Most common questions

What is the safest crib for my baby?

A full-size crib is best for your baby. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is reviewing safety standards on cribs and urging parents to avoid drop-side cribs (cribs with sides that move up and down). Many of these kinds of cribs have been recalled. It's best to have a crib with sides that don't move. Other things to keep in mind:

• Crib mattresses should be firm and tight-fitting. Otherwise, a baby may get trapped in the space between the mattress and the crib.
• You shouldn't be able to put more than two fingers between the mattress and the crib frame.
• Sheets should fit snugly.
• Don’t use bumper guards on cribs because they pose a suffocation risk. Newborns and small infants aren't able to pull themselves free if they become stuck between the bumper pad and the side of the crib.
• If you have a used crib, check the CPCS website to see if it's been recalled.
• Make sure corner posts are less than 1/16 inch. Otherwise, clothing could get caught and your baby might strangle.
• There shouldn't be more than 2 3/8 inches between crib slats so a baby's body cannot fit through.

What kind of car seat is safest for my baby?

If possible, buy a new car seat. That way, you're sure that it's never been in a car crash. If you're using a used car seat, be certain it is not more than 6 years old, has never been in a crash and hasn't been recalled (check the Consumer Product Safety Commission for recalls).

Look for a model with a five-point harness (two shoulder straps, two leg straps and one crotch strap). It's the safest for baby. You can choose an infant-only seat, which is always used rear-facing. You can also choose a convertible seat. These start out rear-facing but can change to a front-facing seat when your baby gets bigger. Other tips:

• Recline a rear-facing car safety seat at about 45 degrees or as directed by the instructions that came with the seat.
• Get a free inspection to make sure the seat is installed right.
• If you have a baby who is premature or has a low birthweight, look for a car safety seat with the shortest distance between the crotch strap and the seat back. Ideally, pick one with a crotch-to-seat back distance of 5 1/2 inches.
• Pay close attention to the lower weight limit of the car seat. The typical car seat is only suited for newborns that weigh more than 5 pounds. Look for infant seats that can accommodate a baby who weighs 4 pounds or less. Some manufactures sell inserts to attach to a regular infant car seat for preemies or low-birthweight babies.

Bassinets and cradles

Bassinets and cradles are only covered by voluntary safety standards, not mandatory federal standards. We recommend that you use a full-size crib if you can.

Shopping tips

• Buy a bassinet or cradle with a wide, stable base, and a sturdy bottom. Look for a sticker from JPMA (Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association).
• Buy a cradle that barely rocks. If it rocks too much, it can press your baby against the sides of the cradle.
• Make sure there are no splinters, no sharp points or edges, and no small parts that your baby could choke on.
• Buy a firm mattress or pad that fits the bassinet or cradle snugly.
• Buy a sheet that is designed to fit the mattress or pad. Make sure the mattress or pad is no more than 1½ inches thick.
• If you use a bassinet or cradle that folds up when not in use, make sure it locks when it is open.

Safety tips

• The mattress or mattress pad and sheet should be smooth and fit snugly. Do not use a pillowcase or larger sheet.
• If you need replacement parts, make sure they are from the same company that made the cradle or bassinet.
• Do not use a co-sleeper (an infant bed that attaches to an adult bed). There are no safety standards for co-sleepers.

Looking ahead

• Move your baby to a crib as soon as she pushes up on her hands and knees or reaches the maximum weight for the bassinet or cradle.

For more information, visit Babies & Kids on the Consumer Reports website.

June 2008

Bath tubs and products

A baby bathtub is a small, safe place to bathe your baby. We do not recommend a bath seat, bath ring, or blow-up (inflatable) tub that fits inside a regular tub because they can flip or tip over and the child could drown.

Shopping tips

• Buy a bathtub with contoured sides or a sling to cradle your baby. The contoured sides keep your baby from sliding around in the tub. The sling prevents her from slipping underwater.
• We do not recommend a bathtub with a temperature indicator. They are not necessary. Your hand or elbow is the best way to test the water temperature.
• Do not bother with a fresh-water rinse unit. It costs extra, takes up room, and may not work that well.
• Buy a soft towel and washcloth. A towel with a hood is best because it cradles the baby’s head.
  Choose a baby body wash that is also a shampoo.

Safety tips

• Give your baby sponge baths until the stump of his umbilical cord falls off. Then bathe him in a baby bathtub two to three times a week. More often can dry out his skin.
• Always hold your baby while she is in the bathtub. A baby can drown in very little water.
• Test the water temperature before you put your baby in the tub or rinse him. Use your elbow, the inside of your wrist, or the back of your hand.
• Rinse your baby using a plastic cup or a sprayer attached to the sink. Test the water temperature first.
• Clean and dry the bathtub each time you use it. This keeps mildew and soap scum from building up on the tub.
• When your baby can sit up, he can be bathed in a regular bathtub with a small amount of water.
  For more information, visit Babies & Kids on the Consumers Report Web site.

June 2008

Copyright 2008, Consumers Union of United States, Inc. All rights reserved. No redistribution allowed.

Carriers and slings

Soft carriers are usually for babies between 8-26 pounds. The weight limits for slings vary by manufacturer. Not all infants like being carried this way, however. If your baby does not like being in a carrier or sling, do not use one.

Shopping tips

• Buy a new carrier or sling. Take your baby with you and try different models. Make sure the carrier supports your baby’s head and holds her weight evenly. If you can’t bring your baby to the store, try the carriers on with a teddy bear or doll.
• Make sure the snaps are sturdy and do not come apart easily.
• The pads on the shoulder straps should be wide and firm so that the straps stay on your shoulders. Make sure they adjust so that your baby is snug and secure.
• Look for a mesh panel in the front or side panels of the carrier that you can unzip or unbutton. This keeps your baby from getting too hot.
• Mail in the registration card. That way, you will be told if the model is recalled. You can also check recalls at recalls.gov.

Safety tips

• Adjust the fasteners so that the carrier or sling fits you before you put your baby in it.
• Adjust the leg openings in a carrier to the smallest size that is comfortable for your baby.
• Hold your baby over something soft, such as a bed or sofa, when you put her in the carrier or sling.
• Check a carrier often to make sure there are no ripped seams, sharp edges, or missing, loose, or broken snaps, buckles, or rings. If you find any of these, stop using the carrier.
• Use a sling only for normal walking. It is not sturdy enough for fast walking or running.

For more information, visit Babies & Kids on the Consumer Reports website.

Update: In March 2010, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a warning about the use of slings; they may pose a suffocation risk for babies. The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine issued a response to that warning.

June 2008/March 2010

Copyright 2008, Consumers Union of United States, Inc. All rights reserved. No redistribution allowed.

Changing tables

You can use a standard changing table or a changing pad attached to the top of a dresser.

Shopping tips

• Look for a changing table that is flat. Make sure it has a barrier on all four sides, a pad, and a safety strap. We do not recommend contoured changing tables.
• If the table is on wheels, make sure it has brakes that lock.
• Make sure the table or dresser does not wobble. Give it a shake.
• If you use a dresser whose top doubles as a changing table, buy a pad with a safety strap.

Safety tips

• Use the safety strap every time you change your baby.
• Never leave your baby alone on the changing table, even with the safety strap on.
• Keep the diapers, wipes and diaper pail within easy reach.
• Stop using a changing table when your baby is about 2 years old or weighs about 30 pounds. This will be around the time when it is hard to keep your baby still.

If you use a dresser as a changing table

• Choose a dresser that is wide and low.
• Use a pad with a safety strap.
• Follow the directions for attaching the pad to the dresser.
• Attach the dresser to the wall so that it does not tip over. You can use an “anti-tipover restraint” to do this.

For more information, visit Babies & Kids on the Consumer Reports website.

June 2008

Copyright 2008, Consumers Union of United States, Inc. All rights reserved. No redistribution allowed.

Cribs

The best beds for babies are full-size cribs. Cribs are covered by mandatory federal safety standards.

In June 2011, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) banned the sale of drop-side cribs (cribs with sides that go up and down) because faulty or defective hardware and drop-sides that have detached from the cribs have seriously harmed or killed many babies. The new safety rules also require that a crib’s mattress support, slats, and hardware be stronger than in the past.

Shopping tips

• Buy a new crib if you can, as opposed to using a hand-me-down, or one purchased on craigslist.com or similar sites.
• Be sure the crib has sides that don’t move.
• Buy the crib mattress when you buy the crib. Make sure it fits snugly. Otherwise, a baby may get trapped in the space between the mattress and the crib. You should not be able to put more than two fingers between the mattress and the crib frame.

If you get a used crib, make sure:

• It doesn’t have drop sides that move up and down.
• It does not have any broken, missing, or loose slats, spindles, or hardware.
• Corner posts are less than 1/16 inch high (or more than 16 inches high). Otherwise, clothing could get caught and your baby could be strangled.
• The paint is not peeling or cracking.
• There are no splinters or rough edges.
• It does not have cutout designs in the headboard or footboard.

Safety tips

• Always place your baby on his back to sleep, unless your health care provider tells you not to.
• Dress your baby in a sleep sack or pajamas with feet to keep him warm, instead of adding a blanket or any loose bedding to the crib.
• Do not use an electric blanket or heating pad. A baby’s skin burns easily.
• Only use a sheet made specifically for a crib.
• If you feed your baby in your bed, put her back in her crib to sleep. Do not let her sleep in your bed.
• You could roll over on her, or she could fall off or suffocate.
• Do not put your baby to sleep on a sofa, waterbed, quilt, sheepskin, pillow, or soft mattress. He could fall or suffocate.

More safety tips

• To prevent risk of suffocation, do not use bumper pads or any type of soft bedding such as pillows, quilts or comforters in the crib.
• Do not use sleep positioners designed to keep a baby on his or her back. They can pose a risk of suffocation.
• Do not use bedside sleepers. These are baby beds that attach to or abut against an adult bed. They can pose a strangulation risk.
• For children under 2 years of age, never use a portable bedrail to prevent a child from falling from an adult bed.

For more information, visit Babies & Kids on the Consumer Reports website.

July 2011

Copyright 2011, Consumers Union of United States, Inc. All rights reserved. No redistribution allowed.

Infant car seats

The law says you must have an infant car seat, or safety seat, to bring your baby home from the hospital. And you must use the seat any time you take your baby in the car. You can find out more about car seats and car safety at Consumer Reports.

Shopping tips

• Buy a new infant car seat, if you can. You can choose an infant-only seat, which is always used rear-facing. All infant seats in the United States now have a minimum weight limit of 22 pounds. You can also choose a convertible seat. These start out rear-facing but can change to a front-facing seat when your baby gets bigger.
• Look for a model with a five-point harness (two shoulder straps, two leg straps, and one crotch strap).
• Try the seat in your car before you buy it. Not all car seats work in every car. Also, make sure the car seat does not move more than 1 inch in any direction once installed.
• If you want to take your baby out of the car in the seat or use the seat with a stroller, buy an infant seat that clicks into a separate base. You can leave the base in the car. If you use more than one car, you can buy a base for each car.
• Send in the registration card. That way, you will be told if the seat is recalled for safety problems.

If you get a used infant seat, make sure:

• It is not more than 6 years old. Look for a label on the seat that indicates the date it was made.
• It has never been in a crash. It’s important to know the history of the seat.
• It has not been recalled. You can check at recalls.gov.
• It has labels explaining proper installation and the seat’s weight and height limits.
• It has the instruction manual.

Safety tips

Installing the car seat in the car

• Read the owner's booklets for both the seat and your car before you install the seat.
• Install the seat rear-facing for an infant.
• Check the strap adjustments for your baby’s size.
• Get a free inspection to make sure the seat is installed right. Go to nhtsa.gov to find an inspection center near you.

Putting your baby in the car seat

• Place your baby in the seat and fasten the harness.
• Make sure the harness straps are straight and snug.
• For rear-facing seats, use the harness slot at, or just below, your baby’s shoulder. The chest clip should be at the same level as the child’s armpits.
• If your baby needs a blanket or thick coat, put it over or on her after she is strapped in.

More car safety tips

• Put loose items in the trunk, or strap them down with cargo anchors. Loose items can fly around in the car and hurt your baby if you have to stop suddenly or you are in a crash.
• Replace the car seat right away if it is in an accident.
• Never leave your baby alone in the car. A car can get very hot, even on a cloudy day.
• To help you remember that your baby is in the car, put a soft toy in the front seat. Or secure something you need, such as a purse or backpack, in the backseat near your baby as a reminder.

Looking ahead

As your baby grows, you will need to change his car seat.

July 2011

Copyright 2011, Consumers Union of United States, Inc. All rights reserved. No redistribution allowed.

Infant clothing

Newborns do not need a lot of clothing. Used clothing is fine as long as buttons and snaps are on tight and none of the thread is unraveling. We suggest the following items:

• 4 sleeping outfits or one-piece sleepers with attached feet
• 6 side-snap T-shirts
• 4 to 6 one-piece undershirts that snap at the crotch
• 1 baby cap (the hospital may send one home with your baby)
• 6 pairs of soft, snug socks or booties with elastic
• 2 to 3 soft, comfortable outfits for daytime
• 1 soft cotton sweater or light jacket
• A hat with a brim and an elastic chin strap for summer
• A warm knit hat with an elastic chin strap for winter
• A snowsuit for cold winters

Shopping tips

• Look for fabrics and seams that are soft and sturdy. Do not use clothes with scratchy appliqués, metal zippers, drawstrings, or tight or scratchy elastic bands.
• Make sure sleepwear is made of flame-resistant fabric or that it fits snugly. Loose-fitting sleepwear that is not flame-resistant is a fire hazard.
• Look for clothes that are easy to put on and take off. Try tops that open in the front or snap on the sides. Choose pants that have loose elastic waists and legs that snap open or open and close with Velcro.

Safety tips

• Check that buttons, hooks, snaps, bows, pompons and sequins cannot come off easily. Check that snaps are not rough or uneven.
• Turn socks or booties inside out and remove any loose threads that your baby could catch her toes in.
• Avoid loosely knitted sweaters, booties, hats, and other clothing. Your baby’s fingers or toes could get caught in the thread.
• Use sleepers and sleep-sacks instead of blankets when your baby sleeps. Babies can suffocate in blankets.

For more information, visit Babies & Kids on the Consumers Report Web site.

June 2008

Copyright 2008, Consumers Union of United States, Inc. All rights reserved. No redistribution allowed.

Play yards and play pens

Play yards or play pens are a safe place for your baby to play and nap. He can move about and you do not have to worry that he will get out.

Shopping tips

• Buy a new play yard or play pen if at all possible. If you must buy a used one or are using one in a day care, make sure it was made in 2000 or later. Look for the manufacture date on the bottom of the play yard or on a tag.
• Look for a sticker from JPMA (Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association). The sticker tells you that the play yard or play pen at least meets voluntary safety standards.
• Make sure the pad is no more than 1 inch thick. It should be firm and fit snugly. Do not use a pad that was designed for a different play yard.
• Make sure the holes in the mesh sides are smaller than ¼ inch. Your baby’s fingers can get caught in larger holes.

Safety tips

• Follow the directions for setting up the play yard or play pen. Check that all the latches and hinges are tight. Listen for them to click into place. Apply downward pressure to make sure they are truly locked.
• Don’t throw the directions away. A baby-sitter or grandparent may not know how to open the play yard, and you want them to do it correctly.
• Always keep the sides up when your baby is in the play yard or play pen.
• Always keep your baby in view when she is in the play yard or play pen. Never leave her unattended.
• Place the play yard or play pen out of reach of window-blind, curtain, or electrical cords.
• Once your baby can stand up, remove toys that she could use to climb out.

More safety tips

• Do not add blankets, soft bedding, padding, or extra mattresses. If it is cold, dress your baby warmly.
• Do not place the play yard or play pen anywhere your baby will be exposed to heat or wind, such as near a stove, fireplace, campfire, or drafty window or door.
• Do not put two babies in a play yard or play pen made for one baby.
• Do not use a play yard or play pen that has broken latches, hinges, or rails, rivets that stick out, or tears in the mesh. Do not try to repair tears.

If you use the changing station

• Always use the safety straps.
• Keep your hand on your baby at all times.
• Remove the station when your baby is in the play yard or play pen.

If you use the bassinet

• Put your baby on his back to sleep.
• Stop using the bassinet when your baby is 3 months, weighs 15 pounds, can roll over, or can pull herself up.

For more information, visit Babies & Kids on the Consumer Reports website.

June 2008

Copyright 2008, Consumers Union of United States, Inc. All rights reserved. No redistribution allowed.

Strollers

Newborns cannot sit up, so your baby needs a stroller that lets him lie on his back for the first few months.

Shopping tips

• Buy a stroller that fully reclines, so your infant can lie flat. When you do have the stroller fully reclined, make sure the leg openings can be closed off. Otherwise, your baby may slip through.
• Look for a model with a five-point harness or a sturdy safety belt and a crotch strap.
• Check that the frame is sturdy. Look for stickers from ASTM International (American Society for
• Testing and Materials) and JPMA (Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association). Strollers with these stickers meet voluntary safety standards.
• Make sure there is a canopy to protect your baby from sunlight, rain and wind.
• Test several models. How easily does the stroller move and turn? Does the parking brake hold? Can you easily lift and carry it? Open and close it? Adjust the backrest?
• Mail in the registration card. That way, you will be told if the stroller is recalled. You can also check recalls at recalls.gov.

Safety tips

• Follow the directions for setting up and using the stroller. Make sure the frame and the infant seat are locked into place. Listen for the click and then jiggle the frame.
• Always use the safety straps.
• Always use the parking brake when the stroller is stopped.
• Never leave your baby alone in the stroller.
• Keep your baby and any other children away from the stroller when you are folding or unfolding it. Little fingers could get pinched.

More safety tips

• Do not hang heavy bags on the handlebars. The stroller could tip over.
• Do not use pillows, thick or fluffy blankets, quilts, a mattress, or a cushion. Your baby could suffocate.
• Do not run with an infant less than 6 months old in a jogging stroller. Infants do not yet have good head and neck control, so this could be dangerous for them.

For more information, visit Babies & Kids on the Consumer Reports website.

June 2008

Copyright 2008, Consumers Union of United States, Inc. All rights reserved. No redistribution allowed.