The History of Cribs

From the 1600s to the 1800s, babies in America slept in hollowed-out logs, simple pine rockers, or in bed with their mothers. In the early 1900s, parents began to use elevated cribs to keep babies away from the cold ground. Wicker cribs were common and iron beds were considered the most sanitary option, as they protected babies from bed bugs and other critters, but unfortunately, they often exposed children to lead paint and other toxic materials. In the 1920s, baby cages became popular; Eleanor Roosevelt even hung a chicken wire cage out the window for her child to nap in. In the 1950s, cribs began to resemble modern iterations, but there were no safety precautions in place. In 1973, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission developed the first federal crib safety standards. Then in 1987, Graco invented the Pack N’ Play, a portable crib/baby bed that made sleeping on the go more convenient. In the 1990s, Stokke introduced a crib that could be converted into a bed for a child up to the age of 10. In 2010, new safety guidelines were introduced requiring all cribs to comply with national safety standards. Today, there are a variety of bassinets, co-sleepers, traditional cribs, and space-saving mini-cribs on the market for parents to choose from.