Crib Safety

Dear Lisa,

My husband wants to use on old crib that was passed down from his family. I’m worried that the crib doesn’t meet today’s safety standards. How do I know if the crib is safe?

“Need a safe crib in N.J.”

Dear “Need a safe crib”,

In order to prevent crib injuries the space between the slats should not be more than two and three eighths (2 3/8) inches apart. You can measure the space with a ruler. Otherwise a child’s limb could get caught in the space and the child could get hurt. When the side of the crib is lowered, it should be at least 4 inches above the mattress. The mattress should fit snuggly, with no more than two fingers fitting between the mattress and the crib. If you can fit more than two fingers, the mattress is too small.

If the crib is painted, I would be concerned about the toxicity of the paint. Years ago, paint contained lead. The paint could chip and the baby could inhale the paint dust or eat the chips which could cause lead poisoning. To be safe, you should remove the paint from an old crib. Sand the surface and repaint the crib with non-toxic paint. The work should be done in an area away from the child’s room and careful cleaning measures need to be followed in order to remove the paint dust from the home. The residual paint dust in the home from the repair may also cause lead poisoning. If the crib surface is wood, make sure the wood is smooth with no rough or sharp edges in order to protect the baby from splinters.

In general, the crib should be sturdy, the sides should move up and down smoothly, and the latches and locks should work correctly. There should be no sharp metal edges that can come into contact with the baby. Avoid cribs with ornamental balls or bells because they can become detached and become a potential choking hazard. You can never be too cautious when it comes to the safety of a baby’s crib. After all, that is where the baby will spend most of his time during the first year of life. It is important to remember, whenever you use second hand baby items passed down from relatives or purchased from a garage sale, you should call the manufacturer to check to see if there have been any recalls.

Good luck with your new baby.

Lisa Kelly, R.N., P.N.P.,C.
Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

Pediatric Advice For Healthy Babies