How can I make over an old crib to be safe to use?

Do you have a picture of the old crib?

If you are handy- you can DIY or find a woodworker in your area to add more rungs!

There are safety reasons old cribs can't be donated to Goodwill, etc. Saying this, I did use the old "family" crib for both my kids but there are things that must be checked.

• First, the crib slats must be a minimum distance apart. "Safe slat distance: The distance between slats must be no more than 2-3/8 inches (6 centimeters) to protect infants from falling out and toddlers from trapping their heads between the slats."
• " Pediatricians recommend that parents do a two-finger test to ensure that there is no more than a 1 1/4 inch gap between the mattress and crib. All crib mattresses must not exceed 6 inches in height when measured from seam to seam."
• The Consumer Product Safety Commission has banned drop side cribs. Yours likely has one so that would need to be immobilized.
• Mattress supports are now required to be stronger than yours is.
The crib should not have any decorative cutouts in the headboard or footboard so a baby’s head cannot get trapped.Corner posts should not stick out any higher than 1/16th inch above the headboard and footboard (unless the posts are over 16 inches for a canopy). A baby can become strangled if their clothes catch on the corner posts.Top rails of crib sides should be at least 26 inches above the top of the mattress support when the mattress support is in its lowest position.Paint should not be cracked or peeling. Cribs constructed before 1978 may pose a lead paint hazard. Checking for lead cannot be done through visual examination and requires a lead paint test kit.

Crib standards that went into effect on June 28, 2011, visit their Crib Information Center.

http://www.narts.org/files/pdf/SafeCribGuidelines_BW.pdf

https://www.verywellfamily.com/is-your-antique-crib-safe-293990

Safety first, especially with a baby! Why not re-purpose it into a bench for outdoor or porch use ( clean, sand, paint, lots of pillows.

Old crib sides can also be used as laundry drying racks.