There is a good chance that your newborn is going to be spending a lot of the first part of his or her lift in his crib. So while it is important that they be comfortable in their crib it is critical that they be kept safe and since they will be using a crib for sleep until they are ready to move into a bed you also need a crib that will be rugged and sturdy enough for enough the bounciest of toddlers when they first begin to jump up and down in their cribs.
So with that in mind here are a few features you can look for when purchasing your new or used crib that will ensure you are getting a safe, comfortable crib that will last even when your baby grows into a toddler.

1. Safety Features
   • Distance between crib slats can be no more than 2 3/8 inches (6 cm)
   • The drop sides must be a minimum of 9 inches (23 cm) above the mattress support when lowered
   • The drop sides must be a minimum of 26 inches (66 cm) above the mattress support when raised
   • The crib mattress must fit snugly allowing for no more than two fingers width between the crib sides and the mattress
   • Ensure that the drop side locking mechanism is secure and functions properly
   • Check to make sure there is no rough or sharp corners, peeling paint, splinters, bolts that stick out or nuts with sharp edges
2. Adjustable Mattress Height – This will allow you to adjust the height of the mattress as baby grows so that he can’t accidentally fall out of the crib.
3. Ease Of Release – Check to see how easy it is to release the drop side and to see how much noise it makes. Remember you more than likely will be doing this while holding a sleeping baby at 3 A.M so the easier and quieter it is to operate one handed the better.
4. Mattress Size – Make sure the crib will accommodate a standard crib size mattress snugly or you may end up searching for an odd size crib mattress that could end up costing you more money.
5. Durability – Feel and shake the crib in the store to make sure it feels sturdy and not poorly constructed.
6. Casters – You are going to want to have either plastic or metal casters on your crib as it makes it much easier to move the crib around when changing the sheets on the mattress.
7. Teething Bar – This is a plastic that covers the top rails for when your baby starts teething. This allows baby to chew on plastic instead of chewing on and possibly ingesting wood.