Choosing a crib young parents need to be approached with great responsibility. Since most of the time the newborn will spend in it, it is important that the bed and mattress are comfortable. And for mom, functionality and convenience are needed. In the article we will tell you how to choose a crib, consider models and reviews about them.
Selection criteria
All future and young parents want to provide their child with only the best - from a bed to toys. Understanding the quality of the products offered in a wide range of modern manufacturers is quite difficult, so let's look at where to start and what criteria to choose a crib.
When choosing a baby bed, you must first pay attention to the following basic criteria:
- crib and mattress sizes;
- material and odor;
- product safety;
- featuresoperation;
- additional equipment;
- usability and functionality.
Let's take a closer look at each of the criteria.
Required dimensions
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 crib will be located in the room;
- manufacturers of accessories (mattresses, pillows, blankets, bedding and bedding) are guided by the standard size of a bed for a certain age.
To answer the question: "How to choose the right crib?", You need to consider that the following size chart is used in the manufacture of cribs for newborns:
- 1200x600 mm - standard Russian crib size from birth to three years;
- 1250х650 mm - European size for the same age;
- 1700x600 mm - European enlarged;
- 1400x700 mm - increased Russian dimensions, typical for transformers;
- 970х550 mm - the size of cradles for newborns under the age of one year.
If you are interested in the question: “How to choose a crib by 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 change bedding or run around looking for the right size mattress, most people buy cribs in standard sizes. In addition, thisleads to budget savings if this criterion is important.
Material of production
The main requirement for the materials from which beds for newborns are made is their safety. These include: sustainability, durability, environmental friendliness and reliability.
It's safe to say that only a few materials meet these requirements:
- Wood - preferably beech, birch, alder or oak wood. It is a durable natural material that is resistant to physical influences. Pine can also be used in the manufacture, but products made 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 - wood, this is the most environmentally friendly material.
- MDF is a less preferred material, but can also be used, provided that the pressing was done using safe substances. The main thing is that the seller must announce the emission class, which should not exceed E1 (no excess of the minimum allowable formaldehyde content).
- Particleboard is the cheapest material made from pressed chips, you should definitely check the certificate of conformity before buying. In such products, the concentration of formaldehyde is usually exceeded.
- Metal - usually aluminum or steel - is strong, durable, but expensive and heavy.
Product safety
The fact that children's furniture must meet safety criteria is undeniable.
How to choose the right crib for a newborn, let's take a closer look:
- For babies from birth to three years old, choose cribs with protective sides that will protect the baby from falling. The optimal 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.
- For more safety, many parents buy soft, fabric-sewn and thickly padded protective bumpers. They are fixed on all sides of the bed and protect the baby from possible blows.
- All components must fit well and fit snugly together, leaving no cracks or gaps. This will ensure safety for the baby and protect the crib from loosening the structure.
- When choosing a bed, it is worth considering its shape - it should not taper downwards, otherwise the child will be able to turn the bed over. Also, the lower the center of gravity, the more stable the product.
- Baby beds 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. The important point is to change the levels in time in order 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 it has - the more the better.
- The convenience of moving the bed around the room is created by wheels. Along with this, there is some danger of instability if the child is overly active. To prevent undesirable consequences of this, special wheel locks are used. The same can be said for swing rails.
- Required conditions include grinding the details of the crib to avoid splinters and rounded corners. Coating with a safe substance (paint or varnish) may or may not be present.
- The bed should not have parts that can be easily unscrewed or removed to avoid injury or swallowing.
- After purchase, the product must be unpacked, wiped with a damp cloth and left in a ventilated area, if it has a smell, until completely weathered.
Rocking bed
Currently, there is no consensus on whether it is worth rocking babies. Some say that it is harmful because of addiction and, in addition, the child may cry for serious reasons and they must be identified. Others argue that motion sickness is completely harmless - the baby gets used to it in the womb of the mother and this facilitates the process of calming him down.
If you don't know which crib to choose, customer reviews can help with this difficult task. As a rule, many young parents say that they have purchased a rocking bed and are quite satisfied with their purchase.
The process of motion sickness occurs due to two main design features of the mechanism of the product.
They are:
- Skids. They representare removable, curved arcuate plates attached 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 stoppers at hand so that, if necessary, you can fix the fixed position of the bed.
- Pendulum. The design of such a crib provides for hanging it on special straps that allow you to rock it in two directions - longitudinal (left-right) or transverse (back and forth), depending on the design of the pendulum mechanism. There are also universal pendulum devices that swing in two directions.
Before choosing a crib for newborns with a pendulum, you need to decide on its location, since for the mechanism to work, there must be at least fifteen centimeters in width or length (depending on the design) in stock.
In addition, we should not forget the possibility of fixing the crib from rocking the structure when the child grows up.
Choosing a mattress and bedding
It is important not only to know which crib to choose for a child, but also to decide on accessories for it, because the comfort and restful sleep of the baby depends on it. Below we will consider what requirements must be observed when purchasing accessories for a bed.
Modern industry offers several varietiesbaby mattresses:
- Wadded or foam - the most budget option;
- with natural filler - based on the presence of a soft layer of foam rubber or foam, as well as fillings, they have different stiffness;
- 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 for a crib, you need to consider the following rules:
- The most important thing is that the product must match the size of the bed. If the dimensions are too small, the baby will fall into the gaps, and if they are large, the mattress will deform and be uncomfortable, which will disturb the baby's sleep.
- The mattress should not be too soft - this will bend the baby's unformed spine. The main requirement is a flat and optimally rigid surface.
- The internal content of the product is of great importance. The filling only from cotton wool will not last too long and will get into lumps, and the foam rubber is not hygroscopic and the baby will sweat. If the budget is limited, you can also purchase such mattresses, but then you need a cotton one - beat it from time to time, and foam rubber - often ventilate and dry.
- If you prefer the middle price option - mattresses with fillers, then products containing woolen threads, horsehair, coconut fibers, dried seaweed or felt will be good options. They should not have strong foreign odors and be sold with quality certificates.
- A mandatory addition to the mattress is a waterproof sheet,on one side of which is a cotton layer, as well as a cover that must be washed systematically.
It is also necessary to know not only how to choose the right crib, it is also important to understand that babies under one year old do not put a pillow at all - it is enough that there will be a fourfold folded diaper under their heads. After twelve months, get low baby pillows, preferably orthopedic, providing a flat, but not hard surface.
Bedding for a baby bed is chosen only natural: cotton, terry or flannel.
Additional accessories
To understand how to choose the right crib for a newborn, you need to know that these products may have additional elements other than the bed itself.
Let's consider what the design of cribs most often provides for:
- Box for things. This addition, according to parents, is a really necessary item. Thanks to this, there will always be play accessories, bed linen, diapers, sliders, diapers and other necessary things at hand. This element in some models replaces the bedside table.
- Some products are equipped with built-in or detachable cabinets, 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.
- Another important element is silicone protective corners and railing pads - they will protect the product from damage, and the baby from swallowing bittenpieces when teething.
- It's nice when the crib has removable elements on the side walls - they can be removed so that the grown-up baby can go to bed and get out of it on his own. Or is it allowed to remove the side and move the bed to the parent bed.
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 according to their preferences and financial capabilities.
Main types of cribs
Children's bed is a serious purchase, so you need to approach it with all responsibility. So that later you don’t have to complain about the fact that it doesn’t fit in size, age or doesn’t look good in the interior.
In order to decide which and which company to choose a crib, you need to consider the main types of these products, their pros and cons.
Varieties of cribs are as follows:
- Cradle. Designed for babies from birth to six months. Depending on the size of the baby, it can be used until the age of one. These are compact, easily moving, models with a size of 970x550 mm. Production material - plastic or wicker. Models can be closed or attached, with one open or removable side.
- Traditional bed. Suitable for use from birth to 3 yearsage, traditional dimensions - 1200x600 mm. Made from wood or metal.
- Transformer beds. They are used, depending on the size, up to the age of seven or twelve. They are made from pressed materials, over time they are transformed into a school educational place. They are functional models with a linen cabinet and a changing table.
- Manege. They are used from birth to the age of three, but with weight restrictions. These are lightweight structures with textile sidewalls, combining a sleeping and playing place.
After studying this material, it becomes clear which crib to choose from 3 years old, and which one is suitable from birth to this age. After all, a baby's bed should always be comfortable and convenient.
Advantages and disadvantages
Consider the pros and cons of different crib designs. This will help you understand how to choose a crib.
And now for more details:
- Cradle or bassinet. It is believed that their narrow design makes the baby's stay look like a mother's womb and does not frighten 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 stationary base, or suspended in a traditional children's bed with straps. Stationary models can be placed next to the parent bed. The advantages includecompact size, portability and ease of use. Cons - high cost and quick change to a large product.
- Classic cribs. A common budget option with limited functionality. Usually supplied with rocking 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 that make it easy to pick up accessories, low price and simplicity of design (rarely breaks). Disadvantages - the bulkiness of the product and minimal functionality.
- Transformer beds. These are rather bulky products that combine a bed 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 the age of three to seven, 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 the narrowness of the bed for a teenager - only sixty centimeters.
- Manege. This is a folding product that will be indispensable not only at home, but also when traveling. Details - aluminum and plastic, covering - 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, whichan older child can unfasten on their own. According to customer reviews, the model is valued for its lightness, maneuverability and convenience. The disadvantages include the instability of the structure, the lack of motion sickness and hard edges, and single-level models have a too low base.
Overview of the best models and customer reviews
How to choose a baby crib for a newborn, tell the reviews and review of products from various manufacturers below:
- Fiorellino Princess is an elegant basket-shaped wicker cradle for the little ones in two colors (light blue for boys, soft pink for girls) with carrying handle. According to customer reviews, it is easy to use, has a hard bottom and a good hood. Parents also like the fact that all accessories are included - a mattress, a cover, a blanket, a sheet, a pillow. The disadvantages of consumers include the high cost - a little more than eleven thousand rubles, the lack of a stand (purchased separately) and a motion sickness mechanism. Manufacturer - Slovenia.
- "Irina S-625" - a classic wooden crib of a domestic manufacturer with a universal design, has standard sizes, a hard bottom with three positions, a removable sidewall with silicone lining and a transverse pendulum mechanism. According to consumer reviews, this is a very convenient model with a linen box, which allows you to have everything you need in close proximity. The disadvantages of parents include the bulkiness of the product and the price of about ten thousand rubles.
- Valle Allegra Comfort - crib-transformer 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 fittings, is available in several color versions. The cost is about twelve thousand rubles. In addition to the above, consumer reviews include the bottom ventilated due to the rails and structural stability to the pluses, and the price and heaviness of the product to the minuses.
- Happy Baby Martin is a high-quality two-level Chinese playpen with large windows that allow you to watch the baby and ventilate the product. Comes with castors and removable mattress. According to parents, the crib has a really high-quality design, it is easy to fold, mobile and comfortable. Comfort is also created by anti-traumatic pads. The indisputable advantage is the low cost - about four and a half thousand rubles. The disadvantages, 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, reviews of a particular model are all recommended to be studied beforehand. After all, they play a decisive role, as they come from people who already have some experience.
Based on the feedback, we can draw some conclusions. The playpen is best suited as a temporary bed 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 inas a budget option, and the best choice if you have enough money is a transforming bed.
