Safety First for Safe Slumber

When it comes to furnishing the nursery, your first consideration should be your baby's safety. If you are tempted to rescue your old crib from Grandma's attic or are lucky enough to receive a loaner from a friend, make sure the paint is non-lead and that the slat widths are up to today's safety standards. While it's perfectly fine to recondition an old crib, it's advisable to buy a new mattress. Here are some additional guidelines to ensure your baby sleeps safe and sound:

• Make sure crib slats have no more than 2 3/8 inches of space between them, to avoid trapping little arms or legs.

• Use crib bumpers to keep your baby from banging her head on the slats, but remove them as soon as she is old enough to stand--she could use them to help her climb out of her crib.

• Buy a new mattress that is firm and fits the crib snugly, so your baby can't roll into a crack or smother in too-soft folds of fabric.

• Don't buy a crib with posts. As babies grow older and begin to climb they are at risk of getting hung by their pajamas.

• Use only fitted sheets to cover the mattress. Don't dress the bed with top sheets and blankets that can strangle or suffocate. Keep your baby warm by dressing him in a fleece or flannel sleeper for bedtime.

• Never place a crib near a window with blinds or curtains, as kids can get caught up in the cord strings. If the crib is near a window, make sure the cord is secured up and out of your baby's reach.

• Don't leave stuffed animals in a crib with very small infants--they may not be able to push them away from their face and they could suffocate.

• Dont leave toys with plastic buttons or eyes in your baby's crib. Kids can pull them off and possibly choke on them.

• Put your baby to sleep on her back, never on her stomach. Some parents take extra comfort in laying their baby down using a foam wedge to hold her in position, though there are no studies to prove it reduces SIDS risk.

Cris Beam is a freelance writer and certified massage therapist based in Los Angeles.