Journal Entry

Rounds Cribs

Round cribs may not be for everyone, but they sure are fun. Many expecting parents opt for a round crib because they’re looking for something a little different in the nursery. Additionally, round cribs can help you to maximize your space efficiency if your nursery has odd proportions, since a round crib can fit just as easily into a corner as up against a wall. Many round cribs come with additional accessories, including canopies and ruffles. Another popular round crib accessory is decorative panels. These are usually optional and can be added by parents to help coordinate a nursery decorating theme.

It may be worth stopping for a moment to point out that a round crib is not the same thing as a playpen. Round cribs are still elevated wooden structures, just like standard cribs, with a mattress, slats, etc. While playpens are round, they rest flat on the floor and have mesh sides. If you’re looking for something that you can get in yourself to play with your baby, you’re probably looking for a round playpen, not a round crib.

As with other cribs, round cribs vary in price quite dramatically. While, on average, they are more expensive than standard cribs due to their specialized nature, we found round cribs for sale online from between $700.00 to $2,300.00. That’s quite a gap! While we definitely recommend setting aside a big chunk of your nursery budget for the crib, don’t lose sight of your spending perimeters. The highest priced round crib model we looked at, the Little Miss Liberty Round Crystal Baby Crib, actually braided plexiglass into the crib’s spindles, with the intention of having the spindles “reflect light for maximum stimulation.” Again, this can be great for some but not for everyone. Round cribs were also available from big name retailers like JC Penny, Pottery Barn Kids and Wal-Mart.

Another thing to consider when buying a round crib is that you will be limiting your choices when selecting crib accessories and bedding. This is not to discourage you from choosing a round crib, since the same manufacturers who make the cribs also provide a wide selection of specially designed accessories that take the crib’s unique shape into account. As we mentioned above, decorative panels that fit onto the crib’s circular curvature are often painted with scenes or bright colors, and these can be alternated to provide more stimulation for your infant. Of course, you’ll need a round crib mattress too. Fortunately, all of the round crib models that we looked at came with the mattress included, since this could be difficult to find on its own. It seems like most manufacturers would be willing to sell the round crib mattresses separately, which is good to know if something happens to your original. The big name manufacturers like JC Penny and Pottery Barn also offer a selection of sheets and other round crib bedding, meaning that you will have some good choices if you do decide to go round.