More crib questions

michaela080

I'm thinking I want to go with a 4 in 1 crib (converts to toddler bed, then full bed). What are people's opinions on this who already have kids? Is it a good idea? Also, what about furniture sets? Is is best to go with matching furniture, or is it easy to find separate pieces that match well enough? Which ends up being a better deal?

jnicole1120

We have a crib that converts to the toddler bed, but we're totally skipping the toddler bed and going right to a twin bed for DD.  We're keeping the crib up for the new baby.  If you plan on having more kids, you might want to just consider the crib.  Our weight limit on our crib is like 100 lbs., so DD is getting about 3 years out of it.  I kinda think the toddler beds are a waste.  Also, about the sets, we bought the bed to go with furniture we already had (dresser and armoire) and this is furniture that will be used forever.  You might want to consider getting something "nice", so your baby can grow with it. 

michaela080

jnicole1120:

We have a crib that converts to the toddler bed, but we're totally skipping the toddler bed and going right to a twin bed for DD.  We're keeping the crib up for the new baby.  If you plan on having more kids, you might want to just consider the crib.  Our weight limit on our crib is like 100 lbs., so DD is getting about 3 years out of it.  I kinda think the toddler beds are a waste.  Also, about the sets, we bought the bed to go with furniture we already had (dresser and armoire) and this is furniture that will be used forever.  You might want to consider getting something "nice", so your baby can grow with it. 

We're not sure if we're having more kids, so that's one of the reasons I was thinking the 4 in 1.

NYCproposal08

We have been looking at the 4 in 1s as well. Right now our plan is this: get a 4 in 1 crib for LO #1. When LO #1 is ready to graduate to a toddler bed, buy one and save the crib for LO #2. Then, LO#2 can use the crib's 4 in 1 features. This is all assuming we stop at 2.

As for other furniture...my dad is building the changing table that I LOVE and will match the stain to whatever crib we end up buying. My husband is making some other shelving, etc to match my dad's changing table. The glider will be the only thing I will have to try to match. I don't know how consistent different stores and brands are with their colors...is espresso at BRU the same as Target?? Who knows...

I never realized the complexities of choosing nursery furniture until last weekend when we started shopping around! So many decisions! Good luck!

CopsGirl11103

We used all components of our 4 in 1 crib. She's 6 and still uses full size headboard from that crib!!

JennJenn613

What I didn't like about the convertible cribs is that they all convert to full-size beds, and we have small bedrooms so it would be a huge waste of space. I also didn't really think a bed would last through baby/toddler/childhood without getting wrecked, and I didn't want to invest that much $$$ in furniture for someone too young to take good care of it. Considering DS chewed up two sides of his crib before I could get rail covers on, I think I made the right call for us.

ANOTHER big thing that bothered me is that nursery furniture is sold as a matching set, but does not come with a desk. When my kids get into elementary school I want them to have desks, but there are no matching ones for any convertible crib I've seen. So I'll buy a "real" furniture set later on that comes with a desk instead of a changing table.

We got a decent (but not great) quality furniture set from BRU. The dresser is a bit annoying. If I could go back in time I would have just gotten IKEA stuff! I was a snobby FTM... I know better now.

peeper72

We have a convertible crib but haven't converted it yet. I would suggest purchasing all of the pieces at once in case a line is discontinued. 

We also bought the dresser that matched the crib. I might have preferred an old-timey dresser that we just refinished or painted but that didn't quite work out for us. I find that the drawers are much, much more shallow and narrow than they necessarily need to be given the size of the frame of the dresser. 

surprise3rd

We opted for just the crib alone. We had extra beds already, a white iron daybed and a full size bed, so when my kids out grew the crib, they transitioned right into the beds we already had.  If you are going to have to buy them furniture as they grow, many of my IRL friends swear by the convertable cribs and still have kids 9 and older in them.  I think they are a wise investment if you are going to stick with that furniture for your child's entire life.

thethomps

We did not buy a matching set.  We bought a Graco 3 in 1 crib in cinnamon finish and a Babi Italia dresser in cinnamon finish.  We bought a Shermag glider in chablis finish and they all match really well.  (I didn't even really plan on the glider matching, it just so happened that it did.)  Our crib only came with a matching changing table, which was a waste of money, IMO.  We found a dresser we liked and put a changing pad on top of it with burp cloths underneath so it wouldn't scratch the finish.  I see no need to buy a set if you don't want/need all the pieces in it or like a different dresser from another set better.

ETA:  Like pp said, we are planning on this furniture lasting until DD is old enough to get her own set, so we went for stuff that she could continue to use for years.

babycynthia

JennJenn613:

ANOTHER big thing that bothered me is that nursery furniture is sold as a matching set, but does not come with a desk. When my kids get into elementary school I want them to have desks, but there are no matching ones for any convertible crib I've seen. So I'll buy a "real" furniture set later on that comes with a desk instead of a changing table.

 

I work at a furniture store and it all depends on what brand you are going with.  For example: Young America by Stanley Furniture has where you can add desks, chests, and other pieces that match as your child grows.   Plus they are made in the USA which is also a plus