A safe sleeping environment is one of the most important things to provide for your baby.
I know it’s something that occupied my thoughts a lot in that rollercoaster first year.
Newborn babies are entirely dependent on your good judgement, but do not come with a manual. This can pile a lot of anxiety on new parents eager to do the right thing.
Lowering your baby’s crib mattress as they grow and develop is an important part of keeping them safe. It prevents your baby from crawling or climbing out of their bed.
You should lower your crib mattress to its lowest level once your baby can sit unsupported. This typically happens between five and eight months.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says this is an important part of safer sleep for babies to ensure your baby cannot fall out of their bed and injure themselves.
Most cribs and cotbeds come with three different mattress heights.
You may like to use the middle section while your baby is learning to sit up unaided, and then move to the lowest setting once they have hit this big milestone.
In this article we’re going to to go over everything you need to know about your baby’s crib height.
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When should I lower my baby’s crib?
If you’re wondering about the timeline for when to adjust your crib height, you can follow this rough guide:
- Use your baby’s crib at the highest position until they are three months old.
- Before your baby can sit, lower the mattress of the crib to the level where they cannot fall out either by learning against the side or pulling themselves over.
- Lower the base to its lowest position once they can sit up unaided – usually between five to eight months.
This is based on advice from the AAP and the NHS, both of which agree your baby will be sitting up unaided roughly between five and eight months.
The AAP advises that the most common falls in babies happens when they try to climb out.
Why do you need to lower your baby’s crib?
You need to adjust the height of baby’s crib in order to prevent them falling from the bed and injuring themselves.
The AAP conducted a study on injuries associated with cribs and found the most common cause of injury was fall from a crib.
The study highlighted the need to ensure cribs are used properly at home, with awareness of the dangers a fall from height can pose to babies.
You may choose to have your baby’s crib at the lowest mattress setting from day one.
This can be tricky as bending and stretching down to the mattress to reach them may put strain on your back.
If you’ve had a C-section it could be particularly difficult to pick your baby up from such a low position.
Another reason you may want to start with the mattress at the highest level is that you may find yourself picking them up and putting them down again repeatedly in the early months.
Your baby may be tricky to settle at first, and newborns feed frequently.
It’s not unusual for a newborn to need to feed every one to two hours in between frequent naps.
How to lower your baby’s crib
When you purchase your baby’s crib try to keep the instructions somewhere safe. You could tape them to the bottom of the crib to keep them close at hand!
This will contain the details of how to lower the crib mattress level.
When adjusting your baby’s crib the process to follow will generally be:
- Remove all bedding and the mattress from the crib.
- Check your manufacturer’s instructions to see the exact process for the crib you own.
- Remove one of the fixed sides to get access to the fixings.
- You may need to loosen the sides in order to adjust the height of the base.
- Adjust the base according to the instructions.
- Return all screws back to in place and ensure they are all fitted tightly.
- Check the slats on the base are back in place.
- Place the mattress back into the crib and check the base is sturdy.
When should you remove the sides from your baby’s crib?
The AAP recommends moving your child to another bed – or removing their rails on the sides of their crib if you have an adaptable bed – when they are 35ins (89cm) tall. Or when the height of the side rail is less than three-quarters of baby’s height.
This is likely to be when your child is around age two.
I have an entire article on removing the sides from your baby’s crib right here.
Baby crib safety tips
- When looking for a crib or bed look for one that conforms to safety standards. For cots in the UK they should conform to British Standards BS EN 716 and for cot beds they should conform to BS 8509. This will be stated on the manufacturer’s labelling.
- Drop side cribs have been banned in the US since 2011. British and European safety standards have been changed to require a lock on drop sides in the lowered position.
- Ensure the mattress is the correct size to fit the crib, with no gaps around the sides.
- Additional items such as bumpers, lots of toys, pillows and loose bedding are a suffocation risk. When it comes to bedding stick to lightweight blankets or sleeping sacks.
- Avoid positioning the crib near a window – paying particular attention to window blinds and cords – or right in front of a radiator to avoid overheating.
- The NHS and AAP advise your baby should sleep in the same bedroom as you for the first six months of their life.
Final thoughts on lowering your baby’s crib mattress
I can remember being so excited to get my babies’ beds set up ready for them to arrive!
Both of my little ones used a cotbed – a larger crib that transforms from a crib to a toddler bed and lasted for their first three years.
This came with three mattress heights and was super simple to lower! I can remember actually being excited to lower the level and see my baby grow into their bed.
When it comes to figuring out exactly when to lower your baby’s crib mattress I recommend lowering it just before you think your baby actually needs it. This ensures you’re being super safe.
