Choosing a Safe Portable Baby Crib

Portable baby cribs come smaller than the standard size. This usually is to accommodate portability, smaller spaces, traveling, quick set-up and an immediate place to put the baby in for safety.

Most are known by the names portable crib, play yard or the older name of play pen. They are designed for sleep or play. Most are made to fold up for travel and storage. They are also made small enough to fit through doorways to be able to move the baby crib from room to room. Due to the unique design of the cribs, extra precautions need to be taken to assure you have made the right choice for your child. There have been more deaths and injuries due to these portable baby cribs over the years than in the standard size. Another issue is that these units are more often a hand me downs or are purchased used. New or used a safe baby crib deserves your attention.
Your crib should meet current safety standards put out by Juvenile Product Manufacturers Association (JPMA) as well as checking with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission for product recalls.

As you check for safety, proper set up is extremely important. Make sure you follow the manufactures instructions, as attention to detail at setup can avoid accidents. Wooden crib slats should be no more than 2 3/8 inches apart. On all portable cribs, the top rails should lock into position not allowing collapsing which creates a V shape for the baby's head and neck can become entrapped causing possible strangulation. On any portable baby crib, once the rails have been locked in position, the rails should remain locked while the crib is in use for your baby.

A mesh sided crib, when a side is dropped down, can cause a pocket entrapping the baby. Crib mattresses come with the baby crib at the time of purchase. Some are designed to be the bottom of the crib as well as the mattress. The base is non-flexible and covered with thin foam and a non-removable water proof cover. All types of mattresses should fit tightly to the edge of the portable crib, with no more than a two finger width to the edge of the crib. The height of the crib mattress should be low enough to not allow a baby to be able to propel its self over the side of the crib.

To add to the crib safety, choose fitted sheets that are especially made for the size of the crib mattress. Take time to learn as much as possible to provide safety as your new baby comes home to a safe nursery and Grandma's house that often has a portable baby crib.