Sleep is an important part of a baby’s routine. Babies need quality sleep to grow properly. Every mother can testify to the importance of a crib, especially for fast-growing babies. A crib is important for babies because it creates a safe and comfortable space for development.
When getting a crib, you need to pay attention to details and make the right choice. The weight restriction on the crib is an important factor you should consider because it will affect its long-term use. The weight limit of a crib is typically 50 pounds.
This post will focus on how much weight a crib can hold, as well as other factors that contribute to weight restriction.
How Much Weight Can a Crib Hold?
The weight limit of your crib is important because it will determine your baby’s safety. The general weight limit for cribs is 50 pounds (although some cribs can support more).
Most babies or toddlers weigh up to 30 pounds, and there are rare cases where babies can weigh up to 50 pounds. Manufacturers call the maximum weight limit 50 pounds because no baby (up to two years old) will reach that weight.
Structure of a Crib
The crib’s structure and the material used in its design contribute to the weight it can bear. A basic crib comprises rails, baseboard, footboard, headboard, and mattress. All these parts should weigh no more than 50 pounds.
Materials Used for Making Cribs
The material used to make your crib will determine the weight limit to a great extent. Most cribs are made from wood or metal because they are strong materials that can bear a lot of weight. Some common examples of wood used in making cribs include Ash, American Beech, Birch, Maple, Oak, Cherry, Pine, and Mahogany.
The strength of the crib depends greatly on the material used in making it. Plywood is a soft wood type with low load-bearing ability. Cribs made out of plywood can support the weight of a toddler. A plywood crib can’t hold a parent and baby simultaneously.
If the crib is made with pine, it can hold the weight of two adults. Cribs made from materials like birch, beech, maple, oak, and ashwood also have a high load-bearing capacity. If you plan to use the crib for more than just your baby, you should use one made with strong wood.
Just because a crib is made with strong wood doesn’t mean it’s perfectly safe. Wood is prone to damage and weakening over time. Your crib can crack as well.
We mentioned that the type of wood affects the weight limit of the crib, which is based on the strength of the wood. We measure wood strength using the Janka rating and have compiled the ratings for some common crib woods.
- American Beech has a rating of 1300, which can hold the average adult weight.
- America cherry has a rating of 950. It is not advisable for weights above 50 pounds.
- Black walnut has a rating of 1010. It is not advisable for weights above 50 pounds.
- Hardwood or sugar maple has a rating of 1450. It can hold an adult conveniently.
- Mahogany wood has a rating of 800. It is not advisable for weights above 50 pounds.
- Yellow birch has a rating of 1470. It can hold an adult and a baby.
- White ashwood has a rating of 1320.
- White oakwood has a rating of 1360.
You can use the ratings provided as a guide when shopping for a crib.
Converting a Crib
We mentioned earlier that cribs are for long-term use, and that you can keep using them as your baby grows. It is important to remember this fact when shopping for a crib because you need to get one that can be adjusted over time.
Recent crib designs make it possible to rearrange the crib into a daybed and full-size bed. To convert the crib into a daybed, bring the mattress to the lowest possible setting and remove the front railing. With these few adjustments, you can create a sleeping area for your toddler.
Some cribs come with a rail guard that prevents your child from rolling out of bed. If the crib doesn’t come with a rail guard, you can buy it separately from the manufacturer or online.
You can use the crib for its main purpose, and it also has a daybed if your child is still within the weight limit. However, if your child has grown beyond the weight restriction, you can convert the crib to a complete bed.
You will need extra tools and parts to convert the crib to a full bed. First, check the instruction manual with your crib to know what you’ll need. Also, since your child has passed the weight limit, you’ll need to make up using stabilizer bars.
Crib Safety Guidelines
Certain guidelines must be followed in every crib. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission created these guidelines to protect your child inside the crib. Let’s look at these guidelines.
The first guideline sets a distance between the corner’s post and slats. The distance between the corner post and slat shouldn’t be more than 2.375 inches. This regulation prevents your baby’s hands and legs from getting stuck.
Another guideline states that the mattress must be a perfect fit. When you place the mattress in the crib, there should be no space between the mattress and the crib wall.
Furthermore, the crib must be sturdy after installation. You can check the sturdiness of the crib by shaking it, and if it feels shaky, you need to take another look. Also, check the user manual before you try to assemble the parts.
The guidelines also regulate the height limit of the crib. The guideline regulating height prevents your baby from falling out or crawling out of the crib. The regulation states that the crib must be converted into a toddler bed once your child meets the height restriction of 35 inches.
This rule is there because children up to 35 inches tall can get out of the crib.
Note that there are cribs that allow different mattress levels. The first level is the highest, and the mattress is closer to the top. The first level is suitable for newborns up to 5 months old because they are in no danger of standing and falling out of the crib.
The next level is the middle level. The middle level is suitable for babies that can only sit up, usually around eight months. The last level allows for more standing space and is used for toddlers. However, you must get a toddler bed once your baby is up to 35 inches.
Overcoming the Weight Limit
Most times, people worry about the weight limit because they want to share the crib with their kids. We wouldn’t advise that you get inside of a crib.
Some alternatives will permit you to share the bed with your baby, and we’ll look into them now.
Floor Crib
Making a floor crib allows you to share the bed with your baby without weight restrictions. A floor crib is similar to a normal crib, except the mattress is on the floor. You don’t need much to set a floor crib; all you need is the crib mattress and a baby-safe barrier. The barrier prevents your baby from rolling out of the crib.
Using a floor crib eliminates a lot of stress and can also be used until your child is grown. With the floor crib, you don’t have to worry about your child falling from the crib. You also don’t need to get extra parts to support the crib as your baby grows.
Also, a floor crib opens up much space for you and your baby. You can easily get more mattresses to increase the surface area of the crib.
Co-sleeping
Co-sleeping is one of the most employed methods by parents. In the co-sleeping method, you place the crib next to your bed. This way, you can easily tend to your baby’s needs.
However, this method has an effect in the long run. Your child will be used to sleeping in your room. You will need to retrain your child to sleep alone once they’ve grown, which can affect your time with your partner.
If you’re going for the co-sleeping technique, ensure you get a crib that is way bigger than your baby. Getting a bigger crib is important because your child will grow rapidly. If the crib is the same size as the baby, it will be smaller after a few months.
Bed Sharing
This last method involves sharing your bed with your baby. This method is not our first choice because it is not safe for the baby.
Conclusion
Babies need a safe space to sleep and grow, and the crib is the perfect tool. The weight limit is an important factor you should consider when getting a crib.
How much weight can a crib hold? The weight limit on a crib is 50 pounds. If you want to share the bed with your baby, we’ve looked at ways you can bypass the weight limit. If you need more information on caring for your baby, visit us here.
