When shopping for the perfect crib for your baby, the first, and most important, concern should be safety. There are government requirements that companies are mandated to meet, so rest assured that any crib you buy meet the minimum standards. For a crib to be deemed safe, it must hold a firm, tight-fitting mattress, and have no broken or missing hardware. The maximum width between the slats is 2 3/8" and corner posts shouldn't be any higher than 1/16".

The next item to consider when choosing a crib is the design. Nowadays, most cribs come with a drop feature for the sides of the crib, which will aid in placing the baby in or picking it up out of the crib. There are single-drop and double-drop side styles, depending on if the crib will be next to a wall. For taller parents, or those who wish not to have drop sides, there are cribs that come with fixed sides.

If you choose a crib with drop sides, you can choose how the sides will lower. There are cribs that lower when a knee is pressed against them, or when a foot bar is pressed. The most inconvenient method of drop sides is the double trigger style, in which two triggers, one on each end of the side, must be pressed to lower the side. This is difficult to perform if you are holding a sleeping baby.

Wheels are an definite consideration when looking at cribs. They prove to be very useful, especially when moving the somewhat heavy crib when vacuuming, rearranging, or picking up toys that your little rugrat has thrown out of the crib. Be sure to check the wheel's sturdiness and make sure it's tightly attached to the leg of the crib.

Convertible beds are also something to think about. These kind of cribs will convert into toddler or adult-sized beds, which means you can use the same product for years. Extra kits are usually need to fully turn the crib into a bed, so you may want to check on the overall price before purchasing one.

A crib for your new baby should be one of the first purchases you make. In some stores, cribs are not abundantly stocked. You may have to order your selection, which may mean waiting 8-12 weeks for the item to be shipped. It's definitely something you will want to have assembled and ready for when the baby arrives.

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