Journal Entry

Amish Cribs

Decorating the nursery for a new baby can be a fun and rewarding experience for any new parent! It’s a great excuse to re-do an old room and to set the mood for the baby. However, if inspiration doesn’t strike you immediately, you could find the nursery decorating process a bit daunting. Styles range from clean and modern to classic and bright. One nursery style that is currently hot is decorating with Amish furniture, and the centerpiece of any Amish nursery would have to be a solid Amish crib.

There are several prominent Amish furniture retailers located around the US, and all of them seem to carry multiple styles of Amish cribs. Many furniture buyers are turning to Amish furniture craftsman for all kinds of pieces, including cribs, and the Amish’s reputation for quality “Made In the USA” woodwork is catching on all across the country.

Typical Amish cribs are available in a range of woods, including cherry, walnut, oak, maple and hickory. Although these Amish cribs are often available in a many styles, when many people think of an Amish crib they are thinking of what is commonly referred to as a “spindle crib.” These cribs have an “old world” feel to them, and use thin rounded “spindles” inserted vertically in place of wider slats. While the spindles may look delicate, a good Amish furniture house will build a solid piece capable of withstanding any infant. Most furniture houses offer spindle style Amish cribs in both convertible and non-convertible models. Also, these Amish cribs are available with different drop side mechanisms, depending on the buyer’s preference.

Another popular style of solid wood Amish crib is the sleigh crib. These graceful cribs are made up of wide, flat wooden slats. Additionally, the crib posts appear to curve outwards towards the bottom of the crib and then curl at the top, mimicking the form of a traditional winter sleigh. Amish sleigh cribs are available with the same options as the spindle cribs. These sleigh cribs have remained popular because their sleek design means they look great in both traditional and modern nurseries.

Now, putting the irony on hold for a moment, the good news is that Amish cribs are easily available online. Yes, you read that right. Online Amish crib retailers offer competitive prices and good product pictures. However, Amish cribs definitely aren’t cheap; with the average price we found being about $1,400. If you consider that this is a solid, handmade piece of furniture, we actually think that’s a pretty good deal if you can afford it. At the risk of being cheesy, these are the kind of durable cribs you could pass on to your baby one day. Amish cribs are also available from numerous brick-and-mortar locations, and picking one out could be a fun daytrip. Use the internet or ask around at local parenting groups to find an Amish crib retailer near you.