What do you think (RE: used cribs)

kristen!

I was reading you shouldn't buy a used crib because of safety standards, which I get. But if it's not drop side and you can verify it's not recalled (with style, brand, year), and it seems to be in good condition, would it still be unwise? What about one at a furniture consignment shop?

catch2010

My husband is terrified of bedbugs, so we will be buying the crib new.  He says that bedbugs will hide in the cracks of furniture.

sarahjames9

I have a used one from a consignment shop. It is drop side, but I plan to get the kit to switch it over so it is not anymore. I feel like that should do the trick. I also feel bad that gosh just 5 years ago my DS slept in a dropside crib, and now they are banned. Good grief, wonder what things we are using now that will be banned after the fact?

MommaErica

More than just the drop side has changed in terms of safety.  It is highly unlikely that any used crib for sale will meet the new standards, drop side or not.  You can get all the detainls at the CPSC website. 

Are you just talking about the crib or a mattress too?  Used crib mattresses are associated with an increased SIDS risk and are not recommended. 

I am all for getting gently used baby items but, crib mattresses and, at this point cribs (if you want the safest one possible), are not items that can really be purchased used.

That said, if you absolutely have your heart set on a used crib, buy it right now because after 6/28 it will not be legal for anyone to sell it to you nor give it to you unless it meets current safety standards.  Which, as I say, is not likely that it will.

I personally find it very puzzling when parents KNOW the best, most current safety recommendations for their childern and then intentionally choose the less safe or, in some cases, unsafe option.

kristen!

I was not at all talking about a mattress, just the crib itself. I pulled up the crib I was considering with the model number provided, and it is actually still for sale on multiple websites. I wouldn't consider buying one if I wasn't able to verify that it meets current standards.

avalei

The one other thing I read about used cribs (from Baby Bargains, where the take home message was THOU SHALT NOT BUY A USED CRIB) was that you could not be sure that it was not missing parts. Or had minor damage like stripped screws or something. I think I would consider it if I had someone I know and trust that was wanting to give me a crib for free or cheap, but I don't. We're going to go with possibly an Ikea one, or else a $150 Graco one.

klovesd

We considered it. I found a pretty nice convertible on Craiglist for a decent price (no mattress, that's icky). But in the end we decided the extra $50 was worth spending so we could buy it new, have the user's manual, all the pieces, etc.

magel050485

avalei:

The one other thing I read about used cribs (from Baby Bargains, where the take home message was THOU SHALT NOT BUY A USED CRIB) was that you could not be sure that it was not missing parts. Or had minor damage like stripped screws or something. I think I would consider it if I had someone I know and trust that was wanting to give me a crib for free or cheap, but I don't. We're going to go with possibly an Ikea one, or else a $150 Graco one.

This exactly.

b.heather

FWIW, we purchased a used crib for this baby - it was from some pretty well-to-do grandparents who didn't end up watching their grandbaby when they thought they would (so it was barely used). Anyhow, I emailed the manufacturer to check if there were any recalls or safety updates and they let us know it was safe. They also said that if it had needed any updating they would have sent us the parts for free. 

MrsC2009

Personally, I would be ok with it as long as everything is in working order and had metal components (not plastic).  DH and I had actually talked about using the same crib my grandparents and parents used that's still in perfect condition, up to date with safety standards other than the drop side.  We ended up finding a really good deal on a 4 piece nursery furniture set at a children's furniture store though.

FuFey

We bought a used crib from a hs classmate's garage sale. It is a dropside and the manufacturer no longer supplies the conversion kits for that model year. The crib is solid maple with metal hardware and made in the USA.  I have no worries about using it, and DH and my Mom both said that if we do, stick a couple screws in the bottom and voila, no more drop side. We will be getting a new crib mattress though at some point (we plan to register for it). I aboslutely love this crib - it is the color and style I wanted and has a really nice matching dresser.  FWIW, we can not afford to buy a new crib, cheapy walmart one or not, so this crib set is such a blessing to us.

Mrs.NGM

The only way I would ever possibly get a used crib was if it was from someone I knew and also knew for a fact that it had not been recalled.

kristalovesjared

With my first DD we bought everything new because I was freaked out by what I read. This time around, we are getting another crib and I have no problem getting a used one. I'll buy a new mattress though.

rachaelski

magel050485:

avalei:

The one other thing I read about used cribs (from Baby Bargains, where the take home message was THOU SHALT NOT BUY A USED CRIB) was that you could not be sure that it was not missing parts. Or had minor damage like stripped screws or something. I think I would consider it if I had someone I know and trust that was wanting to give me a crib for free or cheap, but I don't. We're going to go with possibly an Ikea one, or else a $150 Graco one.

This exactly.

We may buy a secondhand one...my husband is super handy. He builds sh!t, his dad built 2 houses himself---I am surrounded by handy men. Anything that our child would spend time in would be thoroughly checked out, and most likely we'd replace the hardware anyhow. And we'd buy a new mattress. Actually, the mattress is part of the reason why I am leaning towards second hand--I'd like to get an organic mattress, and they can get pretty expensive.