Extensive Baby Cradle And Bassinet Safety
Guidelines For New Moms
How Do You Know Which Bassinet Or Cradle
Is Safe For Your Baby?
Every loving, caring mother wants nothing but the best for her precious baby. She would never intentionally put her child in harm's way. And one would think that in the baby bassinet, safety would not be an issue. It should be the one place where Mom can leave her baby unattended without having to worry about it. After all, even the best moms need a few minutes break every now and then...
But cradles and bassinets that do not meet bassinet safety standards, have been associated with falling, entrapment and strangulation when the bottom of the baby bassinet or cradle has broken. In addition suffocation has occurred where parents have not followed safe baby bedding guidelines.
The following infant safety standards are to help you make sure that your little one is in safe hands when your hands can't be there...
Bassinet and Cradle Safety Step-By-Step:
Cradle And Bassinet Safety Standards
These basic infant safety standards apply to all small baby beds including baby bassinets, baby cradles and baby moses baskets.
- Baby cradles and bassinets should have a sturdy bottom and a wide base for stability.
- All surfaces should be smooth - There should be no protruding staples or hardware.
- Legs should have strong effective locks to prevent the bassinet from folding while your baby is in it.
- The baby mattress should be firm and fit the bassinet or cradle snugly.
- Wood or metal cradles should have slats no more than 2 3/8 inches apart. A bigger gap than this can allow your baby's head to slip through, presenting a risk of strangulation.
- Baby cradles should have a locking mechanism to prevent rocking when your baby is asleep.
- If there are rolling casters, there should be locks on at least two of them.
To Ensure Cradle and Bassinet Safety, Make Sure That You Use Them Correctly
Many baby cradle and bassinet accidents can be prevented by careful attention to detail when setting up and using these small baby beds. Improper setup can cause the baby bed to collapse resulting in injury or death to your baby.
Consider how fragile your newborn baby is everytime you lay her down to sleep.
- Check that all locking devices are properly latched before putting your baby in the baby bassinet or cradle.
- Never move the baby bassinet or cradle while your baby is in it. Pick him up first - sneak in a cuddle while you're at it.
- Don't tie any items across the top of the bassinet or cradle. It's tempting, because they look so cute, but they can be a strangulation hazard.
- Don't exceed the recommended age or weight limits for the cradle or bassinet. As a general rule, baby cradle, moses basket and bassinet safety dictate that you stop using them when your baby is able to roll over or reaches four months of age, whichever occurs first.
Your baby will become very attached to her small baby bed. It's tempting to leave her in it for just a week or two longer - but it isn't safe - so please don't!
To Ensure Cradle and Bassinet Safety, Make Sure That You Maintain Them Regularly
A cradle or bassinet that was perfectly safe last week could be an accident waiting to happen today. Make sure to...
- Check the cradle or bassinet weekly for loose bolts or hardware, sharp edges or rough spots.
- Always send in the product registration card that comes with every new baby bassinet or cradle. By returning the card, you ensure you'll be notified if your small baby bed is recalled.
- Check our crib recall page for all the latest bassinet, cradle and crib recall news.
In addition to checking against the above cradle and bassinet safety standards, look for a small baby bed with JPMA certification.
The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) certifies baby cribs that meet, or exceed, voluntary safety standards issued by the American Society for Testing and Materials. These standards are stricter and safer than the mandatory infant safety standards promulgated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
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Guidelines For Creating A
Safe Sleep Environment
That takes care of the structural aspect of baby bassinet and cradle safety, but there are many
other factors that contribute to your baby's sleeping environment. These include:
Safety In and Around the Baby Bassinet and Cradle
- Do not hang wall-hangings, pictures, mirrors or shelves on the wall above the bassinet or cradle. These can fall on your baby or she can pull these things down on herself.
- Do not place the baby bassinet or cradle near a window or a heater.
- Keep window drapes and cords away from the bassinet or cradle.
- Window cords pose a serious strangulation hazard and should be tied down
or the loop cut to form two loose cords.
- Remove all rattles, teethers, squeeze toys etc. from the bassinet or baby cradle for sleep time.
- Do not tie pacifiers or teethers around your baby's neck.
- Remove baby's bib before sleep.
- Never use strings to hang any object, toy or mobile on or near the bassinet or cradle.
- Baby Crib Gyms - make sure to secure both ends so that it cannot be pulled into the baby bassinet or cradle.
- Hanging mobiles should be out of your baby's reach.
- Make sure baby lamps, climbable furniture and other items are out of your baby's reach.
- Remove all extra blankets, quilts, soft toys etc. from the baby bassinet or cradle when laying your baby down to sleep. These pose a suffocation hazard for babies. You can always hang your comforter on the wall as a wall-hanging.
- Follow baby bedding and crib bumper safety guidelines.
- Follow baby crib mattress safety guidelines.
- Make sure you are aware of these safe sleep practices for SIDS prevention.
Growing Up - Already!
Baby cradle and bassinet safety requires that you
stop using the cradle or bassinet (or moses basket if you are using one) as soon as your baby is able to roll over or when he is four months old - whichever occurs earlier.
Small baby beds are not designed for rolling babies.
And that's it - except to say that cradle and bassinet safety guidelines must be followed to protect your baby while she sleeps. Please give your delicate, little newborn the environment she deserves so that she's safe when you're not there.
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The above baby bassinet safety information is presented by Creative Baby Nursery Rooms for the purpose of educating mothers about baby bassinet safety issues.
This information is accurate and complete to the best of our knowledge but we make no guarantees in this regard.
We believe that the information provided on this site can help prevent baby cradle and bassinet accidents, however, an infant's safety is the responsibility of its caregiver alone.
Creative Baby Nursery Rooms accepts no responsibility for any baby bassinet or cradle accident, which may occur as a result of any information on this site.
