Buying furniture and equipment for a new baby is overwhelming these days. So many of the accessories have bells and whistles on them which require comparisons and lots of decision making. In contrast, buying a crib is still simple. In fact it’s been made even simpler over the years, since safety councils in North America have addressed most of the problems associated with accidental crib deaths due to design flaws.
There are strict rules about their construction, and you no longer have to worry, because any new crib you buy manufactured in Canada will have followed them. Some of the problems that were addressed over the years:
– The slats must be less than 6 cm (2 3/8″) apart so a baby’s head cannot get stuck in them. An easy way to check this is to take along something about the size of a soda can when you go shopping. You should not be able to slide it through the slats.
– Corner posts cannot be more than 3 cm ( 1/8″) high so a baby’s clothing cannot catch and cause a possible hanging situation.
– Mattresses must not be loose, so that a baby would be able to get trapped between the mattress and the side of the crib or slip under it. Mattresses are now made so tight fitting that they cannot be pulled up easily from the corners. You can check this by placing two fingers between the mattress and the side of the crib – it should feel snug. If you can fit in a third finger, the mattress is probably too small.
– There should be no rough edges in the wood that a baby could touch.
– There should be no missing, wiggly, or improperly installed screws, brackets or other hardware on the crib or on the mattress support.
– The crib frame should feel sturdy when you shake it. The headboard should be strong and the mattress support structure must have a firm fit. Wood joints should not be coming apart.
It is the drop side cribs that have had the most problems with recalls and the US is looking into discontinuing them altogether. They are easiest for getting the baby in and out though. Make sure it is quiet and it moves effortlessly, as the baby might be asleep when you’re using it. Of course, the mechanism that you use should be out of the baby’s reach.
Try to buy a crib with as large as possible distance between the top of the side rail and the mattress support so it is more difficult for older babies to climb out. The top of the drop-side must be at least 66 cm (26″) above the support at its lowest position when raised and at least 23 cm (9″) above the mattress support when lowered.
There are cribs you can buy which can be converted to a toddler bed or double bed. This will give you many more years of use from the furniture. Some may need special tools or extra kits, so make sure you get them when you buy the crib, and try to remember where you stored them for when you need them years later.
Meubles Les Petits Mousses, 1629 Autoroute 440 West at Industriel Blvd. Phone: 450-681-0576. Hours: Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. www.petitsmousses.com If you want a solid birchwood crib (which converts to a bed) for your baby, made right here in Quebec, this factory-direct location offers you a few choices of styles starting at $229. You can have it made in one of eighteen colors, and complete the ensemble with a changing table, rocking chair, bunk beds or toy chest to match.
Bo Bebe, 9540 boul. St-Laurent at Louvain. Phone: 514-858-6336. Hours: Regular plus Sun 10-5 Being located up in the Chabanel area puts pressure on a store to live up to the bargain shoppers who buy around here. Baby furniture, bedding, curtains, lamps, rocking chairs, pack’n plays and strollers are sold, and you can even buy a hardwood crib for $149. Baby furnishings and juvenile furniture are by Graco, Chicco, Safety 1st, Baby’s Own, Spasilk, Avent and now there’s lots of baby clothing ((racks at $2.93, $4.93, $6.93). Other location: 1577 boul. Daniel Johnson 450-687-1661). www.bo-bebe.com
Bambino, 10412 Boul. Gouin, Roxboro, at boul. Commercial. Phone: 514-683-9364. Hours: Mon-Thurs 11-5:30, Fri 11-9, Sat 11-5, Sun 12-5. Bambino is a baby store on the West Island that is hiding in a graystone house. You can expect one-on-one service to help you select what you need or want. All the baby necessities are available: cribs starting at $199, strollers (Graco and Perego), gliders, cradles, car seats, cotton sheets and bedding, drawer liners and Kushies products. Don’t be afraid to negotiate when it comes to price. Other locations: 6572 Papineau (514-729-2901); La Prairie, 554 ch. St-Jean (450-444-8636). www.bambinofurniture.com
