Safety alert: Mothercare issues recall of cribs

Mothercare has issued a recall notice for some of its Hyde Cribs due to a safety risk. On affected models, the base could detach from the frame, potentially injuring your childand allowing them to get out of their crib.

This safety issue only applies to cribs with batch dates from January 2017 to November 2017. All earlier batches are unaffected.

Read on to find out how to determine whether you have a faulty crib. If you do, you should stop using it immediately.

What to do if you have a Mothercare Hyde Crib

To find out if you have a recalled Mothercare Hyde Crib, check the batch date on the crib's base.

You should also be able to tell whether your crib is a potential risk by checking the bottom rail (pictured above). Look at the blocks the crib base sits on. If the bottom rail is longer than the top rail - as seen in image B - then your crib poses a safety risk, and you should stop using it immediately.

All faulty cribs will be fully refunded by Mothercare, but to get the refund, you'll need to return it to a Mothercare store.

If you have any questions, you can call Mothercare on 0344 875 5122 or email hydecribenquiries@mothercare.com.

Cribs and cot bed safety

When it comes to the safety of your baby, including their sleeping environment, you can never be too careful.

Make sure the crib or cot bed is placed away from any obvious danger - for example, not underneath a hanging frame, particularly one containing glass or a mirror.

Any power cables should also be kept well out of reach, as they could be a strangulation hazard.

Babies should never sleep next to a radiator or in direct sunlight either. Nor do they need especially warm rooms, so all-night heating is rarely recommended.

Find out more by visiting our guide tousing a cot safely.

You might be tempted to buy a second-hand cot, or get one from friends or family, to save some cash. However, to avoid any safety risks, there are a few things you need to consider first:

• Make sure you have the instructions - either the original print copy, or a digital version from the internet.
• Don't use any mattress included with the second-hand cot - you won't know how old it is or what it's been through. It's important to buy a new mattress to ensure your child's body is properly supported.
• Find out whether the cot passes British and European safety standards by checking the BS number.
• Don't use an old family heirloom. Despite all sentimental value it might have, it probably won't meet current safety standards.

Crib vs cot beds

If you're looking to buy a bed for your baby, you might want to consider a cot bed as opposed to a crib. That's because cot beds will last longer as they can be turned from a cot into a bed when your child gets older. Many will last until your child is nine years old.

Cot beds are generally a little bigger than cots, so you'll need to factor that into your decision. If you're thinking of having more than one child quite close together, a cot might be more suitable for the new baby and a single bed for the older child.

As your child grows, regularly check that the joints are solid and that the bolts are still firmly screwed in place. Also look at the slats for signs of cracking and damage.

For more on what to need to consider when looking for a crib or cot bed, read our guides to buying the best cot and thebest cot bed

How we test cot bed safety

We test all cot beds for both safety and durability, to make sure they are compliant with safety regulations. This involves checking the bed base to identify any risks, and seeing how it holds up when your child jumps up and down on it.

To simulate this, we pound the base with a 10kg weight 1,000 times, both in the middle and at the end of the cot bed. If the slats survive that, we test what would happen if a bigger, older child did the same, by pounding a 20kg weight on it 1,500 times.

We also test each cot to see whether there are any traps that your baby could hurt themselves on, how easy it is to assemble and use, and how easily it can be converted into a bed for an older child.

To see all the cot beds with our stamp of approval, read our cot bed reviews.