My MIL wants to use a 29 year old portable crib

omgthisisit · April 2015

My MIL was in town this last weekend and she has all these plans that were really making this first time mom nervous. She said she has a portable crib that she used for my husband and his brother 29 and 26 years ago that she plans to use for our baby when we visit her in CA. She is so excited about it. It has been in her attic since the boys grew out of it. Is this safe to use? Is it worth asking her to get something new? We live in Texas so traveling with bedding would be a hassle. She has plenty of money but a huge reason she has lots of money is because she is so cheap. What are your thoughts?

MrsLawson15 · April 2015

I would bring your pack n play just in case. They fold up small so it shouldn't be that bulky.

LadyBlood · April 2015

One: traveling with bedding isn't so hard, a pack n play will work great that our plan for whenever we travel once he out grows the travel bassinet we got at the shower. And two: i personally wouldn't want to use a crib that's 30 years old that hasn't been reenforced or made safer in anyway. There has been a lot of advancements to make things safer in the last 30 years. But that's just my personal opinion.

backwoodsbarbie2k15 · April 2015

If they don't make it in the stores anymore, there's a reason it's not around. Id say noooo way! Bring a pack and play

omgthisisit · April 2015

Thank you!!!! I'll just do that and save the trouble of even discussing it with her

MrsWhiteToBe · April 2015

I read somewhere that experts don't recommend using a crib that is more than 7 years old. I'm a FTM too though so I don't really know

backwoodsbarbie2k15 · April 2015

Especially if it has drop sides it's a no no. And thats how cribs used to be back then. They don't sell them anymore, anywhere. For a reason(; if she asks, you could politely say it's not safe to use a crib over *blank* years old.

omgthisisit · April 2015

Thank yall!!!! I'm feeling like I'm not as crazy. If anyone finds anything to support this Id love that cause my husband feels bad offending his mom But hopefully we can be as polite as possible

backwoodsbarbie2k15 · April 2015

https://www.kidsindanger.org/product-hazards/cribs/

backwoodsbarbie2k15 · April 2015

https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2012/05/13-dangerous-baby-products-to-avoid/index.htm

backwoodsbarbie2k15 · April 2015

https://www.cpsc.gov/en/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-Centers/cribs/

katiebug66 · April 2015

My MIL did this too with my first. She bragged how this crib had been in the family for generations and survived a fire. We told her the baby wasn't staying in it. She took his picture in it and was happy. I mean come on.

saric83 · April 2015

I would just bring your own (definitely do not ask her to go buy something) and play it off like, "Oh, this is how he/she sleeps the best, so we wanted to make sure to have it, so he/she is in the best mood to play with grandma while we're here!"

My MIL and step-FIL bought an older crib and put it in one of their spare rooms for whenever we visit as we're there a few times a year. When we go, we'll just bring our pack n play and not even mention a word to them unless them come in the room and see it set up by the crib.

MrsS728 · April 2015

We have a bassinet that my grandfather made over 30 years ago. We plan to use it for the baby when she first comes home. My husband has checked it over, reinforced it and made sure that it is safe to have her in it. It wasn't safe for her to be in it prior to him altering the bassinet.

Brieb33 · April 2015

Definitely bring the pack and play!

MrsWhiteToBe · April 2015

Once your LO is born you could also just say they're a fussy sleeper and they'll only sleep in their crib or the pack n play.

carliejo7 · April 2015

What is it with MILs and their whacky ideas?!. I swear sometimes they just want to see our reaction

megmama · April 2015

This sounds like something my MIL would do also! I would politely tell her that you would feel more comfortable using your pack n play, but you appreciate the thought, and she can take some cute pics of the baby in the crib.