Shopping for a baby crib can be frustrating. When I first went through it I was shocked at how many types and choices there were. Convertable, 3 in 1, drop front, 3 position, and on and one. Not to mention colors, wood stains, and thematic cribs. We're here to help...
Before You Go Shopping
There are some simple things you should get straight before you go to shop for a baby crib. This will save you time as you browse...
- What color do you want? Eliminate the vast majority of choices when you settle on a color. For example, if you want a cognac wood finish, use that in your search to weed out all the white, black, and natural stains.
- How tall are you? How tall is your wife/husband? This is important because if you are under, say, 5'4", then you'll want to consider a drop-front model. When baby is 1 year to 18 months old, reaching over the top of a crib can be very difficult for the "vertically challenged!"
- Do you need extra space? Many cribs come with storage drawers underneath. This can be handy, but watch out for quality! Sometimes, these drawers can be rather flimsey - you may be better off skipping this option.
- Plan on a budget. It is EASY to spend over $1000.00 on a crib if you don't know where to look. We have selected quality cribs that won't cost an arm and a leg, but are made by reputable builders and sold by merchants with no-nonsense return policies.
Types of Baby Cribs
Here are some basic types of baby cribs you'll find: The 3 in 1 baby crib, the drop-front crib, and the standard crib.
The 3 in 1 crib is probably the most popular, judged by the number of options. Here is the "3" part of the 3 in 1 - The crib will convert to a day bed, by dropping the mattress to the lowest position and removing one side panel. Now you have and open-sided day bed.
A 3 in 1 also converts all the way to a toddler bed. Remove both front and back panels, put the mattress into the middle position, and turn the crib longways, and POOF! You have a toddler bed.
The drop-front has a front panel that slides down to give access to the sleeping compartment. This is a great way to go if you are not so tall and you need the extra access. The caveat with drop-ront cribs is that they can be a little shakey. Make sure you buy from a reputable merchant - like those recommended here! The Standard baby crib is just that - it has no moving rails or parts, and is basically "what you see is what you get." Funny - it is almost hard to find something like this these days!
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