Let's talk cribs

Khrysty289 · May 2012

FI and I are just starting to look around at types and brands of cribs. We are a low income family so something that costs $700 is not going to work for us, but we do want something sturdy, safe, and moderately attractive. What are you all going with/have you gone with? Favorites? What don't you like/should we stay away from?

eawilson · May 2012

I think the Ikea cribs are a great deal and look nice. I don't have a ton of experience, but I know that there are a lot of families who swear by them.

I'd look for something that is height adjustable and meets safety standards. You want to make sure that the mattress fits very snugly into the crib so there isn't a gap.

If you buy a cheap crib then you will have a bit more to spend on a nicer quality mattress.

lili1228 · May 2012

I'd suggest Ikea! They are made of wood, cute and sturdy.

morgie44 · May 2012

The Graco cribs are also pretty popular and affordable <$200. We went with the Davinci Jenny Lind crib (without the wheels). It is the style I wanted, and we paid 159 on Amazon. The baby isn't here yet, but we are happy with it so far.

avalovesart · May 2012

I love all the Davinci brand cribs. We bought the DaVinci Kalani crib and it's great. It was easy to assemble and looks great.

Khrysty289 · May 2012

We seemed to be leaning toward the DaVinci Parker 4-in-1 because I liked the idea of a crib that would last through childhood and this one seemed sturdy enough, but I'm reading reviews that say the manufacturer is a pain to work with and that chubby toddler legs get caught in the bars so that has me worried now.

avalovesart · May 2012

Khrysty289:
We seemed to be leaning toward the DaVinci Parker 4-in-1 because I liked the idea of a crib that would last through childhood and this one seemed sturdy enough, but I'm reading reviews that say the manufacturer is a pain to work with and that chubby toddler legs get caught in the bars so that has me worried now.

The Davinci cribs uphold to the standards of CSPC. Generally the slats on any crib are such that a young baby can get a foot or hand through the side. Will you be swaddling for night-time? If so, their hands and feet are bound up so they can't put them through anyway. Later when they're bigger and not being swaddled anymore, they have grown so that they can't fit them through easily anymore.

Khrysty289 · May 2012

I'm going to be an FTM but I'm not new to the world of caring for infants. Swaddling is the easiest way I know to get fussy babies to sleep, so we plan on it. But if our baby sleeps without, he/she will be unswaddled in there. I do like the design of that crib, despite the reviews, so we may still end up with it. I just wanted to hear other opinions before we commit. We've never had to buy this kind of furniture before so this is new for us.

CrazyToast · May 2012

Ikea Gulliver - $99 for white. We have it and love it.

drubie · May 2012

If cost is a big concern, there are also deals where you can buy the crib and crib mattress together and save quite a bit - I think Walmart, amazon, and Target all have those deals from time to time, so keep your eye out. We bought an ikea crib for right about $100, mostly because I can't fathom spending tons of money on a piece of furniture that's going to get used and abused (teething babies have no mercy), and then be transitioned out of in a couple of years. I think the cheapest ikea crib is $70, for a simple, wood crib.