A newborn baby spends most of the day in a dream. Therefore, a comfortable sleeping place is very important for him. Older children may be interested in the unusual and vibrant design of the crib. In general, for each age its own decision. But to save money, one bed is often chosen for all occasions. One way or another, it is best to familiarize yourself with all the possible models. What is important to consider when choosing a crib with sides?
Materials
The most environmentally friendly and high-quality material is wood. Of course, if it is covered with a safe and harmless varnish. It is not cheap, but quality is worth the price. The most durable materials are alder, birch and maple. Pine beds are cheaper, but there is a reason for this. When a child begins to actively sharpen his teeth, this soft wood quickly loses its appearance.
MDF is also considered suitable for cots. It is only important to consider that it does not contain harmful resins.
It is undesirable to choose a bed from a chipboard. Usually this material contains a large amount of formaldehyde. Therefore, it should be considered the least environmentally friendly. By the way, the content of harmful substances can be determined in a very subjective, but effective way: to smell. If the furniture has a pungent smell, it is not suitable for children. It can become a source of toxic substances that cause poisoning or allergies. You can scratch the coating with a fingernail. If it is easily picked up, it means that the baby will quickly gnaw the product, besides swallowing particles of varnish.
A metal crib is a rather heavy and bulky, but durable solution.
Security
When buying a crib for a baby, it is important to consider many factors. Like any children's furniture, it should not have sharp corners that you can run into. It is also important the distance between the bars of the lattice. It should not be more than 6-7 cm. It matters, because children can stick their arms, legs and even their head there. The distance should be such that the probability of being stuck is small. You need to carefully consider the design of the crib. Is there any gap in it where the baby can put a finger in, protruding mechanisms that can be injured?
Crib bottom
You need to pay attention to the bottom of the crib. Best slatted bottom. So the mattress will be better ventilated. Moreover, sometimes there is moisture in the crib. A solid bottom leads to the fact that air does not penetrate the mattress and mold that can form harmful to the child’s health can form there.
An important advantage will be the ability to adjust the height of the bottom. While the baby is small, it is best to raise the bottom of the crib to the upper position. Then it will be more convenient to put the child in the crib and remove it from it. Later, the bottom is better to lower. The child has become active, he needs to get out of the crib and climb into it. In addition, when the child spins and explores the world around him, the height of the rods from the mattress should be at least 50-60 cm to prevent the possibility of the child falling out over the side.
Headboard
The backs are rack and solid. Both of them have their advantages. The rack back provides excellent air circulation. Solid will cover the baby from bright light. True, the curtains in the room can play the same role, in which case the question disappears.
Drawers
The beds are arranged differently. And some of them simply have nothing under the bottom, while others have drawers there. This is very convenient, because at first you can store things for the baby there, and later - toys.
So, which cots are suitable for babies?
Cradle
For the smallest, a cradle is also suitable. It will not last long, although it is decent, so not all parents consider such a purchase appropriate. Cradles continue the tradition of antiquity. Once upon a time, all babies slept in hanging cradles or insoles. Modern cradles are much more diverse and often still stand on a hard surface. But they still perform their main function. The word "cradle" has a distant relationship with the verb "hesitate." Such cots are very convenient for motion sickness of restless babies.
Cocoon
Modern designers fantasized that it would be the most comfortable for newborns. The baby, just born, is in shock and goes through a difficult period of adaptation. He is very comforted by conditions somewhat similar to those in the womb. For example, baby’s motion sickness back and forth resembles swaying in the stomach when mom walks, and the quiet hissing that women often intuitively emit is similar to the sound of amniotic fluid. Which bed will most resemble the womb? Of course, small, comfortable and rounded. At the end of pregnancy, the baby had to be in cramped conditions! Of course, extremes are not necessary, the child is developing, his movements are improving, so he still needs to stay not in the fetal position. Cocoonababy special cots take this into account and allow the baby to comfortably sit with slightly bent legs. The child is fastened with a belt so as not to fall out. Of course, crowding is not comfortable for everyone, some children will soon begin to love more free space.
Transforming bed with changing chest
There is a universal option, which includes everything at once. A changing chest is attached to the crib. Not only is it easy to swaddle a baby on his lid, change diapers, but he also has spacious shelves where you can put baby clothes, underwear, and hygiene items. When the child grows up, then a wonderful transformation of the crib occurs. Some models turn into a fairly spacious and long berth for large children. A chest of drawers can turn into a desk. At first, such furniture looks too bulky, and it costs a lot. But it solves several problems at once.
Extra bed
Some children's beds with sides have an interesting function - one wall is completely removable, and there are also fixtures that allow you to attach the crib to the adult bedroom. It is quite convenient at first for nursing mothers. A newborn needs to be fed every 2-3 hours. Some mothers get tired and eventually take the baby to their bed, where he sleeps with his parents. But in this case, everything becomes crowded, and there is still a risk of falling on the baby with all its weight. Of course, mothers sleep sensitively, but such tragic cases occasionally happen. Therefore, in order to protect the baby from danger, but to make frequent feeding convenient for mothers, such beds were invented. This is a compromise. The child has his own berth, but after a few months he begins to roll over and can get to his mother himself to suckle his chest, and then return to his place.
True, extra beds are designed for newborns, therefore, they are small in size. Such furniture will not be able to serve the baby for a long time. But there was a way out of this - some of them are moving apart and a 3-4-year-old child can fit there.
Traditional crib
Most often, a children's bed with sides has a familiar appearance to many from childhood. Its walls usually consist of vertical battens of wood or MDF. This gives a good air circulation, in addition, if the awakened baby is interested to see what is happening in the room, he will see everything. There are also beds with sides upholstered in fabric. The fabric is soft, creates comfort and is not harmful. But she has her drawbacks. Children often put objects in their mouths. If the cover of the crib does not wear off, saliva will accumulate in it and create a breeding ground for bacteria.
Children grow up, so after a couple of years the parents no longer put the child in the crib - he wants to climb there himself. To make it convenient for the baby to get to his berth and not be tempted to climb over the sides, many of the cribs take out part of the rods, forming a passage for the child.
Many children's beds with sides have a mechanism that allows to rock the baby. This is convenient, but it must be borne in mind that when the child grows up and becomes active, he can swing the crib. Therefore, for the safety of the baby, this furniture should be sufficiently stable. This is achieved if the crib has runners and wheels.
Cot for older children
A children's bed with sides is the most common option. Therefore, such furniture is diverse in the market. Children's beds from a year with sides on the photo show that they differ from cots for babies. In this case, they can be much bolder in design and more diverse. Such cribs most often have solid not very high sides made of wood or MDF, often painted in bright colors. They are different in height - there are ordinary ones, but there are loft beds. They can have several shelves under the mattress, or they can be an option when there is free space below and a desk can be located. This saves a lot of space, however, at such a table it can be a little dark to learn lessons and you will certainly need a lamp. There are bunk beds for two children.
Original design
Children's beds with sides are not only of a standard form. Sometimes they talk about a stormy game of imagination - both those who created them, and the children who will use them. For example, a children's bear bed with a side has a fleecy cover and is decorated on the side with a huge bear face. Furniture for children is not only in the form of animals and other fairy-tale characters. For example, children's beds for boys with sides can resemble different types of transport - car, plane, boat. And options for girls will remind of houses for princesses or flowering meadows. Children are very mobile, which is why bunk beds and loft beds with sports equipment and even slides are also popular. This will be a place not only for sleep, but for outdoor activities, games and sports.
What are the sides?
This part can be solid, but reach a small height. Sometimes the sides can be made of battens to provide adequate ventilation. This usually happens with cots with solid sides. The side can be located in the middle or on one side, so that the child has a convenient passage. This can be seen in the photo of cots with bumpers. A baby bed with soft sides can boast of its safety. The downside will only, as already mentioned, the difficulty of maintaining cleanliness.
Very practical children's sliding beds with sides. The child grows, so his berth increases with him.
How to choose?
Of course, the most environmentally friendly children's bed with wooden sides. In addition, you must pay attention to the safety of the model. For example, when buying an attic bed, you should think about whether the baby is ready to sleep at this height and whether it will fall if he wants to play and inadvertently hangs down. Of course, the side is designed to protect the child, but it is especially effective during sleep, when the child is lying. But if the fidget takes an upright position, one can only hope for his caution.
Photos of children's beds with sides show the whole variety of their colors and shapes. This is already a matter of taste of the parents, and if the baby has grown up, then you can ask him.