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You're having a baby! What will you need? The first baby item that probably comes to mind is a crib! In today's market there are so many types of cribs and price ranges, new parents could lose their minds before they gain a baby! I once read that babies spend over 65% of their first year sleeping, so it is no doubt that baby's slumber place is vital. Also, because a crib may be the one big ticket baby item where you will probably leave baby unattended, careful consideration and research is essential! The biggest concern when buying a crib is SAFETY, followed by cost and then design. Each issue will be discussed below.

SAFETY - If you are inheriting or being gifted with an older crib, make sure it meets modern safety standards. Make sure the slats (bars) of the crib are no wider spaced than 2 3/8 inches. This is so baby does not get his head caught in the bars. The side of the crib should be able to be lowered and then locked back in a higher position securely! Some cribs are sold with a mattress, and some are not, but one thing that you must make sure of is that the mattress and the bottom structure of the crib are well fitted. Once, as an infant, my son got his arm caught between the side of the crib and the mattress due to too much space between the two. The corner post should not be higher than 1/6 of an inch to keep baby's clothes from getting caught. If you are building your own crib, make sure the bottom (mattress support) is secured so as not to "bottom out". A word of caution here, too...make sure you put baby's crib away from things he can grab at an older age, like window blinds, electrical cords, lamps, and other items.

DESIGN - Baby may have his own room or nursery and his crib design should be very pleasing to the eye. (Word of warning, however: at 3am in the morning, to a bleary eyed mom , all cribs look alike.) The traditional crib is a rectangular contraption with one side that can be lowered. Other cribs may have drawers, changing tables, and other items built right in! (Simplicity makes a crib/changer combo). The mattress on some baby beds can be adjusted as baby gets taller, and can pull himself into a standing position (The Storkcraft Aspen "Stages" crib is an example). Some cribs even turn into a toddler bed with a few household tools (Sorelle/Chantelle 4 in 1 crib). The "woods" or wood grains make choosing the design of a crib fun, too. Most cribs are made of oak, but chestnut, cherry, birch, and even walnut wood can be used. Metal cribs,

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