How to choose the right crib for a newborn: tips

Young parents need to be very responsible for choosing a crib. Since the newborn will spend most of the time in it, it is important that the bed and mattress are comfortable. And for mom you need functionality and convenience. In the article we will tell you how to choose a crib, consider models and reviews about them.

Criterias of choice

All future and young parents want to provide their child only with the best - from a berth to toys. It’s not easy to figure out the quality of a wide range of products offered by modern manufacturers, so we’ll consider where to start and what criteria to choose a crib for.

When choosing a children's bed, you must first pay attention to such basic criteria:

• the size of the crib and mattress;
• workmanship and odor;
• product safety;
• operation features;
• additional equipment;
• usability and functionality.

Next, we consider in detail each of the criteria.

Size required

Dimension parameters must be considered first of all, if you need to choose a crib.

This is necessary for several reasons:

• it is important for the owners of a small living space to understand how the bed will be located in the room;
• manufacturers of accessories (mattresses, pillows, blankets, bedding and bedding) are guided by the standard sizes of a bed for a certain age.

To answer the question: “How to choose a crib?”, You need to take into account that in the manufacture of cribs for babies the following dimensional grid is used:

• 1200x600 mm - the standard Russian size of cots from birth to three years;
• 1250x650 mm - European size for the same age;
• 1700x600 mm - European enlarged;
• 1400x700 mm - increased Russian dimensions characteristic of transformers;
• 970x550 mm - the size of the cradle for newborns under the age of one year.

If you are interested in the question: "How to choose a crib in height?", Then there is nothing to think about - most of them have a standard height of one hundred centimeters from the floor.

In order not to have to alter bedding or run in search of the mattress of the required size, most people buy standard-sized cots. In addition, this leads to budget savings if this criterion is important.

Production material

The main requirement for the materials that make cots for newborns is their safety. These include: sustainability, strength, environmental friendliness and reliability.

We can say with confidence that only some materials meet these requirements:

1. Wood - preferably beech, birch, alder or oak. It is a durable natural material, resistant to physical influences. Pine can also be used in the manufacture, but products from it are much softer in texture. With a sufficient budget, the answer to the question: "Which crib is better to choose?" there will be only one - wooden, this is the most environmentally friendly material.
2. MDF is a less preferred material, but can also be used provided that the compaction was carried out using safe substances. The main thing is that the seller should announce the emission class, which should not exceed E1 (no excess of the minimum permissible formaldehyde content).
3. Chipboard - the cheapest material from pressed chips, before buying, you should definitely check the certificate of conformity. In such products, the concentration of formaldehyde is usually exceeded.
4. Metal - usually aluminum or steel - is strong, durable, but expensive in price and heavy in weight.

Product Safety

The fact that children's furniture must meet safety criteria is undeniable.

How to choose the right crib for a newborn, consider in more detail:

1. For babies from birth to three years, they choose cribs with protective sides, which will protect the baby from falling. The optimum distance between the slats will be a width of six to seven centimeters - so neither the head nor the limbs of the child will suffer.
2. For greater safety, many parents buy soft, sewn from fabric and equipped with a thick layer of foam, protective skirts. They are fixed on all sides of the bed and protect the baby from possible bumps.
3. All components must be well fitted and fit snugly against each other, leaving no gaps or gaps. This will ensure safety for the baby and protect the crib from loosening the structure.
4. When choosing a bed, it is worth considering its shape - it should not taper down, otherwise the child will be able to turn the bed over. Also, the lower the center of gravity, the more stable the product.
5. Cots for babies have several levels of height from the bottom - from two to five. This provides convenience when caring for a newborn. The upper position is for the smallest, the lower one is suitable for older children, and the intermediate ones are set as the baby grows. An important point is to change levels in time to prevent the baby from falling out. To understand which crib to choose for a small child, you need to look at how many positions there are - the more the better.
6. Ease of moving the berth around the room create wheels. Along with this, there is also some danger of instability if the child is excessively active. To prevent undesirable consequences of this, special wheel clamps are used. The same can be said about swing rails.
7. Mandatory conditions include grinding parts of the crib to avoid splintering and rounded corners. Coating with a safe substance (paint or varnish) may be, but may not be.
8. The bed should not have easily unscrewed or removable parts in order to avoid injuries or swallowing them.
9. After purchase, the product must be unpacked, wiped with a damp cloth and left in a ventilated area, if it smells, until completely weathering.

Rocking bed

Currently, there is no consensus on whether or not to rock babies. Some say that it is harmful due to addiction and, in addition, the child may cry for serious reasons and must be identified. Others argue that motion sickness is completely harmless - the baby gets used to it in the womb and this facilitates the process of calming it down.

If you do not know which crib to choose, customer reviews can help in this difficult task. As a rule, many young parents say that they purchased a motion sickness bed and are quite happy with their purchase.

The process of motion sickness occurs due to two main design features of the product mechanism.

They are as follows:

1. Runners. They are removable, curved arcuate plates that attach to the legs of the crib. When the need for motion sickness disappears, they are replaced with wheels or simply removed. The process takes place on the principle of a rocking chair. When using skids, you should always have special stops at hand so that, if necessary, you can fix the stationary position of the berth.
2. Pendulum. The design of such a crib involves hanging it on special straps that allow it to swing in two directions - longitudinal (left-right) or transverse (front-back), depending on the design of the pendulum mechanism. There are also universal pendulum devices swinging in two directions.

Before choosing a crib for newborns with a pendulum, you need to determine its location, since for the mechanism to work, there must be at least fifteen centimeters in reserve for the width or length (depending on the design).

In addition, one should not forget the possibility of fixing the crib from the rocking structure when the child grows up.

Choosing a mattress and bedding

It is important not only to know which crib to choose for the child, but also to determine the accessories for it, because the comfort and quiet sleep of the baby depend on this. Below we consider what requirements must be observed when purchasing accessories for a berth.

Modern industry offers several varieties of children's mattresses:

• Wadded or foam - the most budget option;
• with a natural filler - based on the presence of a soft layer of foam or foam, as well as fillings, they have different hardness;
• orthopedic - have a special design with or without springs - the most preferred, but also the most expensive option.

To know how to choose a mattress in a crib, you need to consider the following rules:

1. Most importantly, the product must fit the size of the bed. If the dimensions are too small - the baby will fall into the gaps, and if large - the mattress will be deformed and will be uncomfortable, which will disturb the baby’s sleep.
2. The mattress should not be too soft - this will bend the baby's unformed spine. The basic requirement is a flat and optimally stiff surface.
3. Of great importance is the internal content of the product. The filling only from cotton wool will not last too long and will fall into lumps, and the foam will not be hygroscopic and the baby will sweat. If the budget is limited, you can buy such mattresses, but then you need cotton - beat from time to time, and foam - often ventilate and dry.
4. If you prefer the average price option - mattresses with fillers, then good options would be products containing wool, horsehair, coconut fibers, dried seaweed or felt. They should not have any pungent odors and be sold with quality certificates.
5. A mandatory addition to the mattress is a waterproof sheet, on one side of which there is a cotton layer, as well as a cover that must be systematically washed.

It is also necessary to know not only how to choose a crib, it is also important to understand that babies under one year old do not have a pillow at all - it’s enough that the diaper is four times folded under your head. After twelve months, they acquire low baby pillows, preferably orthopedic, providing a smooth but not rigid surface.

Bed linen for a baby bed is chosen only natural: cotton, terry or flannel.

Additional equipment

To understand how to choose the right crib for a newborn, you need to know that these products can have additional elements besides the berth itself.

Consider what is most often provided for by the design of cribs:

1. Box for things. This addition, according to parents, is a really necessary item. Thanks to this, you will always have at hand gaming accessories, bedding, diapers, romper suit, diapers and other necessary things. This item in some models replaces the bedside table.
2. Some products are equipped with built-in or detachable pedestals, on top of which there is a changing table. These are very comfortable models, but you need to remember that they need more space than classic beds.
3. Another important element is the silicone protective corners and lining on the railing - they will protect the product from spoilage, and the baby from swallowing the nibbled pieces when the teeth are cut.
4. It’s not bad when the bed has removable elements on the side walls - they can be removed so that the older baby can go to bed on its own and get out of it. Or is it possible to remove the sidewall and move the bed to the parent's bedroom place.

The more extensive the model has, the more expensive it is. After carefully studying the above nuances, it will be easier for parents to understand which crib is better to choose. Everyone will be able to decide in accordance with their preferences and financial capabilities.

The main types of cribs

Children's bed is a serious acquisition, so you need to approach it with all responsibility. So that later you do not have to complain that it does not fit in size, age or does not look in the interior.

In order to determine which and which company to choose a crib, it is necessary to consider the main types of these products, their pros and cons.

The types of cots are as follows:

1. Cradle. Designed for babies from birth to six months. Depending on the size of the baby, it can be used until one year of age. These are compact, easily moving, models measuring 970x550 mm. Production material - plastic or vine. Models can be closed or attached, with one open or removable side.
2. Traditional bed. Suitable for use from birth to three years of age, traditional sizes - 1200x600 mm. Made of wood or metal.
3. Transformer beds. Used, depending on size, up to seven or twelve years of age. They are made of pressed materials and, over time, are transformed into a school educational site. They are functional models with a laundry cabinet and a changing table.
4. Manege. They are used from birth to the age of three, but with weight restrictions. These are lightweight constructions with textile sidewalls combining a sleeping and playing space.

After studying this material, it becomes clear which crib to choose from 3 years old, and which is suitable from birth to this age. After all, the baby's sleeping place should be comfortable and convenient always.

Advantages and disadvantages

Consider the pros and cons of various designs of cribs. This will help you understand how to choose a crib.

And now in more detail:

1. Cradles or cradles. It is believed that their narrow design makes the baby's stay look like a mother’s womb and does not scare him. Equipped with a motion sickness mechanism (manually or automatically), as well as a special handle for carrying with the baby. The product is installed either on a fixed base or suspended in a traditional crib on straps. Stationary models can be placed next to the parent's berth. The advantages include compact size, mobility and ease of use. Cons - high cost and fast change to a large product.
2. Classic cots. A common budget option with limited functionality. Usually supplied with skids and wheels. The level of the bottom and side wall is adjustable in height. Higher cost models have linen drawers and a pendulum mechanism. The advantages of such cribs include standard sizes, which make it easy to choose accessories, a small price and simplicity of design (rarely breaks). Disadvantages - the bulkiness of the product and the minimum functionality.
3. Transformer beds. These are rather bulky items combining a berth and a chest of drawers equipped with a changing table. As the child grows, they transform into a teenage bed with a table and bedside table. It is believed that their use is advisable from three to seven years of age, but if there is a sufficient budget, such a purchase can be made from birth. In this case, for many years you will not have to return to this topic. The advantage of these models is their functionality, stylish design, long-term use, and the disadvantages include the high cost and narrowness of the berth for a teenager - only sixty centimeters.
4. Manege. This is a folding product that will be indispensable not only at home, but also when traveling. Details - aluminum and plastic, close - textile. Thanks to this, the bed is very light and easy to clean. In addition, it is spacious and functional, for convenience, there is a clasp on the side that a grown child can unfasten on her own. According to customer reviews, the model is appreciated for its lightness, maneuverability and convenience. The disadvantages include instability of the structure, the lack of motion sickness and rigid ribs, and single-level models have too low a base.

Overview of the best models and customer reviews

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1. Fiorellino Princess – (- – , - – ) . , , . , – , , , , . – , ( ) . – .
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3. Valle Allegra Comfort - a transforming bed from the Russian brand. Multifunctional, practical, stylish model with two drawers made of wear-resistant chipboard. It has a transverse pendulum mechanism, is equipped with wheels and original accessories, is available in several color versions. The cost is about twelve thousand rubles. In addition to the above, consumer reviews refer to the pluses as the ventilated bottom due to the rails and structural stability, to the minuses - the price and weight of the product.
4. Happy Baby Martin is a two-level high-quality Chinese playpen with large windows that allow you to watch the baby and air the product. It is completed with castors and a removable mattress. According to parents, the bed has a really high-quality performance, it can be easily folded, mobile and comfortable. Comfort is also created by traumatic linings. An indisputable advantage is the low cost - about four and a half thousand rubles. By cons, according to reviews, consumers include a limited number of colors and relative severity compared to other models.

In conclusion, we can say: when we choose a crib, it is recommended that you review all reviews of a particular model first. After all, they play a decisive role, as they come from people who already have a certain experience.

Based on the reviews, some conclusions can be drawn. The crib-playpen is best suited as a temporary sleeping place for the baby and a limited playing field. The cradle, in principle, can not be used - only if you really want to. Classic products are good as a budget option, and the best choice if you have sufficient means is a transforming bed.