Infant bed
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
An infant bed (commonly referred to as a cot in British English and a crib, cradle or stock) is a small bed specifically for infants, generally up to 3 years old.
Infant beds are most common in North America, Europe, and Australia. Many people in these countries, and in other parts of the world, do not use separate infant beds, and instead co-sleep (babies sleep in the same bed as the parents).
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[edit] Health
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Please help improve this article or section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page. (January 2009) |
There is conflicting belief and advice on the use of infant beds versus co-sleeping.
[edit] Use
An infant bed is typically used after it is no longer safe to leave the baby in a bassinet. Infant beds are more stable than bassinettes and become desirable when a baby can roll. They have a lower center of gravity, a broader base of support and can hold a larger baby than a bassinet.
Placing a child into an infant bed can put strain on a caretaker's back. To reduce the strain on those operating an infant bed, many infant beds feature:
- a mattress that can be in a raised position until the child is able to sit upright.
- a dropside, a side which lowers to ease the process of putting the child into the bed, but can be raised again to restore the integrity of the enclosure.
[edit] Design
Infant beds are designed to restrict the baby to the bed. The sides are too high for a baby to climb and provide no footholds. The thinking behind this design is that upon waking, the baby will return to sleep rather than roam around the house. To improve the reliability of the confinement, a top (solid or fabric) may be added to an infant bed.
Infant beds that can be converted into a standard sized bed as the child grows larger have become increasingly popular; see also toddler bed.
Infant beds can be stationary or portable (portacots). In their portable form the beds generally don't feature a dropside, and portability factors are emphasised. Portacots are often made from plastics, are often smaller and fold into a compact package.
Design standards for infant beds include considerations such as preventing hand and head entrapment. Research has shown that the mattress influences SIDS outcomes; a firm mattress lowers SIDS risk.[1]
Larger infant beds are manufactured, generally for hospital use or for those with special needs. They may include a top, generally made of plastic or metal, to prevent a child from climbing out.
[edit] History
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Please help improve this article or section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page. (January 2009) |
Infant beds became widely popular in the 19th century.[citation needed]
[edit] Prevalence
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This section requires expansion. |
See discussion at co-sleeping.
[edit] See also
[edit] Alternatives
- Co-sleeping, alternative to infant beds
- Bassinet, a common precursor bed for babies
- Toddler bed, a common subsequent bed for toddlers
[edit] Related devices
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Crib Safety Guidelines
- CPSC crib safety standards
- Crib safety information from Seattle Children's Hospital.
