This month new government safety standards take effect for all cribs sold in the country: The manufacture and sale of cribs with drop-side rails will be banned; mattress supports will be stronger; crib hardware will be more durable and cribs safety will be more rigorous. New research found that almost 10,000 infants were being injured in cribs, playpen and bassinets every year. Here are five other points to bear in mind. 1. Keep the crib bare. A tight fitting mattress sheet is all you need. That means no sleep positioners, blankets, pillows, or stuffed animals. While baby stores tend to display cribs with bumpers, they’re a no-no as well, due to the risk of suffocation. During the winter you can use a sleep sack to keep your baby warm. 2. Lower the crib mattress to the bottom setting as soon as your infant can pull herself up. Falling out was the single biggest cause of crib injuries, according to the research. 3. Put your baby “back” to sleep. Place you baby to sleep on her back, not on her belly, to significantly reduce her chances of sudden infant syndrome (SIDS). 4. Skip the crib tent. The latest word on these much-loved tot-containing contraptions is that they could be a strangulation hazard. Once your child is able to climb out of her crib, it’s time to make the switch to a big-kid bed.