If you’re browsing over a number of cribs at a shop, give each crib a shake test because this will give you a feel of how strong the crib is no matter what material the it’s made of. Safety is the most crucial feature of cribs. Check out that the railing slats should be less than 2 inches. Cribs do have dropsides, which when lowered should be at least nine inches from the mattress support and 26 inches above when raised. Ensure that the dropsides are fixed and locked in place and don’t easily detach.

The crib mattress should feel comfy and fit securely with a one-inch allowance from the crib sides.

Cribs can be made of metal or wood, and they can be standard, convertible, canopy, and round. Convertible cribs can save you from buying a toddler bed in the future, while a round crib is a popular choice for new parents.

Inspect the material so to find out if there are loose splinters, peeling paint, and sharp protrusions.

If you’re after wheeled cribs, opt for those with wheel locks, which allow cribs to stay in place when you don’t need to move the crib.

Please avoid buying second hand cribs because they may be too old and obsolete. There’s new government policy for cribs. Old cribs may contain lead paint and have slats that are wide apart. In other words, old cribs are likely to have safety problems.

Choosing to buy items for your upcoming baby should be done at the right time, when you still can roam around stores and find baby stuff. If you do it too late when you’re tummy has grown too big, you might find it cumbersome to walk around.

Shop for baby garments in advance. Some pregnant moms do the shopping at least 3 months before the expected date of giving birth. This is usually exciting because it’s part of your anticipation of your soon to be family member. Since babies need a good deal of stuff, you may want a little help from friends and family. Shopping several weeks before the expected delivery saves you from much hassle after childbirth, after which you would be needing lots of supplies of diapers, washcloths, towels, rompers, nightgowns, baby socks, and blankets. Once you have determined the sex of the unborn, you can decide on the right color for socks and clothes. All these items can be bought weeks before the expected childbirth date, as these are non-perishable items anyway.

For first-time would-be moms, it’s important to come up with a list of infant must-have items.

You should also have a supply of baby care products at hand beforehand. Included are baby bathtub, baby wash (shampoo and body wash), and baby lotion.

Newborns feed on milk, and you cannot always do the breastfeeding, so you need infant milk formula and feeding bottles. You also need breastfeeding pillow, sterilizer for milk bottles and pacifiers, bottle brush, and even breast pads. You can opt to purchase infant formula milk sometime later as these products come with expiry.

Other important items you should buy well before giving birth are nursery stuff. A crib is basic. Otherwise you’d have nowhere to put your baby into. Also worry about crib mattresses and beddings, and make sure you have several pieces of these because you will need to replace them several times in a day.

If you think carrying a baby in your womb is tough enough, well, caring for a newborn is even tougher. But if you have everything you need before giving birth, being a mom of a newborn is going to be easy.