One Alabama mom made us all cackle by posting a video of her mother putting her grandchild to sleep. As many short parents know, baby cribs can be a pain for the vertically challenged. Nikki Sharp Bishop’s mother stands at 5 feet tall, and… let’s just say that the crib got the better of her this time.
Watch the hilarious video here:
In less than 24 hours, the video has gone viral. As of this writing, Nikki’s original Facebook post has over 59,000 reactions and has been shared over 86,000 times!
Thankfully, Nikki’s mother didn’t hurt her grandchild (or herself) when she fell into the crib, but this video wouldn’t have been funny at all if someone had gotten hurt.
Go to the next page for crib safety tips for short parents.
Let’s face it: baby cribs just weren’t designed for short people. Years ago, vertically challenged parents could make use of drop-side cribs, which let parents lower one side of the crib. However, according to Parents, these cribs were responsible for 150 suffocation and strangulation deaths between 2007 and 2010, which led to them being outlawed in the US.
So what are shorter parents to do? Here are some recommendations from Parent.Guide.
1. Buy a baby crib specially made for shorter parents
Unfortunately, finding a crib appropriate for petite folks isn’t that easy. But these cribs are out there! To get you started, Cute & Little recommends looking for cribs similar to Babyletto Modo 3-in-1 Convertible Crib, the Ikea Gulliver Crib, and Graco Shelby. These cribs range from 30.75” to 32.625” tall, making them perfect for short mommies and daddies!
2. Use a step stool
In the video, Nikki’s mother used a stool that was not designed to be stepped on, and so her feet were too close together, making it hard for her to find balance. Shorter parents should use a sturdy step stool that they can easily find stability on, such as a step stool used for aerobics (pictured).
Aerobic step stool, available from Lazada
3. Adjust the mattress
Some cribs allow you to adjust the height of your baby’s mattress so it gets closer to the top of the crib’s railings. However, remember that you need to lower the mattress afterwards as your baby shouldn’t be able to climb over the railings when he stands up.
4. Saw off your crib’s legs
You should only do this if you know what you’re doing (or you could hire a carpenter to do it for you). This will void your warranty, but at least it will make it so much easier for you to reach your baby.
5. Ask your partner to help
If your partner isn’t as short as you, you can simply ask him to handle all crib-related baby duties!
6. Be careful
Shorter parents are at more risk of injuring their backs because of the unusual positions they find themselves in, so be careful when lifting and placing your baby in the crib.
READ: Keep your child safe with these crib safety tips
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