As a petite woman, I generally don’t encounter many challenges in life — there’s usually someone taller nearby to lend a hand when needed. However, one significant hurdle that short mothers face is the task of placing their little ones in and out of cribs. It’s a dilemma that often goes unnoticed until you find yourself in a baby store, grappling with the realization that those crib sides seem insurmountably high.
Fortunately, a video captured by mom Lisa Carter, showing her 5’0″ mother attempting to tuck her grandchild into bed, has gone viral on social media. Now, the world can witness this everyday struggle that many short mothers endure.
At 5’3″, I experienced a similar shock during my crib shopping expedition for my twins in late 2008. I couldn’t believe how tall the crib sides were! My mind raced with concerns about safely lowering my babies onto their mattresses. While others reassured me that infants are surprisingly resilient, I had my doubts about the wisdom of dropping them from such heights multiple times a day. Luckily, at that time, drop-side cribs were still permissible.
Ah, the infamous drop-side cribs. For those who may not know, these cribs allowed parents to lower one or more sides, making it much easier to access a sleeping baby. They were convenient and stylish, but ultimately deemed hazardous, leading to their ban by the Consumer Product Safety Commission on June 28, 2011. This ruling was a necessary step toward safety, yet a disheartening blow for shorter parents everywhere.
Since then, many short moms have had to get creative with solutions like using step stools, climbing gear, or even tumbling into the crib, as seen in Carter’s video, which has now garnered over 16 million views. Thankfully, there are cribs with lower side profiles or adjustable mattress heights available. However, for those like Carter’s mother, who are dealing with fixed-rail cribs that tower six feet tall, the struggle remains real.
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In summary, while being a short mom presents unique challenges, humor and creativity often pave the way through these daily adventures.