There are a few other things in your baby's nursery that you should use in the proper way to avoid creating a dangerous situation for your baby.

Crib Bumper Pads

Some parents feel that their baby is safer in a crib that has bumper pads. These pads serve two useful purposes. First, they prevent a very young and tiny infant from sticking her head between the slats of the crib, though this should not be an issue if the slats are not farther apart than the recommended 2⅜ inches. Their second purpose is cushioning your baby's head from the hard wood in the event that, once she is old enough to roll over, she does so and hits her head against the sides of the crib. They also help cushion her head in the event that she starts rocking herself and bangs her head against the nearest surface.

Bumper pads, however, present their own set of hazards. To begin with, if you use them, make sure they are tied to the crib slats at each corner and in the middle. Also, make sure that there are no strings hanging down from them that your baby could swallow or in which her fingers or toes could get caught.

As soon as your baby is old enough to get on her hands and knees, remove the bumper pads. Otherwise your baby might try to climb up on the bumper pads, using them as steps, in an attempt to get out of the crib by himself. So be sure to remove them before that can happen.

Other Crib Climbing Hazards

Once your baby is old enough to pull herself up into a standing position, be sure that the crib's mattress is at the lowest possible setting, to facilitate keeping her from climbing out. It may be more awkward for you, as you'll have to bend over farther to change her diaper or clothes when she's in the crib, but either inconvenience yourself and bend or remove her from the crib when you're performing one of these tasks. Set the mattress as far down as possible to discourage climbing.

Remove your baby's mobile once she starts standing up. You don't want her pulling it down on top of her or falling in an effort to grab it. In a further effort to keep your baby from climbing out of the crib, be sure to remove all large stuffed animals from the crib. The giant teddy bear, panda, or dog may be cute, cuddly, and lovable in its hugeness, but it's also a too-handy, too-tempting stepstool for your baby. If she steps up onto it, she might be able to get over the railing and fall to the floor. She might only fall off the stuffed animal back into the crib, but you surely don't want that happening, either.

More Safety Precautions

Be sure the sheets on your baby's crib fit tightly. Loose sheets are a smothering hazard. Once your baby learns to roll over, he's going to spend some time sleeping on his tummy. At this stage of his development, when he's stronger and he's more able to lift his head up easily, sleeping on his tummy puts him at less of a risk for SIDS than does sleeping on his tummy when he's younger. But loose-fitting sheets leave him at risk. If he's on his tummy, face-down, and inhales into a loose-fitting sheet, the sheet can rise up with his breathing and block his nose and mouth.

In addition, be sure you keep the side rail of the crib up, securely locked, whenever your baby is in his crib except when you are changing his diaper or clothes inside his crib. When you leave your baby in his crib, keep the side rail locked in the up position. This is true even if you are just stepping over to his dresser or closet to get a clean pair of pajamas or set of clothes. It is particularly important if you're leaving the room hurriedly to answer the phone or doorbell. Take another second to snap the rail up into place first.