Tips For Crib Safety

SAN DIEGO -- Life is a whirlwind of feedings and diapers for new mother Michelle Rochelle. So, when her 4-week-old son, Jacob, falls asleep, she gets a moment of relief. And then, there are the hours of worry.

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Tips For Cribs Safety

"As a new mom, you always worry about whether or not they're going to stop breathing, or making noises in the middle of the night," says Rochelle.

Fears of suffocation or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome bother most new parents. But some very simple steps could help ensure their child’s safety in the crib, and give these parents some peace of mind.

For example, they can make sure the baby's mattress fits snugly into the crib frame. That's one of the first thing Registered Nurse Kathi Baer checks for, when she visits new mothers for Palomar Home Health's "Welcome Home Baby" Program. The program is funded tobacco tax money, through the First 5 Commission of San Diego.

Baer and other registered nurses visit new mothers throughout the baby's first year to make sure the mother is getting the support she needs, and to make sure the home is safe for the baby.

Unfortunately, Baer often sees danger in the homes she visits.

"Soft bedding is a big problem," Baer says. So is "having their babies sleeping on pillows, which is very dangerous ... a lot of toys in the cribs, and sometimes, no crib at all."

Baer says she's seen how these issues can lead to suffocation. "In my two years at Welcome Home Baby, I've actually had one baby that suffocated in a crib that was improperly fit," Baer says. "So although it may not happen all the time, it does happen and the risk is there."

Loose sheets and extra blankets can cause a suffocation risk because babies can become tangled in them. Baer also says some parents never remove the plastic covering that comes on a new mattress. While they may be protecting the mattress from leaky diapers, they are putting their babies in serious danger of suffocation.

Crib bumpers are another sticky issue. "You know, the crib bumper is mostly an issue of either strangulation or the child actually getting stuck in the bumper. Or standing (and) suing the bumper as a footstool to get up and out of the crib," Baer says.

Before Jacob moves from the bassinet in his mother's room to his own crib, Rochelle plans to clear some items out. "The toys come out; the bumper's coming out. And then I got clips to hang the quilt on the wall," Rochelle says.

Tips For Crib Safety

Crib slats no further apart than 2 3/8 inches (the size of a soda can)
No tall, pointed posts on the corners of the crib
No wall hangings or shelves above the crib (they could fall on the baby)
Do not place the crib under a window (it could break in an earthquake)
No toys, pillows, or heavy blankets in crib (one receiving blanket is okay)
No mobiles, especially if the child can sit up
Lower the crib mattress once the child can sit or stand
No crib bumpers or anything propped between the mattress and crib bars
Instead of blankets, use warm pajamas and an infant sleeping bag