Crib Mattress Height Requirements

Make sure there are no gaps larger than two fingers between the sides of the crib and the mattress.

Crib mattress height requirements.

In the most common three level variations each level will be 3 5 inches above the lower one with the lowest being 26 below the top of the railing. Crib mattress height by age and developmental milestones. When a mattress is used with the crib the actual height of the crib side as a barrier is 20 in. Product title safety 1st sweet dreams 5 crib and toddler mattress thermo bonded core average rating.

Typically the crib mattress is set to the greatest height for newborns and then as they continue to grow develop and move the height should be lowered accordingly. However crib mattresses are subject to the mattress flammability testing requirements of 16 cfr part 1632 and 16 cfr part 1633. 4 4 out of 5 stars 2495 ratings based on 2495 reviews current price 36 00 36. However once they are able to stand up the mattress should be at the lowest level.

Every year 10 000 children are taken to the emergency room for crib related accidents with many related to children falling out of their crib 6. Crib mattresses are not covered by the full size crib standard. For more information on these requirements please see the mattress. And this height must include a 6 in.

In addition there is a voluntary standard for crib mattresses astm f2933. According to a 19 year study published in the journal pediatrics us emergency rooms treat an average of nearly 10 000 zero to two year olds each year for crib playpens or bassinet injuries. Given frequent falls from the crib federal crib regulations have set the minimum distance between the top of the mattress support and top of the crib side rail as 26 in. Lowering your baby s crib mattress is perfectly safe in fact when the time is right it will make their crib even safer.

Of those more than 80 involve cribs. The standard also requires that crib mattresses include a label with safety warnings to advise consumers to make sure their crib mattress properly fits within a crib and warnings to help prevent sudden infant death syndrome sids. Beyond that the mattress height settings are up to the manufacturer. The mattress should always be positioned at a height that prevents them from climbing out.

To prevent suffocation never place pillows or thick quilts in a baby s sleep environment. At this point the crib mattress can no longer be adjusted low enough to ensure the safety of the child and the height of the crib rails coupled with the child s increased gross motor skills makes successfully climbing out of the crib much more likely. With any crib bassinet or play yard follow a few simple rules to keep babies sleeping safely.