Baby bed selection can provide some difficulty to new parents due to the multitude of choices available.
All baby cribs are mandated to meet specific federal government standards by the manufacturer.
Bassinets, cradles and co-sleepers on the other hand are not set to such stringent standard requirements.
Therefore, in most cases we recommend a baby crib.
Baby cribs come as a standalone crib or convertible. Convertibility allows the crib to become a toddler bed with some adjustment
The beds are more expensive, but could make sense if you don’t intend to have more children anytime soon.
However, keep in mind that the toddler bed will still look much like a crib since the conversion is quite subtle.
Once you have decided on convertibility you will then need to move your focus to drop sides.
Drop sides make it easy to lift your baby in and out of the crib.
Unless you are a tall parent who does not mind the hassle of bending all the way over into the base of the crib, then drop sides may be a necessary feature.
Options include single-drop or double-drop. Single drop is ok if you plan to always position your baby’s crib against a wall, otherwise you might want to consider a double drop option.
There are several drop mechanisms to consider, including:
Knee Push -Simply push knee into side wall to lower. This mechanism is most common.
Foot Bar -Position foot and engage the lever. This mechanism is less common.
Double Trigger – Requires two hands which can be an inconvenience
Fold Down –Simple and convenient.
Another important feature to look for is the crib mattress height adjustment and support system. In general, the more height adjustment options the better.
Once your child reaches an age range of 6 to 8 months it will become necessary to drop the adjustment to its lowest level to prevent him or her from falling out of the crib.
There are several mechanisms used by manufactures to support the mattress. We highly recommend choosing a model with a metal spring system due to its strength and stability.
Vinyl straps and similar systems are less expensive, but should be avoided.
Other important features to consider include:
Caster Wheels
Wheels allow you to move the crib around in the nursery for cleaning, rearrangement and toy fetching. However, make certain the wheels have a lock feature if your baby’s crib will be on a tile or wood floor.
Sides and Rails
Sides are made by fitting slats into the top and bottom rails. Slat spacing is regulated at a maximum of 2 3/8 inches.
Structure Stability
A more rigid frame is clearly better. Check for stabilizing bars attaching under the crib to each end board.
Teething Rails
Teething rails are plastic covers on the top of the side rails to protect your child gums from a gnawing attempt.