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November 2012 Moms
Drop-side Cribs
In 1982, my parents spent a pretty penny on a beautiful solid wood crib and matching changing table/dresser. 2 years later, my sister used the same furniture, and 6 years after my birth, my little brother slept in the crib. My mom saved the set for us, thinking we'd love to use a family heirloom for our babies.
Fast forward to 30 years later, when the first grandchild is officially on its way. I want to use the crib and changing table/dresser set. My mom has since passed away, and I can't ask her opinion on me using a drop-side crib for my baby - and really, her opinion is the only one that I'd listen to! I know they're recalled and considered dangerous. I know babies died because of these cribs, so I'm not trying to say the recall shouldn't be taken seriously. Anyone using a drop-side crib? If so, what are you using to mitigate the "dangerousness" of it??
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Drop-side Cribs
Just found this website....good resource....https://www.cpsc.gov/cgi-bin/prod.aspx
Thank you for your honesty! I keep telling myself that I slept in a drop-side crib, and I'm alive! I've also read that the newer drop-sides with PLASTIC rails (as opposed to metal rails, like the one I want to use) were the issue. I also can't shake the fact that OLD furniture is so much better quality and more well-made than anything we can buy today anyway. I highly doubt any of the cribs bought in 2012 will still be usable in 2042.
There are plenty of things that we/our parents and we are "just fine." Fortunately, we now have more information to make better decisions.
OP, I personally would not want to use a crib that old. I think there would be more concerns about safety than just the drop side rail, IMO.
My mom purchased a drop side crib last year for my niece that was used for less than 3 months (it was purchased for an adopted child who was too big for it shortly after they had the child in their home) and she made some modifications to it so the side didn't drop any longer.
Honestly, I'm not sure that I would be using a crib that was 30 years old, but to each their own. What about using the other accessories and buying a new crib?
BFP - 3/3/12 EDD & Birthdate - 11/10/12
BFP - 2/27/14 EDD - 12/3/14 MC at 11 weeks
BFP - 9/28/14 EDD - 6/8/15
What other concerns?
I would be concerned about Lead exposure. Also, if any of the hardware has rusted or is missing, retro-fitting could make the crib unsafe...
When I was pregnant with DS, I was talking with my grandmother about carseats. She thinks it is ridiculous and said, when I had your mom, she rode on my lap and she was fine. Would you let your LO ride on your lap instead of in a car seat?
I gather the sentiment about using the crib and it is ultimately your choice, but like I pp said, we have more information now to make better decisions. Yes, most of the cases are due to negligence. However, there are some that are not.
This is a personal decision and one only you can make. If you are ok with the risk of using a drop side crib in order to use the one from your child hood, then go ahead. Just be educated about the risks.
OP: like the slats on the sides being too far apart. Stuff like that. There's a huge list of things that cribs are required to have now that they weren't back in the day. Here's a website on what you should look for https://www.ehow.com/facts_5763163_baby-crib-safety-specifications.html
We have a drop side crib from DS. We plan on using it again. DH knows how to put it together so the side won't go down, which is what we did last time. As for why we didn't just buy the fixed side, well it was about $200 more expensive and we could not afford it. We think it is frivilous now to buy an entirely new crib for one child, but that's us.
Just like using a properly installed, up-to-date- car seat will lower the risks of injury or death to your child, using a crib that meets all of today's safety standards will as well. It's all about risk and what your willing to live with.
I wouldn't use a drop side crib. Risk is not my thing.
We did this and used DH's beautiful heirloom crib from 1981 for DD and it worked just fine. Like you said, it has all wood and metal parts, no plastic! And if you're concerned with the baby pulling the drop-side down (which honestly it's so hard to get down the correct way with the foot mechanism I don't think any baby would be heavy/strong enough to push ours down) you could always put the drop down side to the wall when the baby starts pulling up.
Just remember, it's your baby, do what feels right to you!
We have a drop side and will use it for the new baby too. We got the hardware kit that makes the drop side non-functioning now though.
I think all you'd need to do is add some wood screws through the sides and into the top rails to make it stationary. As long as the slats are close enough together, and there's no lead paint risks, I would use it.
Again, thank you for your honesty! Sometime women on this board live to give their empowered opinions without actually reading the original post :-) I AM going to use the crib, and I have 7 months to get comfortable with the drop down. Good suggestion put the drop-side against the wall. Thank you!
I am in the same boat OP. My MIL saved mh crib from 1983, she spent a lot of money on the crib back than and got a quality crib. When we announced, she and mh just both assumed we would use it. I agreed to take it home with us, and we set it up to get a look at it. I printed out a whole bunch of safety standards and our crib met them all. I also looked up old recalls and our crib was never recalled. MH checked every piece of the crib to ensure it wasn't broken, rusted, etc. It's in fantastic shape. Now MIL did keep the mattress too, which I have declined using. They think I am crazy, but its one thing to use an old crib, quite the other to use a 30 year old mattress.
You basically have to do what's right for you. I didn't think I would use this crib, until I saw that it was in great condition.
Another thank you :-) Where did you get the hardware kit?
It's not painted, so no lead paint issues.
Are you going to do anything about the drop-side, or are you leaving it as is? My mom got rid of the mattress after my brother, but I agree with you, I'd get a new one anyway!
When we had it up and were looking at it mh gave me two choices for that issue. I could leave it be. Everything seems to be working fine on it, or he could fix it so it doesn't drop. I think I will have him fix it so it doesn't drop. It's nice having a handy hubby.
I'd say use it if you want. You can fix the drop side so that it doesn't drop anymore.
With DD1, we got a dropside. They put the recall out on them right after she stopped using it, which was not long before DD2 came. We sent away for the kit to fix it, but never did actually use it.
I felt that the drop side was secure enough that she wouldn't accidentally knock it down. It took me a few tries each time I wanted to drop it to actually get it to drop, so I don't see how a baby would've knocked it down. The drop side actually broke off of it when we moved, so we will be getting a new one for this baby.
The kit was exclusive to my crib model, and was just a set of brackets that blocked the slider track. Some regular screws would do the trick as well, I think. You don't need a special kit, you just need to bolt it together so the side can't move.