So many changes take place during your baby’s first year of life, including their sleeping arrangements. Your baby will hit different milestones, so it’s important to know just when to lower their crib mattress height.
We’ll show you some crib safety practices to keep your baby safe while they sleep, plus we’ll give you a recommended crib mattress option. After reading this article, you’ll know when it’s time to lower your baby’s crib and how to do it.
Here at Newton, we care about your baby’s sleep. It’s our top priority! So our experts share all the details when it comes to the best sleep practices.
Key Takeaways
Table of contents
- Crib safety
- Why and when to lower the crib
- How to lower the crib
- The next step: Toddler bed (and sleep training)
Crib safety
Before you decide to grab your tools to start lowering your baby’s crib mattress, there are some important safety considerations to know. Here are some things to keep in mind when it comes to keeping your little one safer in their crib.
Make sure your crib and mattress are safe.
Because your baby sleeps so much during the day and night, it’s particularly important that anything in the nursery, especially the mattress and crib, is safe and follows the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) regulations.
For instance, according to the CPSC, standard cribs must have interior dimensions of approximately 28 ⅝ inches wide by 52 ⅜ inches long, and have fixed side rails (no drop-sides), with slats no more than 2 ⅜ inches apart.
As for crib mattresses, CPSC regulations require that mattresses fit snugly in the crib, leaving minimal gaps (general rule of thumb is no more than a two-finger gap on any side). Also, crib mattresses should be firm in order to minimize the risk of suffocation.
It’s also important to look for products that are UL GREENGUARD Gold Certified for low chemical (VOC). By choosing a Newton crib mattress, you can be sure that your baby is sleeping on a firm, breathable, washable mattress that is UL GREENGUARD Gold Certified for low chemical (VOC) emissions.
Keep crib instructions on hand.
You should also keep your crib’s instructions somewhere close to the crib so that when it’s time to lower the mattress, you’ll know exactly how to do it. You might place the instructions under the crib mattress itself, so they’ll be within reach when the time comes.
Bare is best.
The only things in your baby’s crib should be the mattress, a fitted sheet, and your baby. That means no blankets, pillows, stuffed animals, toys, or crib bumpers, as these are suffocation and entrapment hazards.
Once your baby turns one year old, you can introduce a blanket. In the meantime, a swaddle or sleep sack can be used to keep them comfortable as they sleep. That said, it’s important to stop swaddling once your baby shows signs of rolling over, which is usually between two and four months.
Place baby to bed on their back.
According to the AAP, babies should always be placed on their backs for every sleep until their first birthday. Only place them on their stomach when they’re awake and supervised, like for tummy time.
Practicing tummy time during the day will help strengthen their neck muscles so that they’ll be able to roll over on their own. Once they can independently roll both ways, you can allow them to remain in the position they choose after they’re asleep, but always start off by putting them down to sleep on their back.
Room-share, but don’t bed-share.
Although it is unsafe to place your baby in bed with you, sharing a room is strongly encouraged. Room-sharing has been linked with safer sleep and is great for bonding. In fact, the AAP recommends room-sharing without bed-sharing for at least the first six months of your baby's life.
Newton’s 4-in-1 Nest Crib makes room-sharing easy! You can build it as a bedside bassinet to begin, and then convert it into a full-size crib and place it in your baby’s nursery. Once they’re ready, the Nest becomes a toddler bed and even a junior bed.
Why and when to lower crib
You might be wondering why you need to lower the crib in the first place. Once upon a time, there were drop-side cribs, where the tall side rails came down, allowing you to put your baby in and out of the crib. However, these were outlawed back in 2011 for being unsafe.
Since then, crib manufacturers have changed the way they make cribs, now requiring you to adjust the base of the crib itself based on your baby’s growth.
The main reason for lowering your baby’s crib is to keep them safe. As your baby grows, so does their range of movement. This means your baby can move around a lot more in their crib rather than just lie there and sleep (a lot!) like they did when they were a newborn.
For example, the highest setting is generally appropriate for newborns, but always follow your crib manufacturer's instructions and lower the mattress as soon as your baby reaches the relevant developmental milestone, such as pushing up on hands and knees, regardless of age.
This setting makes it easier for you to get your baby in and out of the crib, which is super important because you’ll be doing it a lot during the first few months!
At this height setting, there’s less strain on your back because you’re not having to lean all the way over the side of the crib. This is also a good height setting for when you’re transitioning your little one from a bassinet to a crib.
The highest setting is best to use on babies who are younger than five months old. However, once your baby meets certain milestones, it’s no longer safe to keep their crib at the setting it was in when you first brought them home from the hospital.
While there’s no exact right time when you should lower your baby’s crib, factors like your baby’s age, height, and development can help you determine a good time to do it.
Note: Always lower your baby’s crib when they start sitting up and standing up.
When your baby starts pushing up on their hands or sitting up
As soon as your baby starts to push up on their hands and knees, consider lowering their mattress. Because you know what’s next: sitting up!
When your baby starts sitting up, it’s like a whole new world for them! They can see things in a different way (rather than just looking from the ground up), and they can reach and grab toys on their own now!
It really is an exciting milestone for the entire family. But it can also be a dangerous milestone if you’re not paying attention, at least when it comes to their crib.
Babies tend to start sitting up unassisted anywhere between five and eight months old, so this is when you need to lower their crib to the middle setting.
When your baby starts pulling up
Pulling up is a little different than sitting up. If your baby is sitting up, they’re not really able to pull on the sides of their crib just yet. But once they do start pulling up, it’s time to lower the crib to the lowest height setting.
Your baby’s muscles are growing, which is a cause for celebration! However, this also means they can topple over the edge once they start pulling up on the side.
And what about climbing? This might be the time when your little one is trying to climb out of their crib, which is a safety hazard. When this happens, it’s definitely time to move those settings!
When your baby is taller than 35 inches
Your little one is growing right before your eyes. And before you know it, they’re about three feet tall! That’ll catch you off guard when their yearly visit rolls around.
If they’re creeping toward the three-foot mark in terms of height, it might just be time to transition them to a toddler bed. Transition your child out of the crib when they reach 35 inches tall, begin climbing out, or reach the crib manufacturer’s stated limit, whichever comes first.
The good news is you can still use their crib mattress for their toddler bed. In fact, the Newton’s Crib Mattress grows with your little one!
Don’t forget about an Extra Crib Mattress Cover during the potty training stage. Mattress covers are great to have on hand for a late-night accident!
How to lower the crib
When lowering your baby’s crib, it’s important to look at the instructions and follow them exactly.
Generally, you’ll remove the bedding and mattress from the crib first, unscrew the bolts that hold the baseboard into place, lower the baseboard to the next level down, and then screw the bolts back in. It’s important to always use original parts.
Remember, these are generalized guidelines to give you a sense of what you’ll need to do, but the manufacturer's instructions that come with your specific crib are what should be followed.
Once you’re done lowering the crib mattress and you’ve placed it back in the crib, press firmly on the mattress to ensure that it feels sturdy and properly installed.
The next step: Toddler bed
As we explained, you’ll know it’s time for the toddler bed if your little one’s crib is on its lowest setting and your baby is trying to climb out or is over 35 inches tall.
A toddler bed can be as simple as the same crib they’ve been sleeping in with a conversion kit installed, giving it two or four lower sides (depending on whether it’s a regular bed or daybed style). Alternatively, it’s a whole new piece of furniture.
Transitioning to a toddler bed is often harder for the parents than the child, now that your little one has free rein to get up and down as they please. In a nutshell: it’s time to begin sleep training if you haven’t already.
Here are a few tips that will help you as you move your little one from a crib to a toddler bed.
Toddler-proof the room.
Toddlers left to their own devices are famously rambunctious (terrible twos, anyone?), so it’s important that you secure the furniture and remove any cords that could be hazardous.
You should also make sure that any windows in their room have window guards and that the room has a working smoke alarm and CO detector.
Maintain routines.
Your child may have had a bedtime routine up until now, and it’s no time to stop. The familiar sequence of steps that has helped your little one wind down and feel secure is even more important now that they can get up at any time.
Make it feel familiar.
Keep some things consistent from your toddler’s old crib, like sheets or a blanket, so that it still feels familiar. This will help your child feel more comfortable with the change.
Keep your toddler involved.
Consider also letting your toddler choose something new to commemorate this rite of passage.
Perhaps freshen up their duvet with a new “big boy or girl” pattern, add a special pillow, or let them choose a new stuffed animal companion. Being involved will make them feel invested and proud of their new bed.
Transition gradually.
When your child transitions from a crib to a toddler bed, you’ll want them to do so gradually. Start by introducing the bed during nap times before tucking them in for a full night’s sleep.
Stay calm and be patient.
Getting a big boy or girl bed is a true mark of independence, but it can take a little time for everyone to get used to the change. Stay calm and be patient. Once the excitement has passed, your child will be snoozing away like a champ in their toddler bed!
A great night’s sleep at every age
A good night’s sleep is necessary for everyone in your family. If you’re up at night worrying about your little one (what parent doesn’t do this at some point?), you won’t be able to sleep well. That’s why we’re here to share when to lower the crib for your baby and give you peace of mind.
Remember: The highest setting is ideal for newborns, but when your little one starts sitting up, it’s time to move their crib to the middle setting. And when they start pulling up or standing up, the lowest setting is likely the best choice.
If your not-so-little one starts climbing out of their crib, start transitioning them to a toddler bed.
You can help your baby sleep well in their crib by having it on the correct height setting and by using Newton’s Crib Mattress. Now everyone can get a good night’s sleep!
Frequently asked questions
Is it okay for a three-year-old to still be in a crib?
Yes, as long as your child hasn't reached 35 inches tall, isn't climbing out, and hasn't exceeded the crib manufacturer's height or weight limits.
Some sleep experts believe that waiting to transition into a toddler bed longer is better, as when children are older they’re better able to understand bedtime rules and routines.
Is it safe to lower a crib mattress to the floor?
It’s only safe to lower a crib mattress to the floor if the crib is specifically designed to do so and the manufacturer explicitly includes this in the instructions.
You should never just place a mattress on the floor within a crib frame on your own, as it can create gaps that are entrapment or suffocation risks or could cause the crib to be structurally unstable.
Does a toddler need to transition to a toddler bed or can they go straight to a regular bed?
Whether your child moves from their crib to a toddler bed or a twin bed is up to you. Toddler beds can be more familiar because they are the same size as the crib, are low to the ground, and are designed with a toddler in mind.
A twin bed, on the other hand, is longer-lasting and makes snuggling easier, but it can feel like a bigger transition due to the bed’s larger size.
