How to Choose a Baby’s Crib?
There are parents who practice co-sleeping while others prefer for their children to sleep independently in cribs. Whatever the choice may be, it’s important to know the basic concepts that will allow you to choose your baby’s crib.
Take into account your family’s needs as well as sleeping preferences.
A crib is a bed that is specially designed for babies. They’ re used for an average of 24 months. That being said, the right time for your baby to move from a crib to a bed depends on the individual baby.
A sure sign that your baby is ready to take the next step is when your little one becomes too big for their crib or when they can climb over and get out of it with little effort.
There are some big cribs available and there are also cribs that evolve to accompany the baby’s growth. Evolutionary cribs can accompany your baby until the age of 5 to 7. This of course depends on the kind of crib you buy.
When should you buy a crib?
Most mothers look to buy cribs while they’re still pregnant or just before starting the third trimester.
Parents usually wait to find out the baby’s sex in order to buy special accessories for the crib. If you plan to have more children, when you buy a crib, it’s best to buy a neutral design which works well for both boys and girls.
Ideally, you should buy the crib in advance. Some companies take a long time to ship the cribs to your home. Therefore, if you’d like to avoid last-minute stress, it’s best to have the crib installed as soon as possible.
Types of cribs
It’s important to think of the kind of crib you’d like for your baby. As you can see there are many different sizes, models and materials available at stores.
There are also mini-cribs and evolutionary cribs. If you prefer for your child to sleep in a crib, take into account the characteristics of the type of crib that best suits your needs.
An adjustable mattress will allow you to pick up your baby easily if they need you at night. You can also lower the mattress as your baby starts to move more.
If you want to practice co-sleeping, it’s best for your baby to have its own space in the crib. This is called a co-sleeping crib. It is another good alternative.
Safety first
The advantage of buying a crib for the new baby is that all new cribs must meet the minimum safety requirements established by the law.
The crib and mattress must be extensively tested to ensure the baby’s protection while they sleep. That’s why buying a new crib is a good option.
If on the other hand, if you don’t want to buy a new crib for your baby because you got one from a friend or a relative, you should make sure that the crib complies with basic safety guidelines.
If the cradle is painted for example, you should make sure that the paint is not toxic. Also make sure the paint doesn’t chip and that all the screws are in place.
Saving money when it comes to the baby’s safety isn’t worth it. There are many cribs available that will allow you to sleep peacefully knowing that your baby is safe.
Characteristics you should keep in mind
Apart from the security considerations, you should also choose a crib depending on utility and preference. If you choose well, your baby will adjust to its sleeping place with minimum difficulties.
Before purchasing a crib, ask yourself the following questions:
- Do you want the crib to have wheels?
- Do you want a co-sleeping crib, evolutionary or standard model?
- If you want an adjustable mattress, how many levels should it have?
- Do you have a clear budget for your baby’s crib?
If you manage to answer all of these questions, you know what you want and you can go ahead and choose the best crib for your baby. Good luck!
