History of baby cribs

Cribs, being the child’s first bed, have a most interesting history! The word “bed” initially means the place where a person sleeps, originally no more than a hole in the ground. The earliest types of baby cribs were a small rocking or rocking bed known as a crib. It has a long history and was usually one of the first pieces of furniture to be added to a new home.

Before the colonies were colonized by Europeans, Native Americans cradled their babies in a multitude of different styles, almost as diverse as our modern baby cribs. There were bark cribs, leather cribs, lattice cribs, board cribs, basket cribs and many more. The style changed with the geography of the tribe and was influenced by the materials available for construction. Swaddling the baby (wrapping the baby tightly in cloth or fur) was a favorite of many tribes, as this was considered a standard of safety. Many Navajos still use a traditional board crib that swaddles the baby to keep him safe and secure.

The oldest and most common type of crib is the rocking chair, undoubtedly derived from a hollowed-out half log to provide a safe resting place for the baby. It was a simple step to go from the hollowed out log to a box mounted in curved cross sections and one of the favorite baby cribs of the early settlers was characterized by sloping sides and a hooded end made of simple nailed pine boards. There are also examples of cribs that represent “great state beds” for real babies. These beautiful mangers were richly carved and furnished with expensive and elaborate tapestries. Many cribs were designed to be easily rocked, with a mechanical invention claiming that the crib would rock on its own for an hour and a half. The first cribs were made to be placed right next to the parents’ bed, as the bedrooms are actually a later addition to the architecture that came with the ability to heat the house more easily. It is not known if safety regulations were being considered in those early days.

Once the baby was too big for the crib, it became a trundle bed. The name is derived from the usefulness of this bed which was made to easily fit under the parent’s bed and thus save space. The first houses were often one or two bedroom cabins where space was at a premium.

The baby crib emerged as houses got larger, during the 1800s, and could accommodate its size. They were generally home-made and passed from one child to another, as families were quite large in those years. Baby cribs were also passed down from generation to generation as they were constructed from strong, durable wood found locally. If you come across such a crib today, you will marvel at its sturdiness. A recent trip to an antique store while looking for a crib for my new grandson confirmed this. The crib was made of hardwood that had been softened by many decades of hands rocking the crib and gave no indication that it would ever wear out.

The basic shape and design of the crib has not changed much since the 19th century, although we have continual improvement in the design, as well as an ever-increasing demand for higher safety standards. In light of these current safety standards, it became apparent that the beautiful antique crib that I found would better showcase a doll or some beautiful stuffed animals, than to become my grandson’s first bed. There were safety issues including slats too far apart and a headboard design that could be dangerous. We urge parents to be vigilant about safety, both when purchasing a new crib and maintaining an existing crib. The story is fun and interesting, but our priority is keeping our babies safe.

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