Convertible crib vs. regular crib

deanna1313 · November 2013

The changing table vs dresser debate got me thinking. I have been wondering for a while which to buy and what everyone thinks.
STM's please weigh in! I go back and forth trying to decide which is better for us.

Hnova86 · November 2013

Convertible all the way! For us anyway. The idea of only having to buy the furniture once has me sold. We just bought stuff for DS1 that was timeless and would grow really well with him and we'll fork the money over for this one too. Gladly!

SMM1986 · November 2013

Convertible!

Junebug060609 · November 2013

Convertible.

Laura_Elaine · November 2013

My ILs bought us a convertable crib with #1 (kind of annoying as they bought me a whole nursery outfit before I registered, I had no say whatsoever... but it all turned out alright.) Anyway, my point being we have about a kid a year (one in 2010, one in 2011, one in 2012, and this one in 2014) and will probably continue for a few more years and we will probably never have a chance to convert the crib because we'll have a long-standing need for a crib.

This past summer, DH build toddler bunk beds for DS and DD1 (they love it!) and DD2 is in a crib, and this LO will be in our second crib (sadly it doesn't match, but my long-term dream is to buy at least two matching cribs, if not three... like I said, *long-term* dream)

So, a lot of side tracks to my comment, sorry, but if you're not planning on having kids close together, or you wouldn't mind at some point buying another crib if you need it when the convertable crib has been converted... it doesn't matter much.

Also to be factored in, the pieces needed for conversion are extra and aren't included... at least not with the one we have. Don't know how much extra those pieces are, but that's just one more expense to considered.

CMDR513 · November 2013

Another Convertible fan here.

Chellbell20 · November 2013

Convertible. We actually moved DD to a twin (my sisters old furniture) and kept the crib for now. Once this LO outgrows the crib we'll convert it.

shaunamw · November 2013

Convertible and we bought the parts when we bought the crib they were only $100 more.

alphalyrae · November 2013

I'm a FTM, but MIL suggested Convertible crib. She had two children, within 12 months (Irish Twins). They bought each of them a convertible crib. The crib turned into a toddler bed and then into a twin bed. Our convertible crib converts to a toddler bed and then to a full size bed. We'll absolutely purchase convertible crib sets with what will hopefully be LO2 and LO3 in the next few years. Almost all of the cribs we looked at, at Behr's furniture were convertible now. I only have a handful of friends who opted for non-convertible cribs.

runningmama2013 · November 2013

We did a regular crib, not a convertible, because we planned to be having more kids soon and didn't see the benefit of it. We actually moved my daughter from her crib to a twin bed rather than a toddler bed at 2.5 (old, I know, but she loved that crib!), and she did great. Ikea has pretty cheap toddler beds if you plan to have children close in age, I just felt like the toddler bed would only last us a year or two so we did twin beds when both kids got out of the crib.

princesscays · November 2013

We bought the convertible crib w baby #1. When it was time to take it down we just put it away for baby #2 and got her a full sized bed. We had not purchased the conversion kit bc we wanted to go straight into making her room a kid room. I'm sure we will do the same with #2!

JennyLynne · November 2013

Not a STM, but we're going with non-convertible. My reasoning is that I don't typically like the style of of headboard that the cribs convert into when it goes up to a full bed. As far as toddler bed goes, I'm not 100% convinced yet that they're really necessary after the research I've done. Plus the crib that I am in LOVE with isn't convertible

Katemr1146 · November 2013

I'm not planning on buying a convertible crib. We're planning on kids one right after the other, so we'll just use the same crib and buy twin beds. I agree with @JennLynne that I don't like the style of headboards that cribs convert into. I think I'll be sick of any specific style we chose for the nursery. I'd rather buy something new later.

spinsoffresonance · November 2013

Our crib is a hand-me-down from the neighbors. It's not a convertible and I wasn't planning on getting one. (It does convert to a toddler bed but that's it.) We're having 2 under 2 so DD is going into a twin bed when LO2 goes into the crib. I don't really see the point of the convertible that converts to a full size bed.. When they're little they'd rather have a twin to allow more floor space to play. By the time the kids are big enough for a full size bed they'll want to pick out their own furniture and there's no guarantee that what you buy now is what they'll want.

strawberrytree · December 2013

We have a regular crib because we are planning on having 4 children, and unless the government plans on massive salary raises for teachers in the next few years I can't see us ever living in a house that has room for each kid to have their own room big enough for a full sized bed that would use the headboard and footboard. By the time they're ready to move out on their own, the headboard and footboard will have been sitting in storage for about 17 years. It makes no sense for us (and anyway I don't like the look of a lot of convertible cribs out there, or the headboard/footboards they convert to).

We have an Ikea crib that DS2 will inherit when DS1 moves into a toddler bed. They will probably share a room for most of their childhood, so when they're old enough for big kid beds we'll move them into bunk beds.

deanna1313 · November 2013

Thanks.
@LauraElaine I'm 31 so I imagine they will be somewhat close in age based off of my age alone.
I can see both sides of it and that's why I'm confused, I guess. Not sure about how they look when they turn into a full size bed. I love the idea of not having to buy kids furniture and a toddler bed after, though.
Still confused, but your opinions are helping!

MeredithElese · November 2013

Convertible here too. DD went to a toddler bed at 15mo (because we moved) and Santa is bringing her a "big sister bed" for Christmas (now 2.5yrs) so that we can turn it into a crib again. Ours has been perfect timing. I think one unknown for you is how long your LO will be in a crib in relation to your next kid. If they're like runningmamas kiddo then your crib will last a while. If you're looking at a few years between kids then it might be worth it for that transition time.

sammy.k · November 2013

Convertible! DS is almost 4 and is still in the convertible bed.

deanna1313 · November 2013

@Katemr1146 and @JennLynne I agree about not being a fan of the headboard/ footboard when they turn into a full size bed. They don't look like kids furniture. I also don't think my little toddler needs a full size. This is why I've been on the fence about it.

Also, my kids will be close in age so that alone may have me leaning toward the regular crib. They are both bet nice options depending on the person.

deanna1313 · November 2013

Thanks everyone!!! I feel like every decision is such a big one and overwhelming. It doesn't help that Everything is so expensive and I don't want to make a bad choice.

ksyknelvr73 · November 2013

We have a convertible for DS and are buying another convertible this time.

deanna1313 · December 2013

@strawberrytree good point about sharing rooms. I'm not sure how many kids we are going to have, but if we have to share a room I can't imagine squeezing two full size beds in one room either. Something for me to think about.

Miles2Go · December 2013

We bought a convertible and dd has slept in it MAYBE a dozen times. She started in a cosleeper, and then it became apparent that bed sharing was the only thing that was going to work for us. I set it up as a side car and even though I tried to keep her in there, she discovered she could just crawl into the main bed. When she moved to her room, she went to a twin mattress on the floor. I'm hoping LO will use it, otherwise it's just expensive decor. I think we'll get use out if it as a full bed, though.

Didn't read all the replies, but just in case no one mentioned it, if you go with the convertible, buy the bed rail converter kit at the same time. Your model may be discontinued by the time you need them, and if so, you won't be able to convert it.

MIZZOU527 · December 2013

Convertible here too

Surreal123 · December 2013

I bought a convertible crib with DD1 with all the conversion pieces and I thought at the time it would be a mistake. Within 2 months of using the crib I scratched both sides of the headboard with the super tight mattress. I don't see how the cribs survive to turn into full size beds for a decent amount of time. I think most cribs out there are convertible...must be because people love it.

ThereBeDragons · December 2013

We have a convertible that transitions into a twin. One of the big pluses for that crib was how much we liked the look of the crib, the toddler conversion, and the twin conversion- it's super cute and has a sleigh like headboard as a twin. We did buy all of the kits at the time we bought the crib though- which turned out to be important as our model is now discontinued. We've just stashed the conversion kit up at the top of our closet shelf until its needed.

lorist202 · December 2013

We bought a convertible for DS, and never used it- he went directly to a twin bed, and wanted nothing to do with the converted crib. However, I feel better knowing that we can convert the crib when LO #2 needs it, if we don't go the twin route for some reason. Kids are just funny during transitions!

JACKIE_RS88 · December 2013

We did convertible. LO#2 is on the way and DS is nowhere near ready to be out of the crib. We'll get a matching crib. I now wish I would of gotten a convertible crib that went from crib, toddler, to twin instead of full size. The bedrooms would look much nicer with twin size beds in the long run than full size beds. I'm thinking we'll probably sell the cribs after the toddler stage.

Convertible crib vs. regular crib

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