Nursery question....help please!

UCONNHuskies

The room I would like to use for the baby is a nice regular rectangle, 9'2" x 10'10", with a window on the long side and a closet door that opens to touch the window.  The other dorr is opposite the window.

My husband and I are torn....we have a dresser I would like to use, which is 1'10" x 3'9", as well as a second, taller one for later on, but we can't decide on a crib situation!

The general size for the mini crib which turns into a twin bed, hard to find so we need to order kind of soon as I am 21wks, is 2'4' x 3'3".  A regular crib that doesn't change is 4'4" x 2'8".  A crib that turns into a full is 4'7" x 2'6".  When they are cribs the difference isn't too much, but when they are beds, the twin is 15 inches smaller than a full.  We know we would like to try to have a second child within the next 4 years, Godwilling, and they would have to share the room at least until the oldest is 8-9yrs old as we don't feel comfortable having a child upstairs alone. 

I think getting a nice crib, that is just a crib for now and then a twin when we need it, maybe even a toddler bed depending on the age the baby transitions out of the crib and then a second twin or maybe even a bunkbed is the best way to go, but my DH thinks just getting 2 minicribs would be best.

Any thoughts?  TIA.

festivus

We are just starting to look, too, but I think the feedback I've seen is that it's difficult (and possibly more expensive?) to find sheets and things that fit the mini cribs. Personally, I am not going to worry about getting a convertible crib and just plan to get 2 basic, regular size cribs.

Lilrdmandy

Wouldn't your LO grow out of a mini crib before your second baby is born??  I would go with a regular crib or mini crib, then pass that crib down to #2 and get a toddler bed for #1.  Also consider getting a mattress and sheets to fit is harder.  A toddler bed also uses a crib mattress so you will need to get an additional mattress if you go with a toddler bed before a twin.

If you think they will be in cribs at the same time then get a crib that converts to a toddler bed so when #1 is ready to move to a toddler bed, you'll have it already.

Another scenario would be get a mini crib now, then when #2 is here get a regular crib that converts to toddler bed.  (this would be if they both are in cribs at the same time).  Put #1 in the new regular crib and #2 in the mini crib.

Also keep in mind you will want to keep the crib away from the window (curtains/binds are hazardous), and away from any outlets you will be using.  If you won't be using an outlet you can put crib by it and get the outlet plugs.  I mention these things b/c I had to redo DS's room when we lowered his crib and once he could stand and reach the curtains.

4LittleDucks

Personally, I would just go with a solid, reasonably priced regular crib and then a twin bed.  Granted, I'm not really into bells and whistles (this is my 4th...) I'm assuming a mini crib would be more expensive and then the challenge of finding crib sheets plus extra cost would turn me off.  This way, you also wouldn't be locked into a particular style of twin bed when your child gets older, such as if you would like to get bunk beds later on.  My boys share a room and had 2 twin beds that we were handed down but then we unexpectedly had to move for a job and our home is smaller and we ended up switching to bunk beds.  We didn't feel bad because we didn't put any money into the twin beds and were able to get a nice bunkbed set for dirt cheap off of craig's list.  We skipped the toddler bed thing all together and our kids went straight to a twin mattress on the floor (with a baby gate in the doorway to keep them from roaming the house) and then transitioned to a twin bed with a side rail.  My kids have not stayed in a crib for very long - all were out before they were 2 so for us it has never been worth investing in a very expensive crib because it has been used so little..,. for what it's worth, we passed our crib onto my brother and this was a surprise pregnancy and will be using a pack n play, I'm not even getting a crib this time around.