When babies go through a teething phase, the chances are that they would bite their crib, ruining both the piece of furniture and their gums. A crib rail cover is an effective way to protect both your baby gums and the furniture.
A crib rail cover is manufactured from various materials, including soft fabrics, plastic, and rubber that engulf the railing of the cot. It protects your valuable crib from marks, but most importantly, your precious baby from swallowing hazardous pieces of wood like paint chips or splinters.
When using a crib rail cover, you should ensure that you choose the right one to fit your baby's age and needs.
The first step you should take in buying a crib rail cover is to know when your baby will need it. If the baby has grown too old for a traditional crib, you will have no use for a rail cover anymore. On the other hand, if the child is still an infant, then this piece of furniture is vital to his or her security. You can decide that by age alone whether the baby needs a rail cover.
In case your loved one falls into either group, read on and find out how to choose the best one for him or her.
Tips to consider before buying a crib rail cover
There are three main types of materials used in manufacturing a crib rail cover:
- plastic,
- fabric
- rubber/silicone.
The type that's best suited depends on what kind of material your baby uses to teethe on.
- If your infant's main option is the crib railing, then a plastic cover would be the best for him or her. Plastic rail covers are durable and nontoxic, but they tend to be rather tight fitting. However, if you have a child who likes to chew on his or her toys, you should choose a softer fabric or silicone/rubber cover instead. Fabric and rubber/silicone crib rail covers tend to be a little more expensive than plastic ones, but they can easily fit onto almost any type of cot.
- The next thing you need to think about before buying one is whether it's safe enough for your baby. Some children like putting everything in their mouths as soon as they can, so you need to ensure that there are no rough edges on the rail cover. The material the railing is made of should not have any sharp or jagged bits that could injure the child.
- You should also take into consideration whether your baby needs a crib rail cover with padding. While babies might appreciate feeling safe and secure, they would instead want to feel comfortable when trying to sleep. If you think this could be an issue for your son or daughter, make sure the covering has sufficient padding to keep him or her comfortable. This will help prevent any pain in his or her limbs as well as head bumps during nap time. To make it more appealing, choose one with soft materials like fabric or rubber/silicone instead of hard plastic.
- In addition, if your baby suffers from allergies or any respiratory conditions, choose a crib rail cover made from hypoallergenic materials like fabric rather than plastic. The soft fabrics will ensure the child breathes in clean air instead of dust and pollen particles that could trigger an attack.
- Besides the material it's made of, you should also consider the manufacturer while buying one for your son or daughter. Choose established brands that offer excellent customer service. This is vital because you may need to replace the product at some point in time due to wear and tear or damage by baby teeth. You can get in touch with them quickly if the piece doesn't fit properly on your baby's cot, making sure they are available throughout his or her growing stages.
- The last thing to take into consideration is the price and design of the crib rail cover. Although this isn't a necessity, some parents might like embellishing their child's room with cuteness and innocence. You can find many cheap options that your baby will love because they come in bright colors based on his or her favorite cartoon characters like Mickey Mouse or Sponge Bob Square Pants.
Make sure you choose one that both you and your baby feel comfortable with. From there, make sure it fits securely onto his or her cot so it won't budge if he or she decides to shake the railing up and down as hard as possible during nap time.
Besides buying a bumper guard for your baby to prevent entrapment, getting the best crib rail cover for him or her is also an equally important task. Follow these tips and you'll be able to pick the right one that suits your baby's needs.
Fabric crib teething rail cover
Crib teething rail cover manufactured from fabrics are pretty popular among parents. This type of material is best for protecting the cot’s railing and also the kid’s mouth.
You can see that fabric covers come with straps that secure the wrapping to the railing tightly. The straps are usually made from Velcro, durable ribbons, or fabric.
You can find a variety of unique designs and colors that allow you to choose freely, the one that goes well with the overall décor of the crib and baby’s room.
Fabric material would require periodic maintenance due to the drool getting absorbed in the cloth and eventually giving a nasty odor. Sometimes it’s necessary to wash the piece to remove the dirt and also get rid of bacterial infections.
The cover would need proper care in order to retain its softness, look, and functionality for a long time. You can put it into your washing machine with gentle detergents, lukewarm water temperature, and a dryer on a low heat setting.
Fabric covers are typically used by parents whose kids like chewing everything they touch. However, since there is no cushioning material used in fabric bumpers (softer than plastic), you have to use ones made from balloons or inflatable tubes instead of crib teething rail covers if your baby drools excessively during napping or at night time when falling asleep.
Benefits:
- Soft and comfortable for babies
- It comes in various motifs and sizes
Con:
- It slightly hides the crib’s inside view from the side.
Plastic crib teething rail cover
The plastic crib teething rail cover is transparent and doesn’t block the crib’s view. Installing plastic cot covers is super convenient as they easily clutch onto the railing.
However, these covers are as easy to remove as they are to install. If your baby figures out to detach the casing, you can use zip ties to secure them to the cot railing.
Also, a plastic crib teething rail cover doesn’t absorb drools which means the saliva falls directly on the crib-bed and floor. So you’ll need to clean the crib and cot more often than not.
Plastic cover is easier to wash than fabric cover because it doesn’t need pre-treatment with delicate washing and plus, this material won’t shrink, stretch, or lose its shape even after machine washes over and over again.
Benefits:
- It goes well with any crib design
- Easy to install
Con:
- Cleaning drool could be a problem
Rubber crib teething rail cover:
Babies enjoy chewing on rubber compared to plastic due to its soft surface. The rubber crib teething rail cover fits the railing by applying glue on the backside. But, removing the rubber cover would leave sticky content behind that would need immediate cleaning.
The rubber material also doesn’t absorb the baby’s saliva. So, where it would be easy to clean the cover, you would have to pay attention to the crib bedding and flooring.
Benefits:
- Convenient to clean
- Easy to install
Con:
- It does not seal correctly on uneven crib rails
- Tends to detach from the railings often, especially if your baby is able to pull the rubber material by himself. There is no way to avoid this issue.
Crib Teething Rail Cover Buying Guide
Consider the following points to determine which crib rail cover you should buy for your baby.
Saliva trappings
When babies chew, they salivate uncontrollably, which creates cleaning a bit challenging for you. You know that fabric absorbs drools, making the surface moist and creating a risk of mold forming, while the plastic and rubber ones allow it to fall on the floor.
You could look for a crib rail cover with a waterproof feature that prevents the dribble from soaking.
Loops
Some cot rail covers feature loops to hang suitable toys for teething kids to chew on comfortably, avoiding the cover. It would be a good choice for you to consider buying.
Easy to attach
Consider buying a crib rail cover that’s easy to install. Avoid cot rail covers with buttons as they could easily pop off and attract your kid into swallowing them.
Color
You might want to select a lighter color thinking it would go well with the overall crib’s décor but remember a soft tone like white would require high maintenance compared to darker shades.
Final thoughts
You could make a crib teething rail cover using your old swaddle blankets. Just tie them together and encase the entire railing until all portions are secured.
Hopefully, this guide will help you in making a sensible decision.