Ugh! My Mom gave us a used crib (she had at her house when my nephew was a baby) for DD #1, it's pretty old, about 9 years. DH was putting it together today and said it wasn't fitting together right. Well, it was broken in two spots, including one of the spots that we had used the recall kit because it was a drop side crib.
I'm assuming it's broken from just being old, mostly plastic parts, and it may have gotten beat up during our move (we just got to our new house).
Anyway, DH got all mad at me when I said "Forget it, it's not safe, I will go out and buy a new one tomorrow." He threw a little tantrum and said he could "rig" this one to "work." Let me tell you it is NOT fixable or safe! Then I tell my Mom and she says, "You aren't going to throw it away are you? Cribs can last a long time, it will be fine."
Geesh people! I got so upset that I started crying (horomones I know). All for the sake of a few bucks they want me to put my baby in potential harm. The thing is old and broken beyond safe repair. I'm just annoyed and thought at least DH would have agreed with me.
Re: They want me to use a broken crib
I wouldnt use it either.
I used a hand me down crib from my cousin that was fine when we got it and she was done having kids. Well when DS hit a year I moved the crib to clean under it and noticed that a main support bar had somehow split in two. My DH just wanted to duct tape it back together...which I eventually talked him out of. DS moved to sleeping in the pack n play until we got him a toddler bed (only a couple weeks). And we went and bought a brand new crib for this baby. I can deffinatly tell this crib is deffinatly better quality then the one my cousin had given me (and she had 3 kids in 3 years so it had seen a lot of use).
I share your concerns. There is no way I would use it or give it to anyone else to use. I would put it out for the trash. I agree with the above posters, you can find one for fairly inexpensive brand new or through craigslist/consignment sales.
GL to you!
The brothers I Rule and OMG! with their faithful sidekickFootFoot.
My life has a superb cast but I can't figure out the plot.
SIL wanted to give me her 10 year old, drop side crib. We ordered the recall kit and are leaving it at MIL's house to use when we stay there. I figure that we'll be sleeping in the room with the baby when we're there and it's better than dragging a PnP on a plane so it isn't as big of an issue.
Can you suggest something like that? Or would you be comfortable with it? Leaving it at your mom's house for use when you visit her? (Assuming you can fix it.)
If your mom thinks that it's a great crib, then she can have back a great crib because you're going to go get a new one. Maybe your husband can deliver it to her while you're out getting something safe for your child to sleep in.
The crib and the carseat are really the only things that I am really insistent about being new and as safe as possible. I don't mind second hand clothes or toys or really anything else. There are piles of things that people think that babies need (and need to be new) that they done, but to me a safe crib and the carseat are nonnegotiable items.
My ILs proudly told us that they got a drop side crib for LO when he visits. Since they live several states away, he won't be visiting without us so I figured that he's sleep in bed with us (he'll be 1 when we first visit) and I'll save the I think I'm too good for your crib conversation (because that's totally what it would turn into).
Now if only I could find a way to get MIL to quit trying to give us their SEVENTY year-old bassinet. I'm all for family heirlooms but not having a child sleep in one.
seriously I would hack it to pieces and tell your mom too late it is gone and now it is completely broken. this way another child will not get hurt.
I got mine from my bil and sil where I know it was completely taken care of, no recalls, and original parts and original instructions.