The arrival of a new child is magical, especially when you are welcoming your first child. Nonetheless for quite a few first time parents, it can also be quite challenging. It will take an eye and a feel for perfection to be able to find the ideal furniture and materials to produce a safe refuge for your darling baby. With so many pollutants and poisons that can be found in even the safest environments, how can one in fact say that their infant is safe? Devoid of realizing it, the baby cribs, carpeting, and also the bedding could possibly be a source of chemical toxins that hurt the baby’s physical and mental development. Due to the fact that a growing child is much more vulnerable to these things compared to even a little child or toddler, it will pay to have an eco-friendly environment comprised of organic baby cribs and other similar baby furniture to make certain that your infant grows without being exposed to any harmful chemical compounds and toxins.

It all starts in the kind of baby furniture that you select for the newborn, and from the onset, try to avoid things that are synthetic as they can contain up to 120 known carcinogenic compounds. Avoid choosing baby cribs that are made from plywood, medium density fiber, or particle board as the glues that are used to fix them together frequently include formaldehyde. Organic cribs like those built from great solid wood, rattan, or wicker are comparatively chemical-free. If you are still attempting to save as much as you can then used baby cribs and other baby furniture that make use of formaldehyde glue or other harmful chemicals will possiblly have released all their harmful chemicals and toxins after a couple of years. For that reason used cribs can be just as good if you are pinching pennies. If you choose a used crib make sure you check that it meets all of today’s safety standards.

Next is to ensure that the room the crib will be going into is equally safe. Make sure that the paint you use on the walls is totally free from VOCs, otherwise known as volatile organic compounds. Many hardware stores sell paints made with mineral pigments, paint oils, beeswax and plant oils that are VOC-free. Try to invest in a hardwood floor that is coated with a natural and non-toxic sealant. Hardwood floors are less likely to harbor dust mites, mildew and other allergens. If you have wall-to-wall carpeting you are better off stripping it out as these are the best environments for such allergens to grow. Finally, baby cribs should be adequately fitted with a non-allergenic mattress and natural all-cotton bedding. Typical cotton has typically been seriously sprayed with pesticides which can still leave strong enough residues to irritate your child’s skin. Any other furniture you get for your} infant’s room should also follow the same guidelines in order to maintain a safe and non-toxic environment that your little one can thrive in.

From the start the ideal baby cribs for infants and toddlers have been constructed by the skillful Amish craftsmen from sound and tough hardwoods native to the area of North America. Although the Amish tribe has certainly perfected the art of creating baby cribs, armoires, child beds and diaper changing stations, they additionally devised today’s useful child bed. Baby cribs have been in existence for hundreds of years already. As early as the era of Moses, infants have been put in weaved baskets. The world famed manger scenario also denotes Christ’s needs to be on a bed of his own, separate from those of his parents, Mary and Joseph. Native Americans also cradled their infants in a extensive variety of types which includes lattice cradles, basket cradles, skin cradles, board cradles, bark cradles etc.

It was not right up until the mid 1600s that rooms were actually much less typical than the beds considering any room within the house could have one and also sitting areas frequently were adorned with furnishings equivalent to that of daybeds. The earliest types of baby cribs that were utilized were perhaps those with cradles that were positioned right next to their father or mother’s beds. And the most popular types of baby cribs are ones that had rockers or those with a rocking-capable shape. Baby cribs were frequently transformed from other stuff and many of them were crafted from other homemade things like hollow logs or wood materials that can be easily found and made within the house. Cradles were then designed and manufactured by lots of wood workers, but unlike the skillful Amish craftsmen these days, that also built a number of house furnishings of the time. A lot of advanced cradle styles integrated a kind of cheval frame for it to be rocked gently.

As soon as the kid outgrows its cradle, children often transfer to more compact beds or trundles that may fit on a parent’s bed during daytime. A trundle bed was usually a low bed especially designed to slide below a higher bed. In the course of the 19^th century, there were several modern baby cribs available in the market. Baby cribs and cradles were generally handed down to the following offspring and became family heirlooms in the long run.

While crib design has steadily progressed through the years, the elementary forms and shapes remained unchanged. The drop side baby crib characteristic came and then ultimately went away. Most of the common advancements include the inclusion of dressing tables and drawers to baby cribs. The most recent innovation is a convertible crib that will eventually transform into larger beds as your baby grows!

When on vacation, it helps to know that there are baby cribs in the resort in the city you will be staying. That saves you the hassle of touring around with your own baby crib or being forced to settle your baby on a big bed with you in the resort. Even so, there are a few Do’s and Don’ts of utilizing baby cribs in resorts and paying extra attention to them might save a ton of trouble and discomfort for your infant.

1.       Phone ahead to know what size baby cribs the hotel has and take time to do a little research to see if the model they carry meets nowaday’s safety requirements. The Juvenile Product Manufacturer’s Association (JPMA) has standard safety demands when it comes to baby cribs. For example, a baby crib mattresses should under no circumstances be too soft because soft baby crib mattresses have been suspected to contribute to what is referred to as the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), which is at times caused by suffocation. There are other safety demands that baby cribs in a resort woud definitely need to satisfy in order for them to be secure enough for your infant to rest in. It is important to do your research and make sure that these requirements are adhered to.

2.       Provide your own bedding.  Don’t rely on resort crib bed linens.  Take your own, so you know it’s clean and fresh for your infant. It is by no means completely feasible to vouch for the cleanliness of a hotel’s bedding and while that can normally be ignored when it comes to your own bedding, it must not be ignored where the really sensitive skin of a child is concerned. For this main reason it is best to travel with some of your own bed linens and minimize any risk of an infection or other harm to your infant.

3.       Make sure the baby cribs in the hotel aren’t drop-side cribs and if they are, make other plans. Drop-side cribs are quite unsafe to your child as a child could really easily get stuck in the wooden slats and thus causing serious injury. Some of these injuries could be fatal. If the hotel only has drop-side cribs, you may possibly want to consider taking your own transportable crib. 

4.       Call ahead to reserve a crib in the hotel to guarantee it’s there when you get there encase your child is sleepy right away. You certainly do not want a child that is ornery from absence of sleep on your hands. This way, everything is ready for the little fellow when sleep comes calling.

5.       If you own a mobile that your baby is used to in his/her nursery, consider taking that with you to connect to the resort baby crib’s rail, so your little one has something that’s familiar in the unfamiliar environment.

6.       Ask questions regarding the baby cribs such as: how are they are cleaned immediately after they’re used, what kind of finish do they have, how old are the mattresses etc…  Don’t be nervous to ask; this is your baby and you are not about to take a chance with the safety of him or her.

Damage to baby cribs can easily occur with just every day use resulting in minor bumps and dings. To ensure that baby cribs work properly and look great for years to come, follow these uncomplicated maintenance tips.

Screws and bolts that keep your baby’s crib secure can loosen from daily use. This can unfortunately make the crib unstable or even cause it to misfunction. To keep the baby crib hardware tight, check each bolt and screw once a month but do not over tighten since that can damage wood as well.

We previously discussed that dings and chips can happen on even the newest of baby cribs. When fixing those areas up, be sure to use a 100% toxic-free paint in a color that matches for the best blending. This job is best done when the crib can be taken outside to keep fumes away from baby as well.

If you discover that your baby is teething and chewing on some of the crib rails you should consider adding a plastic guard to the crib. This will let your baby to safely chew on the rail without risking slivers or other injuries from damaged wood.

Music mobiles are a great way to entertain small babies. They give an element of visual stimulation to a space that baby is in often and could become quite boring. Since mobiles are suspended out of baby’s reach, they are safe until baby commences sitting up. At that point mobiles should be abstracted from the crib space.

Babies are delicate; that is no secret. To keep baby as safe as possible make sure to keep all thick bedding, pillows and stuffed animals out of baby’s crib. Things like these can pose a suffocation risk while baby is asleep, but can be fun play things when baby is awake and supervised.

To keep baby safe from a moving or falling accidental injury make sure that all moving parts of the crib are locked whenever baby is in the crib. Moving parts include casters and the drop rail. Double checking is definitely worth it to skip a trip to the emergency room.

Sometimes families pass cribs down through the generations and across siblings. This is an ideal way to use and love a family heirloom, but never use a crib that was owned by someone you don’t know. Baby cribs from unidentified sources could hide potential dangers and put your baby at risk.

Check recalls on your baby’s crib and other furniture to be sure that it wasn’t involved in a safety concern. A great place to start is at the US Consumer Product Safety Commission at www.cpsc.gov

Cribs are designed to lower the mattress height as your baby grows to keep them within the crib and prevent crawling out. Follow your instincts, manufacturers’ recommendations, and your doctor’s advice on the right time to lower the crib mattress for the greatest safety.

Babies are generally curious, so keep all dangly things away from baby’s crib. Dangly items include things like: dresser runners, lamp cords, blind cords, lights and anything else that your baby can grab and pull off a shelf or dresser top.

Modern crib manufacturers have realized parents love the option of having more than one use for their investments.   Baby cribs have now become beds that kids can use for years or even a lifetime in many different ways.  Today’s top rate baby cribs won’t just make parenting easier, they will also save you money and time, as well as protecting our ecosystem!   Below you’ll find descriptions of four amazing features that come with today’s top brand cribs.   You’ll also find info about crib brands that offer top rate features, so you can choose the best crib for your baby’s nursery.

1.      Convertible Cribs

When you see a baby crib labeled as a convertible crib, it doesn’t mean the obvious that it’s topless!  Aren’t they all?  This term means that the crib can convert to bigger bed styles. Many of these cribs can convert all the way into a full size bed with extra accessories that are either included or sold separately.  The box will usually be labeled with the number of how many different times and ways you can change the crib.  Many convert from crib to toddler bed or daybed, while others can become even bigger beds.   My advice to you is if there are added accessories for the toddler bed form or full size bed form, buy them all at once.  Many times baby crib styles or finishes can be discontinued, and if you wait until your little one is ready to sleep in his toddler bed, you might not be able to find the pieces you need for the conversion. 

You can find some great brands that offer some amazing quality convertible cribs with classic styles.   Favorites of parents and boutiques likewise are the DaVinci Kalani, Storkcraft Chelsea and the cool Modern Baby Letto Modo. 

2.      Cribs with Attachable Changing Tables

This is such a great feature for anyone who has a nursery that lacks space.   It’s also an easy way to make a room look more modern and organized without adding more furniture.  Companies like Berg are making changers that you can attach right on the top side panel of the crib, so you literally just pick your baby up and swing her right onto the changing shelf. 

With brands like the Storkcraft Madison Convertible Crib and Changer or the Sorelle Tuscany Crib and Changer, an entire changing table with drawers attaches right to the side of the crib to become one unit with storage for all your baby’s diapering needs.  These furnishings are available at a great price, so you won’t only save space you’ll also save money.

3.      Play Yards with Extras

With play yards, parents have lots of options for their use!   Foundations Celebrity Play Yard Crib also has a bassinet attachment.  Put this unit beside your bed the first few weeks as a co-sleeping crib, keep it in the living area as a play pen, take it on trips in its carryon bag and move it outdoors for a safe play space while you garden.  The Dream On Me Play Yard also has a changer you can attach up top for an easy to relocate changer around the house or a great item to keep at grandma and grandpa’s home.

4.      Fun & Unique Crib Transformations

Stokke’s Sleepi Crib can do even more by allowing you to convert into a toddler bed, and once your child’s ready for a big kid bed, you can convert this bed into two chairs for the bedroom or play room!  For an out of this world design for the nursery, the Nurseryworks Studio Crib has a cabinet and a changing table that can also double as a desk all concealed in the confines of its panels.  You’ll enjoy having this top rate crib, changer and storage all combined together to add a clean and modern feel to your baby’s room.

With a brand new baby that sleeps around 16 hours a day, it’s important to make sure you get the perfect crib.  The challenge is finding a baby crib that meets all your needs and wants!     I’m here to fill you in on the secrets to acquiring the crib that you want and creating that ideal nursery to meet all your baby’s sleep time needs today and in the future.

Secret #1: Do Your Research. 

Some people see a cute crib, like the style and just want to buy it right away.   Make sure not to buy a crib on style alone, especially if you’ve never researched brands and styles before.   You might even find one, half the price that is just as gorgeous in better finishes or colors.   You can also check out what other parents are saying online about the crib you like.   They’ve been there and have a firsthand look at pros and cons on things no one can even think of until your baby is in the crib.

Secret #2: Read up on the Manufacturer.

Every reputable crib brand has a website.   Once you find cribs you are interested in, be sure to check out their website and learn more about them. Will they be helpful with any problems or missing parts?  How long have they been in business?  How, where and what are their cribs made of?  Are they certified with the JPMA and meet all US standards?  These are super important questions you’ll want answered.  

Secret #3: Check Crib and Part Recalls.

A great place to reseach crib recalls is at CPSC.gov.   They have been reporting recalls since the early 70’s and even have an archive you can look up if you want a hand-me-down.   Another thing to check for is problematic parts.  Sometimes organizations put reports out on certain features like the recently reported drop-side options, and the crib isn’t recalled, but there is a warning on purchasing cribs with that feature.  There is a warning on the drop-side, but not all brands have been recalled.  It’s a choice on if you want this option, but you should always know risks with certain styles.

Secret #4: What Features in Baby Cribs are Most Important to You?

Another important decision when buying a baby crib is deciding what features are most important to you.   Will you want a crib with converting options?   If so, how many stages?  Do you want a trundle, built in storage or changing table?  There are so many options on today’s baby cribs.  You can get just about any color, style and feature you’re looking for!  Make a list of the needs and wants and prioritize them, so that you can stay within your budget.

Secret #5: Measure your baby’s nursery.

Measure the size of the nursery, as well as, the dimensions of the space where you want to place your baby crib.   The eyes can play tricks on you so measuring it out and looking up the measurements of a standard crib for comparison will be a great thing for you to do.  Consider the other furnishings you want in the nursery too.   Map out the space and make sure you won’t be cramped and your baby will have plenty of room to play.  If you’re short on space, you can get a mini crib that looks exactly like the standard crib but is on a littler scale. Many mini cribs even have converting features. 

Secret #6: Placing the Order

You found your crib style, researched the brand, checked recalls and measured your space and are ready to place your order.  Now before you order your baby crib, consider the option to get the whole set versus each piece individually.  Most brands offer big savings on pairs, trios and even 4-pieces that will supply the whole nursery with what you need.  It takes away the fear that finishes won’t match, you can get the whole collection without having something on back order and gives you the option to personalize what kind of storage you need.  There’s nothing better than getting everything you need at one time and having it all set-up when baby arrives, rather than looking piece by piece.