What is the best crib from Ikea?

tesselizabeth

Anybody have an Ikea crib they love?  I know they were mentioned in the baby bargains book  but I don't want to buy the book just for that.  Does anybody know which one(s) were mentioned?

persephonerose

No clue on what the book says but we bought the Hensvik crib. Ikea only has about four styles of cribs. The Hensvik is probably the most ornate of them all. I really like it. The slats are sturdy, the crib does not wobble at all and it was extremely easy to put together for Ikea furniture.  It also comes with the toddler bed conversion kit already with it.  The only drawback with the Hensvik is it only comes in white.

FWIW, we went to Ikea and I yanked, shook, and prodded all of the crib styles they had. They were all sturdy and held up to my testing. I was particularly rough on them because some of the other models we saw at other stores were wobbly (the feet weren't level) or the slats had some give to them. Which as a FTM worried me.

SunAndRain

Beware, however that IKEA cribs are VERY low to the ground.  This could be an issue for parents because you are lifting your child in and out of the crib a LOT.  I was set on getting an IKEA crib based on BB reviews, but when we went to look at them in person I changed my mind.  There are other cribs below $200 that are just as safe (all cribs meet the same safety standards) and that are regular crib height.

pb_bride

Like PPs said, there are only 4 styles of crib from IKEA.  The one style mentioned in the latest Baby Bargains (2011 edition) is no longer available.

You can see all 4 styles on IKEA's website.  Most ppl here like the Gulliver.  We bought Sundvik cuz we like the dark brown color.  Gulliver & Hensvik are almost the same except that Hensvik has a curvy top on the short ends.  Sundvik has boards instead of slats on the 2 short ends.  These 3 all feel very sturdy to me (I shook all of them at the store).  The only one I didn't like was the Sniglar which feels less sturdy.

I'm only 5'2" so the height of the IKEA crib works well for me.  I didn't find the higher setting too low for me.

chardonnay24

We have the Gulliver and love it. It's in perfect condition after 19 months with a very active child (he jumps in his crib every morning). I'm 5'6" and my husband is 6' and we have had it on the lowest setting since A was 6 months and pulling up. Never had any issues with it being too low for us.

CrazyToast

Unlike a PP - we LOVED that the crib was close to the ground.  When you have to find your child across the crib, it's easier to bend to get them, versus a high side you can't get to them (especially when they are 6m and you're supposed to drop the mattress to the lowest level).

We have a Gulliver and love it.  DD is now using it as the "toddler bed" version (with the one side removed, and the extra piece put in to keep the mattress on).

bearkatjen

I have the Gulliver and love it. DH and I had no problem picking up DS up from the bottom. I'm 5'3" and could bend over which was awesome, because with many cribs I can't bend all the way over to pick up a baby because the crib is too high.

CDCbaby

We have the Hensvik crib and I love the way it looks.  It is for Baby #2 so it hasn't been used yet, but like PP's said, it's very sturdy.  

the only reason I chose this particular crib (over the other Ikea options) is because I am doing a Retro themed nursery and I like how the decorative detail at the top of the crib ends looks kind of old school  

Also, just have to say I did not choose the Sundvik b/c I didn't like how the ends were solid wood and could prevent air from flowing as freely as possibly inside the crib.  That just my personal feeling and something I wouldn't be comfortable with.   

bearkatjen

agis:

SunAndRain:

Beware, however that IKEA cribs are VERY low to the ground.  This could be an issue for parents because you are lifting your child in and out of the crib a LOT.  I was set on getting an IKEA crib based on BB reviews, but when we went to look at them in person I changed my mind.  There are other cribs below $200 that are just as safe (all cribs meet the same safety standards) and that are regular crib height.

 

We viewed the crib being low to the ground as a positive thing - especially when you discover lo playing in his/her room one morning. 

This! Your baby will most likely learn to climb out of the crib. The higher the crib railing from the floor, the greater the distance the child falls.  

tesselizabeth

Thank you for all the great information!  We have to buy two this time and I didn't want to spend a ton on convertible cribs because I don't know what the room situation will be in a few years!

JoNi2010

tesselizabeth:

Thank you for all the great information!  We have to buy two this time and I didn't want to spend a ton on convertible cribs because I don't know what the room situation will be in a few years!

We just bought the Sundvik because we liked the color and DH has a preference for square slats instead of round slats.  And I am only 5'0" so I don't mind the height.  And actually I think all the cribs are convertible - at least the Sundvik is!