Infant bed

An infant bed (commonly referred to as a crib in English (or a far less commonly as a cradle or stock) in American English) is a small bed specifically for infants and very young children, generally up to 3 years old.

Infant beds are most common in North America, Europe, and Australia, employed by the majority of parents as an alternative to bed-sharing.

Design

Infant beds are designed to restrict the baby to the bed. The sides are too high for a baby to climb and provide no footholds. Design standards for infant beds include considerations such as preventing hand and head entrapment.

Government manufacturing standards set in 1973 have greatly improved infant bed safety; most new infant beds sold in the U.S. are very safe. However, infant beds continue to be associated with the highest child injury rates of any nursery item. Approximately 50 infants each year are killed and another 9,000 are injured in infant bed-related accidents in the U.S.^[1]

The Consumer Product Safety Commission sets standards for infant beds sold in the United States.^[2] Among the requirements:

• The vertical bars or slats on the sides and ends must be no more than two and three-eighth inches or 60 mm apart. This is to prevent infants from slipping through or becoming stuck between them.
• The bars must be sturdy and intact.
• The distance between the top of the side and the top of the mattress support must be no less than 9 inches when the side is lowered and at least 26 inches when the side is raised.

Research has shown that the mattress influences SIDS outcomes; a firm mattress lowers SIDS risk.^[3] It is thought that the risk is lowered even more by the use of an organic cotton or latex mattress. Bed sheets ought to fit the mattress tightly so that the child cannot become entangled and suffocate; a common safety recommendation is to short sheet the bed.^{[citation needed]}

Because of the pronounced risk of suffocation in very young children, the addition of anything other than sheets (including pillows and plush toys) into an infant bed is not recommended by health authorities.^[4] A sleepsack can be used instead to keep the baby warm.

Infant beds that can be converted into a standard sized bed as the child grows larger have become increasingly popular - these are called convertible cribs; see also toddler bed.

Infant beds can be stationary or portable (portacots). In their portable form the beds generally don't feature a dropside, and portability factors are emphasised. Portacots are often made from plastics, are often smaller and fold into a compact package.

Infant beds are available in many different styles including:

• The Jenny Lind
• Sleigh
• Mini
• Rocking
• Convertible
• Round
• Cribs for Twins
• Nursery Set

Infant beds are usually made of solid wood such as oak but can also be made from cast iron and they are available in a large range of colors to suit your nursery decor.

Larger infant beds are manufactured, generally for hospital use or for those with special needs. They may include a top, generally made of plastic or metal, to prevent a child from climbing out.

Use

An infant bed is typically used after it is no longer safe to leave the baby in a bassinet. They have a lower center of gravity, a broader base of support and can hold a larger baby than a bassinet. Infant beds are more stable than bassinets and as such become desirable when a baby can roll, transferring inertia with their actions; a bassinet may tip, an infant bed won't without concerted effort. For those who do not have space for a full-size baby crib mini cribs are available as an alternative infant bed.

Placing a child into an infant bed can put strain on a caretaker's back. To reduce the strain on those operating an infant bed, many infant beds feature:

• a mattress that can be in a raised position until the child is able to sit upright.
• a drop gate, a side which lowers to ease the process of putting the child into the bed, but can be raised again to restore the integrity of the enclosure.

In the United States, the sale of drop gate cribs and their use by hotels and childcare centers will be prohibited as of June 2011, after reports of assembly problems and malfunctioning hardware leading to infant deaths; all cribs manufactured and sold are then required to have fixed sides.^[5]

Many cribs also feature:

• Rolling casters so that it's easy to move the crib around.
• A storage drawer underneath for bedding.

"Crib bumpers" are marketed to keep children from bumping against the hard sides and hurting themselves; breathable bumpers are intended to prevent suffocation, while providing padding. According to 2011 guidelines released by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), bumper pads should not be used. This recommendation, issued as part of an updated and expanded set of guidelines on safe sleep and SIDS prevention for babies, is the first time the AAP has officially come out against the use of crib bumpers. According to the AAP, there is no evidence that crib bumpers protect against injury, but they do carry a potential risk of suffocation, strangulation, or entrapment because infants lack the motor skills or strength to turn their heads should they roll into something that obstructs their breathing.

Toys specifically for an infant bed include mobiles, musical toys to soothe the baby to sleep and mirrors to keep the children entertained while awake in the bed. It has become increasingly common to have a baby monitor nearby so as to alert the caretaker when the child awakens. In some cases an apnea monitor is used to alert the caregiver if the baby stops breathing. The AAP recommends that infants under 12 months share a room (but not a bed) with their parents, as this has shown to be protective against SIDS.

History

Infant beds have a history dating back several hundred years. The earliest and most common type of bed was more like a cradle. Basically a hollowed-out half log to provide a secure resting place for baby. Many cradles were made on a frame so they could rock gently. Once the baby outgrew the cradle it graduated to a trundle bed considered a toddler bed. The trundle bed was made to fit easily under the parent's bed to conserve space.

Bedrooms were rare until the mid-17th century. During the 19th century, the infant bed came into existence as homes became larger. Infant beds were usually homemade and passed on from child to child and passed on through generations since they were constructed of solid wood. During this time there were many children in a family and each one would use the infant bed for the first year or until the next child came along. The nursery started as a small nook located adjacent to the parent’s bedroom. Eventually the idea of the child having his or her own room came to be the standard. Wealthy families who could afford a nanny were able to have a separate room for the child. Homes were built with more bedrooms so they could accommodate more children.

Infant bed design through the years has shown a steady improvement of features yet the same basic shape and form have remained the same. Today infant beds are under continually updated safety rules to ensure that children are safe in their cribs.^[6]

See also

• Jenny Lind crib, vertical bars in an infant bed were publicized by the bed Jenny Lind slept in
• Co-sleeping, a practice in which babies and young children sleep with one or both parents
• Bassinet, a common precursor bed for babies
• Toddler bed, a common subsequent bed for toddlers
• Neonatal intensive-care unit (Humidicrib)

References

1. ^ http://www.vachss.com/guest_dispatches/mbranden.html
2. ^ http://www.cpsc.gov/info/cribs/regulations.html
3. ^ http://www.sidsandkids.org/pdf/october05_statement.pdf
4. ^ http://www.healthychildcare.org/pdf/SIDSparentsafesleep.pdf
5. ^ "U.S. Government Bans Drop-Side Cribs". Bloomberg Businessweek. December 15, 2010. http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/647542.html?chan=rss_topStories_ssi_5. Retrieved December 16, 2010. 
6. ^ http://www.thefreelibrary.com/The+History+of+Baby+Cribs-a01073847349

External links

• CPSC crib safety standards
• Crib safety information from Seattle Children's Hospital.
• Types of Crib Mattresses
• SIDS or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome