| When you're shopping for essential items for your | | | | and are used to position babies so they can sleep on |
| newborn baby it can be tempting to purchase every | | | | their back. However, child safety experts warn that |
| little thing that you see. However, there are many | | | | use of these positioners can actually close off the |
| purchases related to your baby's crib and nursery that | | | | child's air passages and cause suffocation, despite |
| are totally unnecessary and even dangerous. When it | | | | marketing claims that they actually help your infant |
| comes to purchasing a crib, simple is always better. | | | | sleep better. No tests have been done on these |
| You may be attracted to beautiful cribs with all kinds | | | | devices to prove they have any benefit so save your |
| of ornate details and scrollwork but infants and | | | | money. |
| toddlers can strangle themselves within seconds if their | | | | Do not place soft bedding, blankets, stuffed animals, or |
| clothing becomes caught. Someone in your family may | | | | pillows in your baby's crib. The only thing that should be |
| also be encouraging you to use a crib that has been | | | | in the crib besides your baby is a mattress, mattress |
| passed on through many generations. However, older | | | | pad, and a fitted sheet. The addition of soft bedding |
| crib models may not meet today's strict safety | | | | can increase the risk of suffocation. Instead of using a |
| standards. Many experts recommend not using baby | | | | blanket it's usually better to dress your baby in a |
| cribs produced before 2000. There should be a | | | | footed sleeper with light layers underneath. Wearable |
| manufacture date printed somewhere on the crib | | | | blankets are also available. Remember though, you |
| which is required by law. If you can't find the date the | | | | don't want your baby to get too warm as this can also |
| crib is probably too old. You're better off purchasing a | | | | cause respiratory problems and stress. Crib bumpers |
| new crib if you're not sure about using a used crib. It's | | | | are also generally not recommended. However, if you |
| always better to be safe than sorry. | | | | decide to use them, mesh bumpers are the best |
| Sleep positioners should also not be used in your | | | | options as they still allow air to flow through all sides of |
| baby's crib. These devices are usually made of foam | | | | the crib. |