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Category: Baby & Kids

  • Crib Buying Guide: Federal Safety Rules and Safe-Sleep Basics

    Crib Buying Guide: Federal Safety Rules and Safe-Sleep Basics

    Key takeaways

    • Since June 28, 2011, every crib sold in the U.S. must meet federal crib standards; traditional drop-side cribs are banned.
    • Slats no more than 2⅜ inches apart, a firm and tight-fitting mattress, and a fitted sheet only.
    • Babies should sleep on their back, on a firm, flat surface, in the parents’ room but not their bed.

    What federal rules already guarantee

    The Consumer Product Safety Commission’s crib standards took effect on June 28, 2011. Since then, traditional drop-side cribs cannot be made or sold, and immobilizers or repair kits for old drop-side cribs are not allowed. The rules also require stronger wood slats, anti-loosening hardware and more durable mattress supports, backed by tougher testing.[2]

    The measurements to check

    2⅜ in

    Maximum gap between crib slats (about a soda can’s width)[1]

    1/16 in

    Maximum corner-post height, so clothing can’t catch[1]

    < ¼ in

    Mesh openings on mesh-sided cribs and play yards[1]

    The mattress should be firm and fit tightly, so there is no gap where a baby could get trapped between the mattress and the crib frame.[1]

    Safe sleep: what goes in the crib (almost nothing)

    • Place your baby on their back for every nap and at night.[3]
    • Use a firm, flat sleep surface that does not indent under the baby; the AAP warns that any surface inclined more than 10 degrees is unsafe for sleep.[3]
    • Use a fitted sheet only. No pillows, quilts, comforters, sheepskins, bumper pads or stuffed toys.[1,3]
    • Share a room, not a bed, for at least the first six months; the AAP says this can lower SIDS risk by up to 50%.[3]
    • Skip inclined sleepers, baby nests and weighted blankets, sleepers or swaddles.[3]

    What to look for when you shop

    Crib and nursery shopping checklist[1,2,3]
    Item Check
    Crib Sold new in the U.S. after June 2011; no drop side; hardware tight
    Mattress Firm; no gap when pushed toward any side of the crib
    Sheet Fitted, made for your mattress size
    Bassinet or play yard Meets CPSC standards; mesh openings under ¼ in
    Sleep sack Wearable blanket instead of loose bedding; not weighted

    Before the first night

    • No drop side, and all hardware tight
    • Slats no more than 2⅜ in apart
    • Mattress firm with no gaps at the edges
    • Fitted sheet only: no bumpers, pillows or toys
    • Crib in the parents’ room

    Sources

    Every figure in this guide comes from the official sources below. We summarize them in our own words; check the source for the full guidance.

    1. 1Crib Safety TipsU.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
    2. 2The New Crib Rules (flyer)U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
    3. 3How to Keep Your Sleeping Baby Safe: AAP Policy ExplainedHealthyChildren.org, American Academy of Pediatrics

    This guide is general consumer information, not medical, legal or professional advice. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for your product. See our editorial policy and affiliate disclosure.

  • Car Seat Buying Guide: Choosing the Right Seat for Each Stage

    Car Seat Buying Guide: Choosing the Right Seat for Each Stage

    Key takeaways

    • Keep your child rear-facing as long as possible, until they outgrow the seat’s rear-facing height or weight limit.
    • Children should ride in the back seat at least through age 12.
    • Register every seat with the manufacturer so you hear about recalls.

    The four stages

    Seat types and the ages NHTSA lists for each[1]
    Seat type Typical ages How it protects
    Rear-facing car seat Birth to 3 years Cradles the head, neck and back in a crash
    Forward-facing seat with harness and tether 1 to 7 years Harness spreads crash forces; tether limits forward head movement
    Booster seat 4 to 12 years Positions the adult belt correctly on a child’s body
    Seat belt 8 to 12 years Once the child fits the belt properly without a booster

    The age ranges overlap on purpose. NHTSA’s advice is to keep a child in each stage for as long as the seat’s own height and weight limits allow, and only then move to the next one. In particular, keep your child rear-facing as long as possible.[1]

    How to tell a booster is doing its job

    A booster lifts a child so the lap belt lies across the upper thighs, not the stomach, and the shoulder belt crosses the chest, not the neck.[1]

    After you buy: registration, recalls and a free check

    • Register the seat with the manufacturer, by the mail-in card or online, so they can contact you directly about a recall.[2]
    • You can also sign up for NHTSA recall alerts, and search open recalls for car seats on NHTSA’s recall site.[2,3]
    • Certified child passenger safety technicians at inspection stations will check your installation, free in most cases; some offer virtual checks.[2]
    • Buying used? NHTSA publishes a used car seat safety checklist.[2]

    325

    Children under 5 saved by car seats in one year, per NHTSA[1]

    39%

    Share of children killed in crashes in 2024 who were unrestrained, per NHTSA[1]

    What to look for when you shop

    • Height and weight limits for each mode, printed on the seat label. Higher rear-facing limits let a child stay rear-facing longer.
    • A seat that fits your vehicle’s back seat and installs tightly with LATCH or the seat belt.
    • An easy-to-read harness adjustment, so you actually re-adjust it as your child grows.
    • A registration card in the box, or an online registration page from the manufacturer.[2]

    Car seat checklist

    • Right stage for your child’s size and the seat’s limits
    • Rear-facing as long as the seat allows
    • Seat registered with the manufacturer
    • Installation checked by a certified technician
    • Back seat for every child, at least through age 12

    Sources

    Every figure in this guide comes from the official sources below. We summarize them in our own words; check the source for the full guidance.

    1. 1Car Seats and Booster SeatsNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration
    2. 2Car Seat RegistrationNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration
    3. 3Check for RecallsNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration

    This guide is general consumer information, not medical, legal or professional advice. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for your product. See our editorial policy and affiliate disclosure.