Infant Baby Cribs and Mattress – Issues for Consideration
Infant Baby Cribs and Mattress Issues for Consideration
You may have a question about the origin of the word "cribs" frequently used in American English. In fact it is the child cot that is named so in Untied States. Specially used for babies in the age group of 1month-3 years, there are a few issues for consideration while buying one.
Feature of Developed Countries
Cribs or infant beds are common feature in countries in North America, Australia , and Europe . Designs of these beds are made with the objective of adjusting the baby into the bed designed. Major considerations relating to the cribs and mattresses are preventing hand as well as head entrapments.
Improved Crib Safety with Government Regulations
With the standards that were set up in the 1970s, the safety standards of cribs have improved a lot. Despite such safety precautions taken cribs are still associated with high child injury rates. No less than 50 infants are killed and 9000 get injuries in cribs annually in United States alone.
CPSC Safety Standards
Consumer Product Safety Commission has set up standards for infant beds that are sold in United States . These standards include-
Vertical bars and slats should not be more than 2 and 3/8 inches in length.
Such slats should not be more than 60mm apart so that children do not get stuck in the slats.
Similarly, the end wall openings should not exceed the same specifications.
Crib bars have to be sturdy as well as retained intact.
Distance between top of crib sides with the mattress supports should not exceed 9 inches.
SIDS Outcome
Mattress has big bearing on SIDS outcomes and thus when the mattress is firm it will lower the risk substantially. Bed sheets should also fit the mattress perfectly so that it does not result in suffocation for the young children. Babies have pronounced risk suffocation and it can result from blankets, pillows, as well as plush toys.
Recent Trends
Current trends in the market are towards infant beds that can be converted into standard beds are gaining popularity day by day. Whether the infant beds are portable or stationery, they are often small in size and can fit into a compact package.
If you require larger beds then it can be manufactured befitting the requirements for special needs.