- Nursery Articles -
When to Lower Your Baby's Crib
You’ll need to lower the crib a few times as your baby grows. Typically, you won’t need to lower your baby’s crib for the first few months, as long as they aren’t moving around much. The specifics will depend on your little one’s age, height and development, but generally, there are a few stages when you’ll need to lower your baby’s crib:
• When they begin rolling, sitting and/or pulling themselves up
• When they begin standing
• When they are 35 inches or taller
We’ll go over the basics of when to lower your baby’s crib and important things to keep in mind.
Crib Mattress Height
Your baby’s crib mattress height is ultimately for their safety. Keeping it at an appropriate level for their height will help prevent falls. But how do you know when your little one is ready to have their crib lowered?
Before we begin, it’s important to note that our cribs come in varying styles and have either two or three heights. Depending on the thickness of your crib mattress and the factors we’ll cover next, these options will help you adjust your baby’s crib to the perfect height. Always keep your specific crib style in mind and follow manufacturer’s instructions closely.
All of our cribs are built with the highest safety standards in mind and all of our recommendations align with the safety standards of the CPSC and CDC.
Your baby’s age is the first thing to consider. When they’re a newborn to a few months old and not yet rolling or pushing themselves up (typically younger than five months old), keep their crib on the highest mattress level. This will make it easier for you to lift them out of the crib without putting them at risk of falling.
Once they can sit up, roll over or push themselves up to a crawling position, lower the crib to the next lowest position — either the lowest or second lowest height, depending on your crib model. This usually happens in the five- to eight-month age range, but every baby is different, so just keep an eye on them as they grow. Again, this will help keep them safely inside the crib and at lower risk of falling.
Finally, once they can pull themselves up to a standing position, or at least show signs of doing so, lower their crib to the lowest level. This will keep them safely inside the crib for the whole night. Once they’re fully standing and taller than 35 inches, it’s time to graduate to a toddler bed. Many of our cribs are convertible so you can easily transition to a toddler bed; we also offer various styles of toddler beds if you’re ready for something new.
Crib Safety
The height of the crib is one of the main elements to consider for your baby’s safety. Federal regulations surrounding crib height help ensure that cribs sold today meet stringent safety measures.
Like we mentioned, crib safety is our number one priority, so you can have peace of mind knowing that your baby is resting easy. You can take comfort in the fact that all of the following are present when purchasing one of our cribs:
• Child-safe, low-VOC and water-based paints and finishes
• Kiln-dried wood to prevent splitting, warping, cracking and mildew
• Third-party safety testing by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to ensure the safest possible products for your child, from the packing materials to the crib itself
• No sharp corners or edges, or anything else that could snag or pinch
Along with the height of the crib mattress itself, here are some other things to keep in mind for keeping your baby’s crib safe and healthy:
• Choose a crib constructed with organic materials and child-safe, water-based paints and finishes
• Pick out a breathable, organic crib mattress
• Opt for organic crib sheets and be sure to keep blankets and pillows out of the crib
We take crib safety very seriously — know you can rest easy as your baby does.
Crib Mattress Size
Your crib’s mattress is an important part of your baby’s safety. While crib mattresses typically don’t have a major impact on helping you know when to lower a crib, it’s best to keep their thickness in mind.
Standard crib mattresses are 27 ¼ inches x 51 ⅝ inches and no thicker than six inches. This standard was established by the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 and went into effect in 2011. Our crib mattresses range from three to six inches thick, so depending on which one you pick, you may need to accommodate your crib’s height accordingly.
All of our crib mattresses are made with healthy, top-quality materials. Their firm design helps ensure correct body alignment, and with materials that promote air flow, your baby will be at lower risk for suffocation.
Convertible Cribs
Many of our cribs are convertible, meaning they can grow with your baby. Once you reach the lowest height on the crib and your little one is taller than 35 inches, it’s time for a toddler bed.
If you have a conversion kit, that means you’ll swap out the side of the crib for a guardrail. If you have a two-in-one mattress — meaning it accommodates your baby on one side and can be flipped for your toddler on the other — you’re already set and ready for their toddler years.
Knowing when to lower a crib will be a bit different for every situation, so be sure to keep the general guidelines above in mind and follow your crib manufacturer’s instructions closely. From keeping safety top of mind to fitting your nursery theme, having a baby is an exciting time — we hope these tips and advice help you make their early months as safe and healthy as possible.