How to Assemble a Crib

Assembling your baby’s crib is a special event before a new baby comes home. It is important to take your time and put the crib together in a safe manner to keep your baby safe, as a baby’s crib should be like a cocoon of safety for your little one to dream and grow strong. Take care when you assemble your baby’s crib to make sure you look after the little details like ensuring all screws are secure, that there are no sharp edges and that any moving sides are solid to keep your baby safe.

It is equally important to ensure that each piece you are attaching is being assembled in the right order and right direction, to avoid hazardous situations for your little one. While assembling a crib can be frustrating, just keep in mind all the times you will be able to glance at your baby sleeping soundly in the crib you assembled to make the chore into a labor of love. Learn how to assemble a crib on this page.

While it may appear your crib is easy to assemble, it is critical to read the instructions that come with your crib. Some special measures may need to be taken to ensure your crib is assembled safely.

Several crib recalls in the past couple of years have centered around dropdown sides on cribs that had been accidentally assembled by the parents upside down, causing the latches to fail and resulting in injuries or death. This serves as an important reminder that reading directions and following them very carefully to the letter is a crucial part of assembling a crib.

The first time you put together a crib can be a daunting task, mainly from trying to jungle multiple pieces while reviewing instructions. Find a friend, relative or neighbor to help hold pieces together to ensure you are able to put it together in a safe and secure manner that will keep your little one safe.

Unpack your crib from the box and identify each piece. Typically, you will have the following pieces:

1. 2 Side Pieces
2. 2 End Boards
3. Wooden board or slats
4. Screws or other fasteners
5. Wheels (on some models)
6. Crib Mattress

Separate the components into piles to help make it easy to identify and grab the correct pieces while you are assembling your new crib.

Based on your instructions and crib style, follow these general guidelines:

1. Take the back crib side and attach to an end piece with screws or other provided hardware
2. Attach the remaining crib end board.
3. Place the crib bottom (board or slats) and attach with hardware (for a newborn, place at the highest level available).
4. Attach the front side of the crib
5. Install wheels if your crib if appropriate
6. Make sure all hardware and screws are secure and the crib is stable.
7. Place mattress inside completed crib