If your baby is less than a year old then it is very necessary that you take note of the guidelines that follow in order to safeguard the baby. But even if the baby is older than a year, it is still important to consider these guidelines.

The mattress in the crib must fit properly and snugly inside it. It is never advisable to use a different mattress if it does not fit securely, and instead leaves gaps.

The reason why the snug fit of a mattress is so important is so that there is no chance of your baby becoming stuck in the gaps of an ill-fitting mattress. If the crib you are considering does not come with its own mattress you will need to determine whether you will be able to purchase one.

On the other hand, the used crib you are considering might have a mattress. If so, check that it fits properly with no gaps. Also, if you are going to use a bottom sheet, make certain that it fits the mattress tightly and is meant to be used in a baby’s crib.

Thoroughly inspect the crib’s stability and craftsmanship. Check for loose or missing screws. Also examine the corner posts. These should be no more than 1/16th of an inch high. A higher post is a place where your baby’s clothes could get stuck.

Next, take a very close look at each of the slats. Make sure that none are loose or missing. Obviously, none should be broken. The gaps between the slats should be no wider than a soda can in order to prevent any chance of the baby getting stuck in the gaps.

A very popular feature on many cribs are shapes cut out of the headboard and foot board. You might consider this an attractive feature, however it can prove to be dangerous for the baby, since his or her head and/or legs could get stuck in the cut out shape.

The crib you are considering might have attached mesh. In order to ensure that your baby’s clothes do not get stuck, the holes in the mesh should not exceed a quarter of an inch. Also, it is important that there are no tears and that it is securely attached to the crib with no pieces jutting out.

As long as the crib is not too old it should meet most of these safety concerns as they are government regulated. There is always a chance when buying something second hand that it has been used incorrectly by the first owner or that they have damaged it in some way. If you know what things to avoid and what things to keep in mind then you should have no problem with your used crib.