Journal Entry

Baby Cribs

By the time you’re done looking at baby cribs you’ll probably be asking yourself, “Who doesn’t want to sell me a crib??” You will find a wide array of baby crib choices on the market, ranging from the simple to the elaborate and from the affordable to the expensive. The more you gear up for your new baby, the more you’ll see that there are fundamentally two parts to any baby-related purchases you make: safety and design. First, think about what features you might want for your baby crib. You’ll end up picking between drop side cribs, slatted cribs, wheeled cribs and convertible cribs. Your nursery decorating scheme could also help you narrow down your choices, at least aesthetically.

So let’s take a look at some of the crib features that you’re likely to encounter:

First, we have convertible cribs. These are typically more expensive than dedicated baby cribs and they’ll come with a lot more pieces. With convertible cribs, you’ll be able to turn your baby’s crib into a toddler bed or even a full grownup bed. Generally, however, this takes a lot more work than a pull-out convertible couch, so don’t plan on switching these cribs for just one day. Think of this style of crib as future planning for when baby gets bigger. Then think about how realistic that proposition is, or if you’re more likely to buy a new toddler bed. If you anticipate having more than one baby in the house, you’re probably best off buying a dedicated crib and reusing it.

Next, you’ll need to decide how you feel about drop side cribs. Unless it states otherwise, most baby cribs have fixed sides. When you’re checking out cribs, imagine how you’re going to feel putting the baby in the crib. It might sound silly now, but will you be able to clear the sides of a fixed side crib easily? How tall are you? If not, you’ll probably want to get a crib with at least one drop down side. Also, there are various operating mechanisms that you should consider with an eye towards the practical. Some drop side cribs use variations on a foot pedal, while others use a two-handed set of spring clips. Picture yourself holding the baby and operating the two-handed clips, versus operating the foot pedal. Make your choice based on what you think will work best for you.

And finally, don’t forget to check for safety! The good news is that all cribs sold have to meet minimum US government safety regulations. Still, you might want to be careful when buying no-name or off-brand cribs. Slats should be no more than 2 3/8” apart, which should be a little smaller than your fist. Make sure that your mattress fits tightly into the bottom of the crib, and that there are no decorative cutouts on the headboard or footboard. After taking all of these practical factors into consideration, the rest is up to you and your interior decorating eye!