Drop side cribs?

ktang

What are your thoughts on drop side cribs?  I'm short (5'1"), and like the idea of having the drop side, but know that there have been concerns about safety and recalls of several drop side cribs.  We're looking at the Graco Sarah or Ashleigh crib.  

Alyssajoy87

DH and I bought the a Graco dropside crib. While there has been a lot of negative reviews about dropsides lately, I'm not overly concerned. The dropside feels extremely secure to me and if I ever begin to feel otherwise, I'll just put a few screws into the wood to prevent the side from dropping down.

blancanyc69

My husband and I were talking about the crib issue also and we decided to get one if it's the one we like.  he said he could easily make it not drop down if we start worrying about the baby doing anything crazy.

krissyh21

They have a crib that has a fold down front rail, I can not think of the maker, but I heard this is suggested over the full drop down models.

lovebug630

I'm 5'2", so I know what you mean. I was leery of them because of what I'd read on here, but we ended up getting the Graco Lauren anyway. We went to BRU and looked at all the stationary ones, but they were all way too high for me. I also have fibromyalgia, so I knew my shoulders and back would be killing me after lifting a baby from one of those cribs several times a day.

DH and I read some info and articles about the safety of drop side cribs, and it seemed that most of the problems come from defective parts or not being put together correctly. Also, we read that there have been problems when people use the cribs over several years' time; disassembling them many times can apparently cause problems. DH has assured me that he will check the parts regularly for wear and tear, and I have total confidence that he will be able to assemble it the right way.

We haven't put ours together yet, but it was very sturdy in the store, so I'm not worried. As pp said, you can always make the crib stationary if you think there are going to be problems.

englishviola

I guess I'm in the minority here but I would never, ever buy a drop side crib. In fact, two baby stores I have been in recently have mentioned they will all be phased out by the end of the year (hence the amazing prices I've seen on them!).

Every recall, it seems, is a drop side crib. www.cpsc.gov

I just worry too much. I couldn't do it. 

jknallen

I have a Sfety 1st drop side crib and absolutly LOVE it.  I think that most of the problems come from stupid people forgetting to put the rail back up, or not putting it together properly.  We used it for two years with DS and he was born at 10lbs 3oz and when he stopped using it he was 2 years old and weighed 29lbs.  He would jump in it smash into the sides.  He was a rough and tough boy in there and it held up great.  We are planning on using it again for this baby.

lys84

i am 5 ft and do not plan on getting a drop side crib due to safety concerns. the mattress height in the bonavita cribs is high enough that i can reach in fairly comfortable. fyi the fold down side crib is also considered a risk because when children begin to climb they can get their foot stuck and fall out... or so says baby bargains.

AggieGrl

englishviola:

I guess I'm in the minority here but I would never, ever buy a drop side crib. In fact, two baby stores I have been in recently have mentioned they will all be phased out by the end of the year (hence the amazing prices I've seen on them!).

Every recall, it seems, is a drop side crib. www.cpsc.gov

I just worry too much. I couldn't do it. 

I'm with you.  

The accidents with drop side cribs are just that...accidents.  While you can do your best to try to prevent them, sometimes you just can't.  Freak things happen, parts break, and a child will find some new way to damage the mechanism.

Somebody's kid has to be the reason a crib was recalled.  I'd prefer it not be mine.

CKLee1107

I have no issues with the drop side cribs...I think I'd be more scared of a fold-out crib but have never seen one so this concept intrigues me...

Myself and all my siblings were in drop side cribs, they worked fine, we are all still here and well.  Honestly most of the problems I've read about with drop sides are people who couldn't put it together correctly or didn't check pcs for sturdiness before use.  Our crib is a drop side and I LOVE it!  It has recently been certified to be up to code (bought it from a daycare when their LO moved up to toddler bed--they had it certified 2months before that).  While hubby and I put it together we checked over each pc to make sure there was no damage to it that could hurt baby or possibly break further to make the crib dangerous, and we followed the directions of assembly in the order that they are in...Its not a hard thing to believe that people just assume their crib from the store is perfect in every structural way....I see it all the time in retail, 1 out of every 1000+ come back for manufacture defects in every type of product.  Odds are that there are faulty ones out there and it is a parents JOB to make sure everything is right and secure for their baby before use...

I like the stationary cribs too but I couldn't pass up a deal like the one I found.  Over time when the drop side becomes worn it will either become stationary like pp's mentioned or else it will be replaced with a new crib.

dionnemd10

we have a drop side-have had it for almost 3 years and love it.  i am 5'4" and had trouble with all the non-drop sides-even when mattress was at the highest level.   with the drop side-when baby is very young-we didn't even have to put the side up.   and when she got older we rarely put it down.   never had any problems with ours and the crib is also convertible.   love having both options!   came from bru

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krissyh21:

They have a crib that has a fold down front rail, I can not think of the maker, but I heard this is suggested over the full drop down models.

It's Baby's Dream, we have one for DS and LOVE it.

ccorneau

krissyh21:

They have a crib that has a fold down front rail, I can not think of the maker, but I heard this is suggested over the full drop down models.

 

we have this crib too I think - it's by Baby's Dream  we bought the Ocean model but they have several that have a drop rail instead of the whole front side dropping down - very solid crib DH can barely move it alone!