Childproofing: How to Judge a Used Crib

Before you put your baby to sleep in a used crib, check to be sure it's safe. A safe crib has:

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• A firm, tight-fitting mattress so baby can't get trapped between the mattress and the crib.
  
  
• No missing, loose, broken or improperly installed screws, brackets, or other hardware on the crib or mattress support.
  
  
• No more than 2 3/8 inches (about the width of a soda can) between the crib slats so a baby's body can't fit through the slats; no missing or cracked slats.
  
  
• No corner posts over 1/16th inch high so a baby's clothing can't catch.
  
  
• No cutouts in the headboard or foot board so a baby' s head can't get trapped.

For mesh-sided cribs and playpens, look for:

• Mesh less than ¼ inch in size, smaller than the tiny buttons on a baby's clothing.
  
  
• Mesh with no tears, holes or loose threads that could entangle a baby.
  
  
• Mesh securely attached to the top rail and floor plate.
  
  
• Top rail cover with no tears or holes.
  
  
• If staples are used, they are not missing, loose or exposed.
  

Use Your Crib Safely

For infants less than 12 months of age, follow these practices to reduce the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) and prevent suffocation:

• Pace baby on his/her back in a crib with a firm, tight-fitting mattress.
  
  
• Do not put pillows, quilts, comforters, sheepskins, pillow-like bumper pads or pillow-like stuffed toys in the crib.
  
  
• Consider using a sleeper instead of a blanket.
  
  
• If you do use a blanket, place baby with feet to foot of the crib. Tuck a thin blanket around the crib mattress, covering baby only as high as his/her chest.
  
  
• Use only a fitted bottom sheet made specifically for crib use.

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About CPSC

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $700 billion annually. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical or mechanical hazard or can injure children. The CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products — such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters and household chemicals — contributed significantly to the 30 percent decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270, or visit CPSC's web site at www.cpsc.gov/talk.html. To join a CPSC email subscription list, please go to www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.asp. Consumers can obtain this release and recall information at CPSC's Web site at www.cpsc.gov.