Crib Guide from Consumers Perspective

Buying furniture is a big deal, and when you are looking to upgrade your current home or you are shopping for a home that is entirely new, you need to proceed with thought and consideration. The furniture that you choose gives your home its own unique look, and choosing the right pieces will ensure that your home is quaint, comfortable, and suits your own unique style for years to come. When choosing furniture, there are always some staples every person should consider—as well as some pieces to avoid.

While you might consider a bassinet, cot, crib, or bedside sleeper at first (some common alternatives for your baby’s first four months or so), your child is safest in a crib. We don’t recommend bedside sleepers (also referred to as “co-sleepers”), because mostly they can’t be trusted, only high quality bedside sleepers can be. This crib guide will help you to make your buying decision.

Stick to basics


The safest cribs are basic, with simple lines and no scrollwork or finials-infants can strangle if their clothing gets caught in such detail work. Paying attention to this advice will get you a safer crib-and save you money. Recent recalls have raised concerns about the safety of cribs with drop sides. We recommend that you look first for a crib with stationary sides until more stringent and comprehensive safety standards are developed. It should be noted that there are benefits of sleeping alongside your baby: Better bonding – if baby is restless during the night, it is easier for mum to comfort them as they are within arms reach. Supported breastfeeding – sleeping close to your baby helps to make breastfeeding at night time easier as there is no need to get out of bed. This can help lead to a more successful breastfeeding relationship. If a bedside crib suits for you– here’s a good example.

Buy new

If possible, avoid buying or accepting a used crib. Older models might not meet current safety standards or might be in disrepair. If you must use an older crib, avoid those built before 2000, about a year after the latest voluntary standards for slat-attachment strength took effect. By law, the production date of the crib has to be displayed on the shipping carton.
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. Buying new could help to protect your baby from hidden dangers such as drop sides, slats, or hardware that might have been weakened by rough use, or excessive dampness or heat during storage.

The simplest in-store test is to shake the crib slightly to see if the frame seems loose. But be aware that display models aren’t always as tightly assembled as they could be. Without applying excessive pressure, try rotating each slat to see if it’s well secured to the railings. You shouldn’t find loose bars on a new crib, or any cracking if they are made of wood.

Buy the mattress at the same time

In the store, pair the mattress and crib you plan to buy to make sure that they’re a good fit. Mattresses typically are sold separately, but you can buy mattresses that are made specially for a crib you like to buy. Still, do a quick check. If you can place more than two fingers between the mattress and the crib frame, the fit isn’t snug enough.

Use the proper sheets

When buying the mattress, make sure you also buy sheets that fit. If a sheet isn’t the correct fit, your baby might pull it up and become entangled. Test the sheet by pulling up on each corner to make sure it doesn’t pop off the mattress corner.

After you crib has been in use for awhile, make sure to check all the hardware periodically and tighten or replace anything that’s missing or loose. Missing and loose parts are a leading cause of accidents and death, because they can create gaps where a baby can wedge his head and neck, and suffocate or strangle. Tighten all nuts, bolts, and screws. Check mattress support attachments regularly to make sure none of them are bent or broken. If you move a crib, double-check that all support hangers are secure.

Safe sleeping

Let your baby sleep unencumbered. Don’t wrap your bundle of joy in blankets or comforters when he’s in the crib. He can quickly become entangled and might not be able to free himself. Pillows, quilts, comforters, sheepskins, stuffed animals, or dolls don’t belong in the bassinet, crib or cot. And remember that babies can quickly overheat. Put yours to sleep in lightweight clothes and set the thermostat at a comfortable 70 degrees. Infant sleepwear should fit snuggly and be made of flame-resistant fabric, with no drawstrings, ribbons, or anything else that might catch on something. Buttons and snaps should be firmly attached to avoid becoming a choking hazard.

Always put your baby to sleep on his back, not his stomach, to minimize the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and re-breathing, a sometimes fatal circumstance that can occur when a baby is sleeping on his stomach or trapped in soft bedding. As a result the child “re-breathes” his own carbon dioxide rather than breathing in oxygen-rich fresh air. The lack of oxygen can cause death.
To pick a high quality Nursery Furniture check http://www.trollonline.co.uk

Talk to you soon,

Kristaps Audrins
Your Baby Furniture Mentor
www.thebabyfurniture.co.uk

Parents Guide to Crib Mattresses

Chances are, when you find the perfect cot for your baby’s nursery, the mattress will not be included. The next step in your journey will be to pick out a mattress. There is more to buying a mattress than just picking up the first one that you see. There are several things that you should take into account when selecting the perfect mattress for your baby’s cot. You must remember that majority of your baby’s time will be spent sleeping and napping in their cot, and the cot must be sturdy and safe. One good thing to remember is that the firmer the cot mattress is, the better it is.

There are two major types of cot mattresses, innerspring mattresses and foam mattresses. Foam mattresses tend to be the least expensive of the two. Foam mattresses consist mainly of polyurethane. A mattress cover is put over the polyurethane foam and you have a mattress, it is that simple! If you decide to go with the foam mattresses, there are a few good ways to make sure that you are getting the best one. For one, you want the mattress to be very firm. You can test this by pressing down on the mattress and evaluating how quickly the mattress returns to its original form. Secondly, you want a mattress that is quite heavy. The more dense the mattress is, the heavier it will be. You will also want the mattress to be well made so that it will last a long time. Otherwise, you will be wasting your money!

The other type of cot mattresses are the innerspring mattresses. These are basically similar to regular spring mattresses on adult beds which have layers of coils, cushioning and a pad that serves as an insulator. When selecting an innerspring mattress, you will want to focus much of your attention on the amount of coils. The more coils and metal or steel that you have in the mattress, the better it is. You can count on innerspring mattresses to be a bit on the heavy style mainly because they do consist of steel and wooden border rods, which encase the coils and help distribute the weight. There will also be an ample amount of cushioning and insulating materials.
Whichever type you choose to purchase, the most important thing is to be sure that the mattress is very firm. You can test this by pressing on several different mattresses. Chances are you will feel the difference. Be certain that you measure your baby’s cot so that you do not make a mistake in finding the perfect fitting mattress. If the mattress does not fit the cot correctly, there are several risks that can arise.

Baby mattresses are important because they are more than just a piece of your baby’s furniture. Buying the correct cot mattress for your baby can ensure your baby’s safety down the road. I’ve seen some really good mattresses at Harrogate Nursery Fair. There were a company that recently opened their UK online store and their mattresses were marvelous. They are two sided – one for winter and one for summer. You can look up for them at http://www.trollonline.co.uk

Talk to you soon.
Kristaps Audrins
Your Baby Furniture Mentor
www.thebabyfurniture.co.uk

Buying Guide to a Cot for Your Baby

There are several places to shop when considering the purchase of a cot. There are mass merchandiser’s such as John Lewis and Mothercare, as well as high quality Online stores such as Troll Nursery. Of course there are also privately owned specialty stores. Obviously, the quality of the store has impact on both the quality of the cot in direct relation to the price. It is important to decide what it is you are looking for in your cot and then shop from there.

The most important aspect to look for is safety. While all cots must meet national guidelines, there are other things to look for before purchasing a cot. National guidelines make it so the space between each slat of the cot is no more than two and three-eighth inches so that the baby cannot slip through or get his or her head stuck. The other potential problems arise from a cot that may be decoratively pleasing, including features such as four posters. This can cause a potential hazard if the baby tries to climb out. The baby’s clothing could become wrapped around it causing strangulation. This is also possible on cots where there is a space between the cot rail and the metal piece that raises and lowers the cot side. There is also a potential danger in a cot with a canopy. In the event of a fire, the canopy could catch fire and fall onto the baby, causing serious burns. All these precautions should be considered before purchasing a cot.

The next thing to consider when purchasing a cot is functionality and style. Many mothers have an image in her head about the look she wants for her nursery and it is easy to find a cot based on that style. Personally, going to the store and seeing all the options available, threw my initial wants out the window. One of the hot details of cots right now is the convertible cot. The cot grows with your child. The cot can be converted to a toddler bed once the baby outgrows the cot, then onto a daybed or full-size bed.  This can be the most cost effective choice. Manufacturers like to call them cot beds.  Convertible cot beds can start as low as one hundred and fifty pounds.

Another option to consider is the rail to the cot. While most cots have a side that slides up and down for easy use, there are cots available with a stationary side. The cots with the sliding rails have a variety of ways to move the rail up and down. The rail may be easily slid with one hand or it is possible that two hands are required and some cots have a foot pedal for even no handed use. It is important to slide the rail up and down multiple times before purchasing the crib to find which option suits your needs the best. Also lean into the cot a few times to make sure that the height of the cot will be comfortable for placing the baby in the cot as well as taking the baby out. This can be less comfortable for cots with stationary rails. Another important factor is how low the cot will allow the mattress to be placed. This becomes very important when the child becomes old enough to stand up in the cot and potentially climb out of it.

It is important to find a cot that will suit both you and your child. This includes important safety features as well as style and functionality. Caring for a baby is a lot of hard work. If you ever go astray, look for parenting tips at Parenting.com
 Learn more about cot beds at www.trollonline.co.uk
 
Talk to you soon.
Kristaps Audrins
Your Baby Furniture Mentor
www.thebabyfurniture.co.uk