. Especially considering how fragile and precious babies are as well as the financial costs involved. On the bright side, you now have a detailed checklist to help you explore different types of cribs and confidently choose the best one for your child.
At Clafbebe, we manufacture cribs using quality materials that are both durable and safe for your little one. We craft beautiful designs that appeal to different tastes and meticulously check each crib to ensure it meets the highest safety standards. Contact us for inquiries or a quote on wholesale cribs.
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