Below are the basic ideas of what makes a safe crib. However, if you doubt the safety of a crib, any crib, new or used, it may be more suitable and safe to choose a different one for your baby's safety and your own piece of mind. Consult your doctor for more crib safety information.

-Slats will be no more then 2-3/8 inches apart to prevent the infant's head from going between the slats causing strangulation.

-Slats will be tightly fitted will not turn or move and slats must be in place.

-The mattress is tight fitting inside of the crib with little to no space between the rails and mattress.

-The distance between the mattress at the lowest point and the crib rail at the highest position is more then 26 inches from rail top to mattress top.

-Hardware is not broken, missing, bent, sharp, or other wise damaged; and is functional as well as original to the crib.

-The locks to the crib rail require a force of at least ten pounds to operate with two well-defined actions to maneuver the drop release. There must be a lock method in place to prevent accidental release by an infant or child.

-All packaging materials are removed once the crib is together before use. Plastic wrapping is not safe around an infant or child and may cause suffocation.

-The crib must have no parts that stick up or cut out an infant or child could get entangled or caught.

-Teething rails should be in one piece and smooth with no sharp edges.

-Paint should not be chipping or peeling, the crib surface should be smooth and free of splinters and rough edges.

-When purchasing a second hand or imported crib make sure the crib is free of lead paint should you think there is lead present discontinue the use or do not purchase crib. Lead is harmful and deadly.

If you need help identifying or removing lead paint, call the National Safety Council's National Lead Information Center at 800-424-5323.

For more information about crib safety talk to your child’s doctor.