There are so many things for new parents to worry about…how much and how often to feed, how to split up baby-care responsibilities, what to do when baby gets sick…the list is nearly endless. Almost everything a new parent thinks about or does is geared toward the welfare of their new little one. Given the safety-mindedness that comes with parenthood, I can’t think of many parents who wouldn’t want to do something as simple as adding this crib accessory to their collection of child-proofing supplies. We’ve found it indispensable, and we’re pretty sure you will too! Click here to compare pricing now.
Keeps pets and other nuisances out
While newborns may not at first seem to be the best candidates for a crib tent, if there are pets in the house, particularly cats, snakes or birds, then a crib tent is an ideal solution. This particular crib tent is designed specifically to be pet-proof. While our cats mostly prefer to express their curiosity by standing on their hind legs and peering into the crib, it is a peaceful feeling knowing that if they were ever to get more curious, they couldn’t accidentally smother our daughter. Perhaps more importantly, it is also somewhat kid-proof. I noticed among the Amazon reviews (which give it a solid 4 out of 5 stars) that more than one family has reported that this tent has survived child number one, and is now being used for the new baby as well. Another important consideration for multi-kid households: the tent and netting keep older siblings from sticking inappropriate toys and other items in the crib with baby.
If there are no pets in your house, you might prefer to wait until your child begins crawling and climbing to add a crib tent. While the crib tent can still be helpful by keeping insects at bay, many parents feel that this use alone is not enough to justify the process of unzipping and re-zipping the tent closure every time they put their child down for a nap or the night. Once the child begins trying to climb out of their crib on their own, though, this crib tent becomes an absolute necessity for a child’s safety! There is, however, another argument for introducing the crib tent early. This is because there may be an adjustment period, depending upon the child in question. It seems that once a toddler has become accustomed to being able to crawl out on his or her own, they sometimes dislike the addition of the crib tent. However, this is not always the case; this review in particular
Keeps baby and her toys in
The nice thing about this crib tent as compared to other crib tents and nets, is that it not only has the tent part keeps the child in the crib, but also has netting which fits around inside the crib’s bars, preventing baby from sticking her arms and legs through the bars, as well as keeping her from using the bars themselves for climbing. And of course, even if your child is tall enough to make it “safely” to the ground, it’s never good for a toddler to wander around unsupervised. All in all, the safety aspect alone is enough to make this a worthwhile investment.
More than just safety
Still, there’s more to love here than just the safety aspect! Most kiddos like to be put to bed with a bottle, toys, a pacifier, or any number of other small items. One of the many beauties of the crib tent is that it keeps all of those items in the crib with your child. She can no longer throw her favorite teddy out in a fit of exuberance, nor will you have to worry about endlessly washing a pacifier which has been knocked through the bars and onto the floor. I have to admit, this is the one aspect of the tent’s usefulness that I love more than almost any other!
Other great features
The design of this crib tent allows bumper pads to be used; just insert them between the netting of the tent and the rails of the crib. It can also be disassembled if you wish to take it with you on vacation, though you might want to do this only if you’ll be staying in one place for more than a couple of days. And while there are no tools needed for assembly and disassembly (a major plus), there is a bit of work to getting the thing actually installed. In fact, the biggest complaint among all the Amazon reviews of this product is that it is not easy to install. Still, since installation is a one-time process (unless you plan on travelling with it a lot), and provides months or even years of protection for baby (and loads less hassle for Mom & Dad, as regards picking up thrown toys and whatnot), this minor initial difficulty is strongly outweighed by the many long-term rewards. Just plan on spending an hour or so to get everything taken apart (this involves removing the mattress from your crib, so it can go inside the tent netting) and put back together again, at least the first time; it might take less time with practice, but we haven’t had occasion to travel yet so I can’t say. One other thing: I’ve found that the zipper is a little tough to close at times, but that pushing down on the top of the tent relaxes the tautness of the fabric, and makes this much easier!
The Tots In Mind Cozy Crib Tent II is designed to fit most cribs; it is specifically designed for cribs that have the standard outside diameter of 29 x 54 inches. It is also intended for use on cribs which have four level corners at the top, and this is one complaint voiced by parents who own cribs with high backs. However, clever parents have found ways to adapt the tent so that they can use it easily with the type of crib that has a higher rear side – for example in this photo (originally shared on Amazon) notice how they have used a few simple lengths of string to complete the attachment between the rear side of the crib and the included velcro attachment points. So while having a crib with uneven sides may make the initial installation of this crib tent a bit more of a challenge, reviewers agree that it is one which is pretty easily overcome.
Where is the best place to buy the Tots In Mind Cozy Crib Tent II?
If by “best” you mean “least expensive but still get a new one,” we heartily recommend Amazon. Their prices fluctuate a little, but it’s generally the best cost for a new-in-package crib tent (and I don’t know about you, but I don’t want someone else’s leftovers on an item like this!). They also have great customer service, and of course you’ll get free shipping on this item since it’s over $25!
Where can I learn more about the Cozy Crib Tent II?
Amazon also has dozens of reviews of this great product, so don’t hesitate to head over there to read up on the combined wisdom of hundreds of parents!
Comments