There are lots of options when it comes to baby beds. For the littlest babies, bassinets can be very comforting, as their smaller size is reminiscent of the womb. Some bassinets can also be gently swung or rocked. Baby will outgrow a bassinet more quickly, though, so you may find a convertible crib to be a more cost-effective option.
Many cribs come with a basinet insert or can be adjusted down or up in size. Some models can be converted all the way from a bassinet to a child’s bed, growing with your child right up until school age and beyond.
There are literally hundreds of baby bed models and options to choose from, so start investigating your options well before baby is born. Some stores will need extra time to get in the precise color or finish you’d like.
Enjoy this process — part of the fun is in the planning!
Baby bed buying tips:
• Be sure to inquire about safety standards. All baby beds should be Consumer Product Safety Commission (CSPC) and/or Juvenile Product Manufacturers Association (JPMA) safety-approved.
• Check the stability of the bed — give it a kick or a good wiggle. If it seems shaky, find another bed!
• Consider choosing an adjustable model. When your child is a newborn, he can lie relatively high — within arm’s reach. Then the base can be lowered as he gets bigger and starts standing up.
• Compare the size of the mattress to the size of the frame. If you can easily fit two fingers between them, the mattress is too small or the bed is too big. A too-small mattress is a safety hazard; baby could get caught between the mattress and the frame — or even underneath the mattress.
• Avoid cribs with ornaments and decorations. Small children can be strangled if their clothes get caught.
• Avoid cribs with elaborately carved headboard and foot ends. Children can get their heads stuck.
• Delicately discourage family members from passing down that family heirloom baby bed; the sentiment is a nice one, but safety standards have changed significantly over the years.
And tips for once you have the bed:
• Assemble your crib in the room where it will eventually remain. You might find that the bed won’t fit through the door once it has been put together (this has actually happened to us!).
• Don’t place the bed directly under a window. The bed guards will not prevent an agile child from falling out of the window if he is able to climb up.
• Make sure that the bed is not situated in the draught between a window and the door.
• Forget about pillows and crib bumpers — babies don’t need them and they can be hazardous.