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.

Oftentimes a crib is handed down from mother to daughter/son when they are preparing to have their first child. These heirlooms have always been family favorites to pass down through the generations, especially cribs that are crafted from solid hardwood. While this is a lovely tradition, there is something that many new parents aren't aware of. If the crib is more than a couple generations old, it may not take a standard size crib mattress.

Today, the standard size crib mattress dimensions are 51 5/8" x 27 1/4" and they are generally at least 6" in depth. But understanding that, it is essential to look at the history of how this size came to be. Prior to 1974 there were no federal regulations that mandated size and materials that could be used in crib mattresses. Because the mattress needs to be snug to all sides between the frame and the mattress for the safety of the child, the government set up industry standards which must be adhered to.

Getting back to heirloom cribs, it may not be possible to find a mattress that will fit the crib precisely, therefore, if the mattress will have more than 1/2" to 1" play on either side, do not use that crib, or keep the mattress that is in the crib and use non allergenic mattress covers and sheets. Mattress dimensions are extremely important for the sake of your baby, and those dimensions were specified with that in mind. When you shop for a mattress, keep in mind 52 x 27 x 6 or 7 and you will find a mattress that fits snugly into any crib manufactured after 1974.