Crib and Crib Bedding Safety

At IKEA, we know that children are the Most Important People in the world.  Keeping them safe and happy is the Most Important Job in the World.  To help parents keep their children safe, the Consumer Products Safety Comission has issued guidelines for cribs and bedding for children under 12 months of age:

Crib Safety Tips from the Consumer Products Safety Commission

For infants less than 12 months of age, follow these practices to reduce the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) and prevent suffocation:

• Place baby on his/her back in a crib with a firm, tight-fitting mattress.

• Do not put pillows, quilts, comforters, sheepskins, pillow-like bumper pads or pillow-like stuffed toys in the crib.

• Consider using a sleeper instead of a blanket.

• If you do use a blanket, place baby with feet to foot of the crib. Tuck a thin blanket around the crib mattress, covering baby only as high as his/her chest.

• Use only a fitted bottom sheet made specifically for crib use.



Keep cribs clear of additional textiles while baby
is sleeping. A single fitted sheet on a tight-
fitting mattress is the best bedding combination.



Check Your Crib for Safety

• A Your mattress should be firm and tight-fitting so baby can't get caught in gaps.

• No missing, loose, broken or improperly installed screws, brackets, or other hardware on the crib or mattress support.

• Cribs that are assembled wrong, have missing, loose or broken hardware or broken slats can result in entrapment or suffocation deaths. 

• No more than 2 3/8 inches (about the width of a soda can) between the crib slats so a baby's body can't fit through the slats; no missing or cracked slats.

• No corner posts over 1/16 inch high so a baby's clothing cannot catch.

• No cutouts in the headboard or foot board so a baby's head can't get trapped.

For mesh-sided cribs and playpens, look for:

• Mesh less than ¼ inch in size, smaller than the tiny buttons on a baby's clothing.

• Mesh with no tears, holes or loose threads that could entangle a baby.

• Mesh securely attached to the top rail and floor plate.

• Top rail cover with no tears or holes.

• If staples are used, they are not missing, loose or exposed.

Soft Bedding May Be Hazardous To Babies

To prevent infant deaths due to soft bedding, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development are revising their recommendations on safe bedding practices when putting infants down to sleep. Here are the revised recommendations to follow for infants under 12 months:

Safe Bedding Practices For Infants

· Place baby on his/her back on a firm tight-fitting mattress in a crib that meets current safety standards.

· Remove pillows, quilts, comforters, sheepskins, pillow-like stuffed toys, and other soft products from the crib.

· Consider using a sleeper or other sleep clothing as an alternative to blankets, with no other covering.

· If using a blanket, put baby with feet at the foot of the crib. Tuck a thin blanket around the crib mattress, reaching only as far as the baby’s chest.

· Make sure your baby’s head remains uncovered during sleep.

· Do not place baby on a waterbed, sofa, soft mattress, pillow, or other soft surface.

Placing babies to sleep on their backs instead of their stomachs has been associated with a dramatic decrease in deaths from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Babies have been found dead on their stomachs with their faces, noses, and mouths covered by soft bedding, such as pillows, quilts, comforters and sheepskins. However, some babies have been found dead with their heads covered by soft bedding even while sleeping on their backs.

For more tops about preparing for your baby's arrival, or making their sleeping space a safe one, visit our Baby Knowledge site.