Child Care Cribs Guide

The best infant rooms start with the best baby cribs. Caregivers know better than anybody that cribs are the cornerstone of every infant room, and having the right mix of daycare cribs is critical to your quality of care. Whether you’re outfitting a new facility, upgrading, or expanding capacity, this daycare crib guide will help you demystify the regulations, check all the right boxes, and feel confident about your choices.

Types of Cribs

There are four main types of cribs for daycare: wood, metal, evacuation, and play yards. No matter the types you choose, it is imperative to purchase cribs that are designed especially for daycare centers, as they will provide additional safety, durability, and compliance.

Wood Cribs

Wood daycare cribs have a natural, inviting look that gives your infant room the feel of a home nursery. When choosing a wooden crib, look for models that can easily convert to an evacuation crib (see more on these below) by using an evacuation kit, as well as clear view end panels that provide caregivers a 360° view of a child.

Other important features include a solid steel frame, heavy-duty construction, commercial-grade casters, and a non-toxic mattress that fits securely inside the crib. Don’t forget about teething rails to protect children as well as your investment!

A safe and convenient upgrade from old drop-side cribs is available with models like the Serenity SafeReach. These cribs features an innovative drop gate design that has no pinch hinges and bevel, and requires adult arm span to activate. A compliant drop-gate crib can help to minimize back strain by caregivers and allow quick access to the children under your care.

Metal Cribs

For exceptional durability in a child care setting, you can’t go wrong with steel cribs. Features to look for include a scratch-resistant, non-toxic finish that’s easy to clean and sanitize, commercial locking swivel casters, and a reinforced mattress board for added strength. Foundations metal cribs have a redefined, fresh design, plus all the safety and hygiene features that matter most.

As with any child care crib, easy conversion to an evacuation crib with an evacuation kit is essential. Keep size in mind as well. Depending on the space you have, a compact metal crib takes up less room and is easier to maneuver.

Evacuation Cribs

Giving parents peace of mind that you’re prepared for emergencies is a vital component in gaining and maintaining trust. Federal standards require evacuation cribs comprise 30% of your total number of cribs, and you must be able to verify that all emergency equipment is fully functioning.

The best evacuation cribs allow for the quickest, safest transport. Must-have features include 4-inch commercial casters, handles integrated into the headboard for maneuverability, evacuation icons for easy I.D. by first responders, a solid steel frame for added strength, and capacity for carrying up to five children. The addition of evacuation protocol and evacuation route signs are critical to a successful emergency plan.

Play Yards

Play yards are an option that’s often overlooked. Commercial quality play yards are a durable, safe, and versatile addition to your crib mix. If you need to expand capacity very quickly and perhaps temporarily, play yards are a great choice. They’re affordable, portable, and provide an ideal spot in between feedings and naptime.

Look for a spacious inside surface, extra storage pockets, and a .75” to 1” thick foam mattress. As an added convenience, look for models like SnugFresh Celebrity and SnugFresh Elite that come with a soft micro-fiber cover that can be cleaned and sanitized daily for a fresher, more comfortable space.

The 4 C's of Child Care Cribs

The unique demands of a daycare puts child care cribs in a universe all their own. The best purchases are made when you know what to look for. When purchasing cribs for daycares, they need to meet all compliance standards, be specifically designed to offer commercial durability, and provide convenience for caregivers.

Compliance

Compliance with federal safety regulations is a top priority. Every baby crib in your daycare must meet all current U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and ASTM standards. Cribs manufactured after June 28th, 2011 are considered compliant and don’t require COCs (Certificates of Compliance), but it’s wise to keep them on hand. You can request COCs for all Foundations baby cribs on our website at Compliance Certifications.

The federal regulations adopted in 2011 were sweeping and necessary for child safety. Highlights include the banning of drop-side cribs, more durable wood slats and mattress supports, and anti-loosening devices on all hardware. Third party testing became much more stringent and now covers many more parts of a crib than before 2011.

What can you do as a childcare provider? Make sure every crib in your facility has the date of manufacture on the crib and stay up to date with current standards. The National Center on Early Childhood Quality Assurance and the CPSC are your best bets for the latest info on compliance.

Commercial Quality

The demands made on a baby crib in a childcare center are as tough as they get. Commercial-grade cribs are more than an option to consider -- it’s actually a licensing requirement that baby cribs be unbreakable with normal use, with sturdy construction and heavy duty hardware. . Other features commercial cribs should have include a solid steel frame, reinforced mattress board, and 2-inch or 4-inch swivel casters.

Mattresses and bedding should also be commercial quality. A non-toxic mattress with a natural flame retardant and durable, waterproof cover are required by federal law, and sheets and blankets must fit the mattress securely and be durable enough to withstand repeated washings. Of course, commercial quality should never compromise comfort. Parents count on you to provide their children with a safe, comfortable environment.

Care

Providing additional measures of protection against airborne viruses shows parents that you take the care of their children seriously. Child care centers can utilize crib barriers, like CareShield, that easily attach to coordinating cribs and provide extended protection against viruses during naptime.

When choosing a protective barrier for your daycare, look for models that are made of non-porous materials, extend up higher than an infant standing in a crib can reach, and do not obstruct a caregiver’s view of the children. Watch the video below to see why CareShield by Foundations is the clear choice in protective barriers for commercial cribs.

Convenience

Convenience empowers caregivers to focus more on the children. Whether it’s clear view end panels that allow better visibility, a lower profile that provides quicker access to an infant, bedding that’s easy to change, or portability, convenient crib features make your job just a little bit easier, and that carries over to higher quality care.

Convenience doesn’t just apply to cribs. Products like changing tables with extra storage, glider rockers, quality chairs for feeding and playtime, and commercial-grade strollers for multiples are all important to the level of care you can provide.

Count on Foundations to be your best resource

We want to help you outfit your daycare in whatever way we can. We’ve earned the reputation of being the most trusted name in child care, and we’re committed to living up to it in everything we do. Never hesitate to reach out to us for guidance and help finding the best solutions for you.

Contact us or call 330-722-5033 to learn more about our full line of high quality child care products.