1- Does the crib meet National Safety Standards- Buy a new, full-size crib made after 2000 that is JPMA-certified or certified to meet the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) voluntary standards (ASTM F-1169 and ASTM F-966). Certification assures you that the crib conforms to the latest federal and voluntary safety standards.
2- Do your own safety tests for simple design flaws
a. New crib designs can be really pretty but the bars are sometimes spaced to far away. To test for this design flaw, take along a soda can when you shop. If you can pass the can between the slats, they’re too far apart.
b. Check for sharp edges and protruding screws, nuts, corner posts, decorative knobs, and other pieces that could catch a baby’s clothing at the neck.
c. Buying new will help protect your baby from hidden dangers such as drop sides, slats, or hardware that may have been weakened by rough use, or excessive dampness or heat during storage. By law, the production date of the crib has to be displayed both on the crib and on its shipping carton.
3- If your not handy don’t assemble it yourself- Cribs are shipped unassembled, so if you’re not certain you can put a crib together correctly, ask the retailer to send a qualified assembly crew to your home. This can cost extra money, but it can give you valuable peace of mind. Besides saving tempers and fingers, having the store assemble the crib allows you to inspect it on the spot–and reject it if you discover flaws.
