30 year old crib???

roxyttandme

We have DH's crib and were thinking of using it. It is just beautiful! Can someone please tell me what the dangers are? Obviously we would be very careful in installing it and assuring it is sturdy. 

 

ChristinaCT

One thing to look into is the spacing between the slats.  

noah-bear

Check the measurements of the slats and that it will securely hold a mattress with no room between the mattress and edges.

chloebeth930

How far apart are the crib bars?  It could make it easier for LO's arms/legs to get stuck in them.  Also, is it a drop down crib?  I know all of those are recalled for being unsafe.

Andreabks

you souldn't be able to get a soda can through the slats. are all the screws and everything still in good condition too?  I have the crib from my sisters and myself and we're not going to use it as the slats are too far aprat and its a drop side crib.

I also researched the maker, and ours went out of business due to too many product recalls on their cribs.

Daisiesinmygarden

If the slats are too far apart the baby can get his/her head through them and get stuck or strangle. If the mattress isn't snug, the baby work himself/herself into the gap and suffocate.

tiffanysbride

I would not use it if it is a drop side crib regardless of the bars. I know that the new standards will make it illegal to resell some cribs made in 2010, so 30 years old would defiantly be out. I believe BRU is not longer selling drop side cribs or will stop shortly. If you want to check locate the manu number and enter it on cpsc, it will give you any recall info. 

Jillwithani

If it's painted I would check the paint for lead as well or look into stripping the paint or re-finishing it in the safest way possible. 

missbryn

Slat distance; can you get a mattress that fits snuggley enough (for ours, it is super hard to get sheets on -- this is good); is the paint safe; how has it been stored and what has it been exposed to; if it is drop-side, can it be secured (some newer cribs that are drop side can be "fixed" with a kit - basically, the side is screwed/nailed up); are there any rough or sharp areas (like the edges on the drop side). Are there any points that your LO could snag on -- my crib (when I was a baby) had a ltitle knob kind of thing, and when I was around 8 months, I climbed out and my nightgown's neck caught on the knob -- my nightgown ripped and I landed on the floor, but my mother found it hanging there and was *terrified* that I almost hanged myself (she still talks about it and shakes a little). Also, I'd just think about how comfortable you will be with it -- imagine your baby in a different room from you and you're already stressed about SIDS -- will you feel your LO is in the best place he can be, or will the crib be an added stress? I'm not trying to make you nervous or convince you not to use it (I *love* antiques and retro baby things!); I'm thinking about the insomnia I had with DD when we moved her into her crib and I would stay awake for hours, getting up to check on her, and being pretty compulsive about securing everything within a ten foot radius of her. I was checking the screws on her (new) crib, the tightness of her sheet, etc., all the time. So, I'd just encourage you to think about what will help you to sleep and relax when your LO is here. 

HBaylies

Spacing between bars, what kind of paint it is, what are the ingredients, are there any chips, would the current mattresses fit snugly, no drop side...

I would be too worried to use it.  I don't trust what chemicals would have been used in manufacturing and there's almost no way around the fact that your child will ingest pieces of the finish at some point when they start getting teeth, even with the world's best crib rail covers.

AustinBride06

We have DH's crib as well.  Totally not using it.  We're both paranoid enough without thinking about all the safety features we have to make sure are up to standards.  I hate to go out and spend $400 on the crib I want, but would rather do that and feel good about it meeting standards, not being drop-side, etc than lose even more sleep every night.  Plus, the crib I have my eye on is convertible to a toddler bed so it'll last a little longer.