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A guide to buying the right crib for your baby

Buying a crib for a new baby can be an exciting and nerve-wracking experience. A crib is one of the most important purchases as you prepare for your new arrival, so picking the right one is crucial. While shopping for a crib, think safety first and fashion last. Follow these tips to save yourself the stress and worry of buying a crib, and you'll enjoy the whole experience.

Buying a new crib

There a many choices in design and function of brand new cribs. You can get wood- in light or dark colors, painted or simply stained- or metal. You can choose a traditional crib, which can be used for all your children, or choose a convertible, 3-in-1 bed. Convertible beds are a little more expensive, but can convert to a toddler bed and finally a full sized bed frame as the child grows older. If you're planning to have a family bed, a co-sleeper keeps the baby close while still allowing you room to move around.

As you're looking at cribs, keep safety at the forefront of your mind.

1. The slats on the crib should be no more that 2 3/8 inches apart. This is to prevent your child from getting his or her head caught.

2. Avoid cribs with sharp corners. As your child gets older they'll likely jump around in the crib, and sharp corners can cause serious injury.

3. Avoid intricate design patterns that offer an opportunity for a small arm or leg to get caught.

4. Mattresses are usually sold separately. Make sure the one you choose fits snugly inside the crib to avoid a child getting caught between the frame and mattress. And, for convenience sake, make sure that the shell is made of a plastic material, to prevent accidents from setting in the material.

5. Make sure that it's certified as flame retardant. If it's painted make sure that it's adequately protected so that the paint won't chip when your little one starts teething. Many cribs come with plastic coverings on the rails, headboard and foot board. This prevents accidental ingestion of the paint chips as well as splinters.

6. If the crib frame is made of metal, make sure that it's rust resistant.

Buying a Used Crib

Be especially cautious with using antique cribs or family heirlooms. Many cribs made before 1974 won't meet today's safety standards. Yes, it's quite possible that Aunt Mable survived just fine in that crib, but are you willing to risk your child's safety for a piece of history? Keep in mind that there are some products available at baby stores to help minimize the risk with intricate

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