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The Evolution of the Modern Baby Crib

Read About the Evolution of the Modern Baby Crib

Around 1620 the first baby cribs were created. The original crib’s design closely resembled a food trough, typically made from hollowed-out logs. The exterior sides of the crib were built to be just high enough so that children couldn’t get hurt by either falling or climbing out. Even in the early days of the crib’s existence, it was important that they allowed babies a safe place to sleep.

Still, the crib’s design had a long way to go in terms of child safety. Around the 19th century, real improvements were made, and cribs began to more closely resemble bassinets' design.

Two key features cribs borrowed from bassinets are that they were designed to be raised above the ground, which helped keep babies off the cold floor, and the height of the sidewalls increased substantially. Once they realized the added benefits, crib craftsmen were quick to switch over to making taller sidewalls that would make it more difficult for babies to get out of their cribs.

The Main Changes in Baby Cribs Over Time
History of Safety Standards for Baby Cribs

In 1973 Federal standards were released. for the first time, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a set of federal standards for crib safety. As explained in the New York Times article from the same year, titled "Safety Standards for Cribs are Proposed by FDA”, the proposed regulations would prohibit spacing of slats more than 2 3/8 inches apart, prohibit excessive space between the mattress and the crib frame, require elimination of all mechanical hazards, and require safe locks for drop sides.  

ALMOST 30 YEARS LATER

In the late 1990s, the convertible crib was introduced saw the introduction of the convertible crib. Convertible cribs are designed to last from infancy to pre-teen by allowing the user to switch the crib to a different orientation. Not only does this save families more money in the long run, it also prevents more furniture from ending up in landfills.   

The most popular iteration of the convertible crib is the 4-in-1 model, which can adjust to become a toddler bed, day bed, and full-size bed. Usually, the toddler bed guard rails and full-size guard rails that allow you to convert the crib are sold separately.  

(To view Child CraftTM’s selection of 4-in-1 cribs, click here.) 

2010 in baby crib history was a big year for the crib. In December, a new set of crib safety standards were released by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CSPC). These five requirements have applied to all cribs sold in the United States since June 2011.

Traditional drop-side cribs cannot be made or sold; immobilizers and repair kits are not allowed

Wood slats must be made stronger to prevent breakage

Crib hardware must have anti-loosening devices to keep it from coming loose or falling off

Mattress support must be more durable

Safety testing must be more rigorous

The Crib of TodayThe evolution of the baby crib has been quite remarkable. Though many of the original features of the crib remain, designers have made new and unique additions. Features such as convertibility, adjustable mattress heights, portability, and clear panels have become increasingly popular since the start of the 2000’s. There are more options than ever for parents to find the crib that is right for them and their family.   

With the way things are innovating now, who knows what the cribs of 2030 will look like? One thing is for sure, here at Child CraftTM, our cribs will continue to be safe, innovative, and stylish. By using high-quality materials and thoughtful manufacturing, we have products that will stand the test of time for generations to come.  

If you have questions about any of our cribs, feel free to call us at (330)-723-0599, email us at [email protected], or visit our Contact Us page to complete our web form.  

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