History Of Baby Cribs
By Ursula Ansbach
Baby cribs, being the child’s first bed, have a most interesting history! The first types of baby cribs were a small swinging or rocking bed known as a cradle. Before the colonies were settled by Europeans, Native Americans cradled their babies in a multitude of different styles, almost as diverse as our modern baby cribs. There were bark cradles, skin cradles, lattice cradles, board cradles, basket cradles and many more. Swaddling (wrapping the baby tightly in cloth or skins) was a favorite of many tribes since this was seen as a safety standard. Many Navajos still use a traditional board cradle that swaddles the baby to keep it safe and protected.
Examples also exist of cribs that represent “great beds of state” for royal babies. These fancy cribs were richly carved and furnished with elaborate and costly hangings. Many cradles were designed so they could rock easily, with one mechanical invention claiming that the cradle would self rock for an hour and a half! Once the baby was too large for the cradle it graduated to a trundle bed. The name is derived from the utility of this bed which was made to fit easily under the parent’s bed and thus conserve space. The baby crib came into existence as homes became larger, during the 1800′s, and could accommodate their size. Baby cribs were also passed on through generations since they were constructed of solid, durable wood found locally. If you run across such a crib today you will marvel at its sturdiness. The basic shape and design of the crib has not changed much since the 19th century although we have an ongoing improvement in design as well as an ever increasing demand of higher safety standards . We urge parents to keep a close eye out for safety, both when purchasing a new crib and to maintain an existing crib.
You may want to check out my other guide on Top 10 Baby Stroller Safety Tips for Parents and BOB – Sport Utility Stroller D’Lux
