Types of Baby Crib – Finding the Right Crib for Your Baby

For new parents, a crib is a necessary investment to provide a comfortable and safe place for the baby to sleep in. But with so many choices out there today, what is the best type of crib for your baby?

The answer would very much depend on your budget, needs and space availability. Let us look at the different types of baby cribs in the market today and see how they can fit your needs:

Canopy Cribs

Canopy cribs are very much a fashion statement more for decor purposes. From simple to elaborate designs, the cost of a canopy crib can range from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand. Simply put, it is a luxury that new parents may want to splurge on their baby. For instance, you can have a round canopy crib with a dome design at the top or a square crib with beautiful carvings on the four posters and canopy cross bars. Because you can have all the features that come with a standard crib plus the elegance, buy a canopy crib if you want a feel of luxury and romance.

Round Cribs 

Although this crib is gaining popularity, it is rather expensive and most of the designs are of the high-end. They also tend to come with a canopy which can give your nursery a very stylish look. Just like canopy cribs, they are about style and elegance. But there is one other reason why you would want a round crib and that is it can be a focal point of the room. Because it is round, you do not have to put it in a corner but at the center of your nursery. If your nursery is small, a round crib may be the answer to optimize space.

Standard Cribs

This is the most common crib available in the market and you can probably get a no-frills one for about $100. Some parents are not so willing to spend too much on a crib because you would need to move your baby out of the crib and onto a toddler bed roughly at 18 months of age. Some delay the transition until their baby is past two but it all depends on the safety aspect once your child reaches a certain height. For standard cribs, you have a wide variety of choices in terms of brands, features and price range which means you are bound to find one that suits your needs and budget.

Portable Cribs

Portable cribs are foldable and make great alternatives in a caretakerâ??s home or for travel. You can also consider this type of crib if your room has a lack of space. It is smaller than a full-sized crib but it makes it up in terms of convenience. For instance, most assembled portable cribs would be able to fit through standard doorways. This means you can easily push a portable crib from one room to another without much hassle. If this convenience is what you are looking for, then you might like a portable crib. However, the disadvantage is your baby might quickly outgrow it and you would need to look at a new sleeping arrangement sooner.

Convertible Cribs

A convertible crib is relatively more expensive than a standard crib although many are still largely affordable. This type of crib enables you to convert it to a toddler bed and subsequently, a full-sized bed, which makes it more economical in the long-run. If you do not want the hassle of shopping for a toddler bed two years down the road, then a convertible crib may be the right choice.

No Drop Side Cribs

This type of crib is not too popular because not many parents are tall enough to reach deep down into a crib to pick up their little one. However, they are about safety and security. You donâ??t have to worry about your baby fiddling with the latches or normal wear-and-tear causing the drop sides to be improperly secured. So, if you are paranoid about safety, look for a no drop side crib.

Conclusion

Finding the right crib for your baby needs a little work. What is right for one parent may not be suitable for another. The avoid regret after purchase, list down your needs and the features that you want for your crib. Then, narrow down your crib choices through the list to arrive at your purchase.    

Finding The Right Inexpensive Baby Crib

To many, determining the budget is the most important starting point in looking for baby cribs. It is always good to have a price range that you can work with so you can narrow your choices to those you can afford.

Even if you are buying a new or used baby crib, you should make sure that it meets government standards. You must be able to follow manufacturer?s instruction in order to ensure safety for the child. If you were unable to follow it, it is recommended that you seek professional help. The instruction provided by the manufacturers should enable you and your child to enjoy the crib without the risk of danger.

The crib mattress should be the first thing that should be checked. It should fit snugly into the crib without missing or broken hardware. Be sure that the crib has no missing or loose slats and the slats should not be more than 2 3/8 inches apart. The footboards and headboards should have no cutouts that can harm baby. The corner posts, if there?s any should not be more than sixteenth of an inch above the foot or head bar.

The most used feature on any crib is probably the drop sides. This makes the crib more convenient to use and great if mom and dad are tall people. But there are also cribs that are lacking this feature and have fixed sides instead.

Parents love the single drop down sided crib because it enables them to easily reach baby and lift baby out or place baby in the crib. It is especially convenient when crib is placed against the wall. Cribs that have double drop down sides are popular option especially if there is a room to place the crib, like a nursery, so that it is not placed against the wall.

The drop down side height can be adjusted in a number of ways. Some cribs has a knee push lever and this will allow you to lower the sides just but leaning your knee against the crib. It is very useful especially if you are holding baby in your arms. This maybe is the most common type available.

Another type is the foot bar. Here, you use your foot to push down a bar to lower the side. There is also another type that uses a double trigger mechanism. There are levers on both sides of the crib that needs both hands free to use them. Squeezing these triggers will drop the sides. This, however, is not very convenient to use when you are carrying baby in your arms.

The wheels on a crib are great feature since it enables anyone to easily move the crib. That makes it easier to clean under or reach for a toy that falls underneath or making it easy to change the bedding. Wheels also have locking mechanism so you can lock them when not in use. Some also may be removed and can be put aside. The adjustable mattress heights are also available on all cribs especially the convertible ones. Some cheapest models of cribs also have this feature. The three positions available is the wisest choice but some also have two height positions only. In a single height mattress, as your child grows, he could climb out of the crib or could be toppling out of the crib so it is not usually a safe choice.

Mattress support is also very important. Some cribs use vinyl straps that are easily worn out. Some cribs uses the metal bar support and appears to be a much better option. There are also some which make use of the metal spring system where the entire mattress is supported and is the best and most durable option compared with the first two.