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A Helpful Guide: Choosing A Baby Crib

When choosing a crib you have so many options and choices. There are standard cribs and convertible cribs just to name a few. Here is a helpful guide from The New Parents Guide to help you with your crib shopping!

The crib you choose for your baby is one of the more important furniture buying choices you will have to make.  With your baby sleeping in a crib until it’s time to move on to a full sized bed around the age of 2 or 3, you should take your time in choosing a crib.  Be sure that you are satisfied with the safety features, style, finish and quality.

Types of Baby Cribs:

  • Standard: There are two types of standard cribs.
    1)  Cribs with a single drop side (One side drops).
    2)  Cribs with double drop sides (Both sides drop). <Usually more expensive.
  • Convertible: Convertible cribs convert from a standard crib to a toddler bed and then to a day or full sized bed.  Although convertible cribs can be more expensive, it will save you from having to buy a full sized bed when your child outgrows the crib.
  • Canopy: Canopy cribs have four posts on the corners of the bed, which hold up a metal frame on which you can place fabric canopies.  This type of crib can give your nursery room a more elegant and classic look.
  • Round: Round cribs are becoming a popular option for new parents. These cribs usually have a single drop side.

Features to look for when buying:

  • Safety:
    1)  Distances between crib slats are no more that 2 3/8 inches.
    2)  Dropsides when lowered are at least 9 inches above the mattress support.
    3)  When dropsides are raised, they are at least 26 inches above the mattress support.
    4)  Crib mattress fits snugly with no more than two fingers width between crib side and mattress.
    5)  Secure dropside locking mechanism.
    6)  No loose or peeling paint, rough corners, edges or splinters.
  • Mattress support: Sturdy mattress supports that connect to the crib sides securely.  Keep in mind metal mattress supports will support a jumping toddler more than wood mattress supports.
  • Adjustable mattress height: You will be able to lower the mattress as your child grows.
  • Rolling Casters with some kind of wheel lock.  Convenient feature when changing sheets.
  • Teething rail that covers the tops of the railings, which prevents your toddler from chewing on wood.

Optional products for cribs:

  • Attachable toys that tie to the railings and musical mobiles that attach to the crib rail both provide entertainment, stimulation and help develop coordination.
  • Sleep positioners position your baby on his or her back or side.
  • Teething rails made of plastic can be attached to the rails, which prevent your child from chewing on the wood.
  • Bumper guards that line all four sides of the crib.

What to avoid:

It is best to avoid second hand and old cribs, especially cribs made before 1973.  Cribs made before this time may contain lead paint, have splinters, have slats that are to far apart and many other dangers.  Cribs that were manufactured even as recently as 1990 can have safety problems.  If you are thinking of using or buying a second hand crib, make sure it has not been recalled.

Has my crib been recalled?

Check these sources to look for crib recalls:

Consumer Reports

Consumer Product Safety Commission

As a final Note

Always send in your product registration card.  This is how you will be notified in case of a recall. 
Hollie April 22, 2010 CHIT CHAT ,

How Safe Is Your Car Seat? {Safety 1st Air Protect Car Seat Review}

imageSafety 1st is a company built on unwavering commitment to safety and value. You can see their commitment in the innovative products they have out right now. Including the new Safety 1st® Complete Air™ Convertible Car Seat with Air Protect. Safety 1st generously sent us one of these new car seats to review.

Our little guy is nothing but little anymore. He has grown so quickly and has far outgrown his infant car seat now that he is over 25 lbs and almost 16 months old. So when this arrived imageon our front door step we were very excited. We pulled it out of the box and he quickly climbed into it like he knew just what it was. Installing our new car seat was a breeze. It took me about 10 minutes to read through the manual and adjust the straps to our son’s height. Then my hubby put it in the car in under 5 minutes. He commented on how easy it was to put it and how nice it will be when we need to move it from car to car. It features a one click latch system which is awesome. This is definitely a car seat that will grow with our little one and keep him very safe. Thanks Safety 1st for making such great high quality and safe products to protect our precious little ones!

Read on to see all the features this car seat has and just how safe this car seat really is:

safety1

The Safety 1st® Complete Air™ Convertible Car Seat with Air Protect™ Side Impact Technology is perfect for infants rear-facing from 5-40 pounds and 19″-40″ and toddlers forward-facing from 22-50 pounds and 34″-45″.image

  • Air Protect™ Revolutionary Side Impact Technology: Breakthrough system shields head and immediately reduces side impact forces through the precise release of air – LEARN MORE
  • QuickFit™ Harness System adjusts harness height from the front in one easy step without uninstalling from the car
  • Harness accommodates children up to 50 pounds
  • One Click LATCH installation system allows for faster and easier installation when moving between vehicles
  • 5-position adjustable headrest easily accommodates your growing child
  • Removable cup holder


1 in 4 car crashes involving children are side impact collisions. They are by far the deadliest type of collision for children, accounting for 1 in 3 child fatalities; nearly all of which are caused by head trauma. These are frightening facts, but Safety 1st has been by your side for 25 years providing innovative products to help protect your child from becoming a statistic. It is in this tradition that we proudly announce Air Protect™ side impact technology.
Safety 1st engineers designed Air Protect™ using next generation testing methods that simulate the most violent types of side impact crashes, those with vehicle intrusion. Using this advanced methodology, Air Protect™ was engineered to defend your child in two vital ways. During a crash, the system immediately shields your child’s head from the impact. In a second layer of defense, Air Protect™ allows air to escape from the headrest: channeling crash energy away from your child, creating more ride down time. It is this double layer of protection that makes Air Protect™ technology unique.

image Watch the air protect virtual demo here.

You can purchase your own Safety 1st Air Protect Car Seat at Babies R Us!

You can follow Safety 1st on Twitter and also on Facebook.

{Opinions expressed in this post are strictly our own. We were not paid for this post. Thanks Safety 1st for providing us with the Air Protect Car Seat for this review.}

Hollie January 28, 2010 PRODUCT REVIEWS ,

CozyWedge Giveaway {CLOSED}

CW_Banner You want what’s best for your baby. But many safety and medical experts now say that traditional padded crib bumpers
pose serious dangers, including the risk of SIDS or suffocation.

cozywedge_thumb[5]

CozyWedge sent me their wedge-shape bumper in chocolate to review. When it arrived I quickly put it together and it only took me about 5 minutes. All you have to do is simply slide the foam wedges into the fabric. The instructions are great and made putting it together a breeze. I then placed it in my little one’s crib and tied it to the rail and DONE! It was that simple and I am so glad because it gives me reassurance that my little one is safe when he is in his crib. Thanks CozyWedge!!!

Crib-bumper-5-main

Why a wedge-shaped bumper?

cw2CozyWedge bumpers fit snugly around the crib, won’t slip down and are easy to remove for sheet changing. They cushion the crib for your baby but they have a safer, firm surface that won’t form a pocket around a baby’s mouth and nose. The shock-absorbing foam is the same foam used in swimming noodles, and is totally nonabsorbent, CFC-free and odorless. The slipcovers are organic cotton and completely washable.

CozyWedge comes in eight stylish colors to compliment any nursery decor.


See how the cozy wedge works by watching this video.

Purchase your own Cozy Wedge today!

Today, one of you will win your very own

CozyWedge!

Want to enter to win? Here’s how:

Mandatory 1st entry-Visit CozyWedge and tell us one thing you learned that makes the CozyWedge safer than traditional crib bumpers.

1 Entry per day-Follow AGE on twitter and tweet the following:
@agiveawaydaily Enter to win a CozyWedge Baby Crib Bumper http://tinyurl.com/CozyWedge
3 Entries-Vote for AGE over at the Web’s Top Giveaway Blog Contest! (1 entry per IP Address)
1 Entry each—Follow A Giveaway Everyday by google friends connect, by email subscription, or in a reader
5 Entries-Purchase a CozyWedge during this giveaway!

CLICK HERE TO REFRESH THE ENTRY FORM

{GIVEAWAY CLOSED}

You have until January 15th @ 11:59 a.m. EDT to enter the giveaway. All giveaways are open to USA only and you must be 18 years old. Winners will be chosen by random.org and will be posted on the winners board after the giveaway close. The winning entry will be verified before announcement. The winners will then have 48 hours to claim their giveaway items. If the winner does not claim their prize within their 48 hour period, a new winner will be chosen. *All entries received after the cutoff time will be deleted prior to choosing a winner. Opinions expressed in this post are strictly our own. We were not paid for this post. Thanks CozyWedge for sending me a sample for this review.Hollie

Hollie January 7, 2010 PRODUCT REVIEWS WITH GIVEAWAYS , ,

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