Baby Product Safety Considerations
How to Shop Safely for Cribs, Car Seats, and More
You are having a baby! Your new arrival requires lots of things and among all of your preparations, shopping ranks high on the “to do” list. You might consider all this buying (or borrowing) daunting, exciting, or somewhere in between, but whatever your thoughts on it, safety considerations need to be top of mind when making all your selections.
Some general rules to get started:
- Always check the Consumer Product Safety Commission recall list to make sure any item to be used by baby is not subject to a recall (www.cpsc.gov). This is especially important if you are borrowing, even from a close friend or relative, or buying secondhand.
- If a product registration card is provided, be sure to register the product so that you will be notified of any future recalls.
- Many product categories may be certified for safety by the Juvenile Products Manufacturer’s Association. Check for their certification seal.
- Read all instructions and warnings associated with your product.
- Babies do not use things gently! Check your products often for missing hardware, loose threads and strings, holes and tears.
- Be sure to discontinue use of a product when your child has grown past its recommended age, weight or height guidelines.
- The American Academy of Pediatrics has recently updated its safe infant sleep guidelines to recommend that nothing be placed inside the crib with your baby, including pillows, quilts, blankets, comforters, toys, or bumper pads. Nothing but the baby! Zip-up infant wearable blankets may be used if baby gets cold.
- Co-sleeping is dangerous. Your baby should have his or her own sleep space, a crib, bassinet or cradle. When your infant is very young, or if you are nursing, you may find it convenient to have a bassinet or cradle placed next to your bed.
Some tips for safe shopping for a few of the most popular product categories:
Car Seats: Make sure to select a car seat appropriate for your child’s weight and height, rear facing for an infant. Never use a car seat that has been involved in a crash or one past its expiration date (printed right on the seat for reference!). Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for installation or go to your local fire department or a special car seat installation event and have someone qualified do it for you.
Cribs: Crib safety regulations have changed substantially in recent years, so purchasing a new one is the best way to ensure your baby is in the safest possible sleep environment. Drop-side cribs are no longer compliant with current law and should not be used. The crib mattress should fit snugly with no more than two fingers width between the edge of the mattress and the side of the crib.
Bassinets and Cradles: Look for one with a sturdy bottom and a wide, stable base. If the cradle swings or rocks, make sure it has a locking mechanism to keep it from moving once the baby is asleep. Safety guidelines require that the manufacturer provide a mattress pad with the product that is firm and fits snugly.
Pacifiers: Recent studies have shown pacifiers can be a SIDS risk reduction measure. Consider offering a pacifier at nap time and bedtime but do not force an infant to use a pacifier. Pacifiers should have a protective shield with ventilation holes that is large enough so it can’t fit inside baby’s mouth. Torn or otherwise damaged pacifiers should be immediately discarded.
Bath Tubs: Before shopping, check your bathtub for a smooth, textured or non-skid surface that might affect your purchase selection. Bathtubs for infants should be clearly identified as such on the packaging. Bath seats and bath rings should only be used once your child can sit upright unassisted.
Carriages and Strollers: Choose a stroller that has a wide base to prevent tipping. Check for adjustments that prevent your baby from falling out when the seat back is reclined and the child lies down.
High Chairs: High chairs should have a waist strap and crotch strap or restraint. Some recline for use with younger infants or are height adjustable.
Changing Tables: When selecting a changing table, look for one with elevated sides that help prevent the baby from falling. For add-on units, measure the length and width of the changing area available on your dresser (or wherever you will be using the changing unit) and then compare your measurements to the requirements of the add-on unit before purchasing. Remember to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for attaching the add-on unit to your dresser.