Your baby’s safety and comfort are primary concerns when choosing a crib. After all, a crib is the one place where you leave your child unattended for significant periods of time. Aside from safety concerns, style and long-term use are also factors parents consider when choosing the perfect crib. If you are in the market for a new crib, here are some tips you may want to keep in mind:
Look at the crib’s overall durability. Get up close and personal with the floor model. Shake, tug, and pull at it to see if it can withstand the stress of caging in a wild child who is furious about having to take a nap. If the crib is shaky or wobbly on the store floor, move on. Don’t bother to ask yourself what it will be like in two years. Test the spindles; they shouldn’t flex. Test the crib’s finish; it should be smooth and durable. Test the crib’s hardware; plastic can break and potentially become a safety hazard. Take time to examine every inch of the crib.
Look at the quality of the wood. Hardwood will hold screws and nails more securely for a longer period of time than softwood. Hardwood is also more expensive, but then again, you can’t put a price tag on your child’s safety. During your examination of the wood’s quality, check for any cracks or chipping. Floor models change seasonally. If you notice extensive cracks or chips in the crib’s wood finish, consider it a bad sign. While you may not know exactly how long the crib has been sitting out, it’s a good bet it hasn’t been on display for anywhere near the amount of time your child will be putting it to use.
Finally, conversion cribs, which convert from a crib to a toddler bed and later into a standard full-size bed, are becoming increasingly popular with parents looking to buy furniture that will grow with their child. If you are looking to invest in a piece that will last your child from babyhood to adulthood, this may be a wise purchase.