• Cribs must conform to federal safety guidelines.baby in the crib image by Tatyana Gladskih from Fotolia.com
  
  A crib is designed to provide a safe place for a baby to sleep away from the watchful eyes of his parents. There are requirements imposed by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission that are designed to ensure that every crib available on the market will be safe for your baby and free from common dangers.
  
  

No Large Openings

• A baby can slip through a small opening in a crib, allowing her to fall or to become trapped. To prevent this, a crib cannot have more than 2.5 inches between slats or railings, and the railings cannot be lower than 26 inches above the mattress. Keeping the baby safely enclosed in the crib will prevent injuries and keep her safe from harm.
  
  

Smooth and Safe Surfaces

• All surfaces on the crib must be smooth and free from protruding hardware or other potential dangers. Babies are naturally curious, and there must be nothing abrasive on the crib that could cause harm. All paint used on a crib must be free from lead.
  
  

Mattress

• The mattress used in a crib must be less than 6 inches thick. Thick mattresses and bedding can cause suffocation and should be avoided. A crib mattress must measure 27 1/4 inches by 51 5/8 inches. The standard mattress size ensures that all mattresses will safely fit into all cribs.