How to Buy for the Nursery One way to make sure the cribs and other furniture you buy for children's centers are safe is to see if they're certified by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association. Susan Dodenhoff, editor of the magazine Juvenile Merchandising, says such products will be clearly marked. So look for gates with openings less than one and one-half inches or that are made of rigid mesh screens. Most children fall from highchairs because they're not strapped into them. Be sure highchairs have sturdy straps and belts, and wide bases for stability.
Some manufacturers sell replacement straps for secondhand highchairs.
Look for tiny mesh netting and slat spaces that are no more than two and three-eighths inches wide. If a secondhand playpen has vinyl-covered top rails, don't use it, because children can bite off and choke on the vinyl. Don't accept second-hand cribs if they don't meet safety standards. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, more infants die each year in crib-related accidents than with any other nursery product. No more than two and three-eighths inches between crib slats.