Quick question, not sure whether to go with an expensive convertable crib set (some sets are upwards of $2,500) or just do a cheap convertable set in case the kid totally detroys it in the next 5 years. In reality we would like to buy the expensive one and be done, but I have reservations. Any advice from anyone or STMs?
Re: baby furniture question
I don't see the need to spend that much money on baby furniture. Most of it isn't even made better than cheaper stuff, so I think it's a waste of money.
We have a Graco Lauren crib and it's been great. We already had Ikea dressers, so we bought a crib that matched color wise. It has some teeth marks on it from DD1, but it's definitely not ruined.
We'll buy DD1 a 'real' bedroom set in a year or so. Right now she's in a cheap toddler bed and that's been fine, too.
BFP(4) DD2 born 2.14.13 @ 35w5d due to pPROM
I'm buying an ikea crib, that can be used as a toddler bed. We plan on moving n about 3 years or so, so maybe I'll get him a real bed then.
Imho, I don't like the way convertible cribs look as double beds. I need a crib, not a double bed; when I need a double bed, I'll by buy one.
Ditto to this. I love our Ikea cribs and they've held up great the 4 years we've used them. Not to mention we don't have room in our house for two more double beds so that would make convertible cribs pointless in my book. Plus, who knows what your kid (or you) will like when you do move them to a big bed.
***Twin fraternal girls born at 35w6d in 12/2008***
DS's crib was around $400 when we purchased it 3 years ago (Europa Baby Palisades Crib) and the matching dresser was around the same. We actually just bought the conversion kit and converted it last night (he was in a toddler bed, then a double bed just sitting on a metal frame). He loves his bed and it looks really nice. I will say he was not a chewer, so that may be why it still looks so nice- my friend's little girl would teeth on her crib and it looked awful. DS's still looks brand new.
For this LO, I really want a white furniture set for her. All the ones I like are in the $500 range and I don't think we're going to go that high this time for each piece, but we will stick with a convertible since it's worked so well with DS.
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We have decided on the convertible crib from target for $299. It got great reviews and goes with our color scheme. We have a full size bed in storage that we will be using in our guest room when we move until the LO is old enough. I am hoping as long as we take good care of it, it will last for 2 more kids in cribs.
Good luck!
I didn't want to spend a lot because the crib has such limited use. The one we purchased does happen to convert to a double, but we want a twin in his room eventually, not a dobule. I would rather he have more space to play.
We bought the Graco Stanton crib on Amazon for about $159 shipped for free. The front comes off and it turns into a toddler daybed without any additional hardware needed. I think we spent about $60 on a mattress.
The dresser was either $299 or $399 and I expect it to last through his childhood.
Then there's a leather armchair we had bought for our office last year that never really got any use, so we moved it into the nursery. I think it was about $500, but we wouldn't have spent that much if we had to specifically purchase one for his room.
We bought two leather Moroccan ottoman/poufs (turquoise and green to match his room) which were about $120 each. One is at the foot of the armchair to be used as an ottoman, and the other under the window to be used as extra seating one day.
I opted to avoid a bookcase for now. I had random knick-knacks and clutter, and knew a bookcase would lend itself to such. So instead we mounted 4 book ledges on the wall. They won't be in his reach for a few years which is great. I think well just throw a basket with some books on the floor. I like knowing his room will be pretty child-proof the first few years. Bookcases are tall and narrow so they're pretty easy to pull down.
Oh, and we spent about $100 on a rug from the home section on the Urban Outfitters website.
I agonized over which crib to get for months. We ended up spending about 1000 for both dresser and crib. We went with the Stratton set made by Westwood based on Baby Bargains, reviews and ect. We are actually picking it up today Yay! I'm not sure how it will hold up, but we are hoping it will last through two babies.
Good luck!
We went with more expensive furniture for our baby. I did not like any of the cheaper sets. I think it is better to spend money on furniture and things like that because you will have it for a long time. I was going to do the convertible crib but decided not to because I plan on having our next child in a couple of years. due to that I will need to buy a bed or crib and figured that a bed could be cheaper then a new crib. If I wasn't planning on this then I would have bought the expensive convertible crib.
Hey Everyone, thanks for the feedback. As for the funiture. I was pretty suprised how much the whole set (crib $400, conversion set $300, 2 dressers $600/each, changing table $150) cost. I will keep looking, I do like the look of the Lauren. My husband wanted to get a total set that matches, it seems to do so it will cost an arm and a leg.
Do any of you guys use a long dresser for a changing table? Rather than purchasing a separate one with sides? It looks dangerous, with no straps to hold it on, but maybe I'm not thinking it through.