According to safety regulations, how far apart must cribs be in the infant room?

The requirement for cribs to be separated by at least 18 inches or a solid barrier is grounded in safety regulations designed to minimize the risk of suffocation and injury. This distance ensures that infants are not able to reach each other, which helps control the spread of illness and reduces the potential for one child to accidentally disturb or harm another. The solid barrier further enhances safety by providing an additional layer of protection, preventing infants from rolling or reaching over to another crib and fostering a more secure sleeping environment.

Other provided options do not align with safety regulation standards. For instance, outfitting cribs with bumper pads has been discouraged in many guidelines due to concerns about potential suffocation hazards. Placing cribs close to exits may seem logical for quick access, but it does not take into account the importance of creating a safe, peaceful sleeping area for infants. The requirement for a minimum separation distance is specifically designed to ensure the well-being of children in care settings.