| Before you go looking at baby cribs you should | | | | to do is lean your knee against the crib side and it will |
| determine your budget. A good idea is to have a price | | | | drop. This is convenient if you have your baby in your |
| range to work with. This will allow for more choices in | | | | arms. |
| the long run. | | | | The knee push sides may be the most common type |
| The main concern you should have whether you are | | | | available. Another common type is the foot bar. You |
| buying a new crib or a used one. The crib must meet | | | | balance on one foot and push the bar down with the |
| government standards. When you put the crib | | | | other to lower the side. There is the double trigger |
| together be sure to so following the manufacturer's | | | | drop mechanism. There are levers on both ends of the |
| directions exactly to ensure the greatest amount of | | | | crib and you need both hands free to use them. You |
| safety for your child. It should also be used properly. | | | | squeeze the triggers and then the side will drop. The |
| Safety concerns include the mattress. The mattress | | | | problem with this type is that if you have the baby in |
| must be firm and tight fitting and there should be no | | | | your arms it will be next to impossible to operate. |
| missing or broken hardware. There should be no | | | | The wheels on a crib are a great asset because it |
| missing or loose slats. The slats should not be any | | | | makes the crib easier to move to clean under or |
| more than 2 3/8 inches apart - about the width of a | | | | retrieve dropped toys as well as changing bedding. |
| soda can. There should be no cutouts in the foot or | | | | Make sure the casters are strong and turn easily. If |
| headboards. If there are corner posts they should be | | | | you don't think you will need them you can put them |
| no more than a sixteenth of an inch above the foot or | | | | aside in case you change your mind. |
| head bar. | | | | There are adjustable mattress heights available on all |
| Drop sides on a crib is very convenient and is probably | | | | cribs with the exception of the cheapest models of |
| the most used feature on any crib. Fixed sides do not | | | | cribs. The three position option is available and is the |
| have the drop down feature and is great for tall | | | | wisest choice. Two height position are acceptable. |
| people or those who will only be occasionally using the | | | | Single height mattress is not a safe choice because as |
| crib. | | | | your child grows the mattress should be lowered to |
| Most parents opt for a single drop down sided crib | | | | prevent him from climbing out of the crib or toppling out |
| that allows them to easily lift baby out of the crib and | | | | of the crib. |
| to place him in the crib. This is especially convenient if | | | | You should look at the mattress supports as well. |
| your crib is placed against the wall. Double drop down | | | | Some have vinyl straps that could wear out and break |
| sided cribs are a popular option among those parents | | | | others have metal bar supports which is a better |
| who have room to place the crib so it's not against the | | | | option. The best option however is a metal spring |
| wall. | | | | system where the entire mattress is supported and is |
| There are several ways in which drop sides can be | | | | the most durable of the three options. |
| lowered. There is the knee push lever and all you have | | | | |