Vs standard convertible crib
In preparing for the arrival of our first child, my husband and I have been doing a lot of research on cribs. This is one of the most important purchases we will make for our baby, so we want to make the right decision. So far it has been pretty overwhelming, but for us, the bigger question has been whether we need a convertible crib or a standard crib. It seems like most stores are pushing you towards the convertible, and I couldn’t blame them once I saw the price of one of those pups, but do we really need one?
To help me decide, being the planner that I am, I made a list of the pros and cons of each one. In case other new parents are wondering the same thing, I thought it might help to share. When I started shopping, I thought it was obvious that we would go with a convertible crib. I mean, it becomes a toddler bed and then a full-size or double bed. We would never have to buy another bed again. But after further reflection, I began to see some merit in standard cribs. Typically, I am now overwhelmed by too much information.
CONVERTIBLE CRADLE:
Pros:
Long term savings
Continuous use
environmental friendly
Convenient
Cons:
Rail storage
Expensive
Stuck with the same bed forever
The biggest advantage of a convertible crib is the long-term savings. While you will most likely spend more money upfront than on a standard crib, because these cribs turn into toddler beds and then into single or double beds, you won’t have to keep buying new beds for your growing child. . Often times, the toddler bed phase is skipped when moving from a standard crib to a bed for financial reasons. It is not used for long and may seem like a waste. But many children have a difficult transition when they go straight from crib to bed, so this toddler bed conversion is very convenient.
Another convenience that the convertible crib offers is space. If you plan to have more than one child, a crib is often used for a couple of years and then needs to be put away until you need it for the second child. With a convertible crib, the first child can continue to use it no matter how old they are when the second is born. This saves parents from having to find storage space for a large crib. If your plan is to use a convertible crib for multiple children, be sure to check and make sure your particular crib can be converted upside down. Some cribs, once converted to full-size beds, cannot be converted back to cribs.
Convertible cribs are also friendly to our environment. They do not need to be thrown away as they can be used until the child leaves for college so there is no waste.
STANDARD CRADLE:
Pros:
Cheaper up front
Flexible style (you can buy a new bed in a couple of years)
Space saver
Cons:
Expensive in the long run
I have to buy a new bed for a growing child
The first obvious advantage of buying a standard crib is cost. Typically, standard cribs cost about half the cost of a convertible crib. So, especially for new parents who have a lot of start-up costs, saving money on a nursery staple would be great. In theory, by the time our son is out of the crib, our finances would have recovered from the initial hit (assuming he stops salivating over all the cute boutique baby clothes) and it would be feasible to buy another bed.
Don’t get me wrong though, not all standard cribs are inexpensive. In fact, there are many that are as much or more than a convertible crib. For me, the quality just doesn’t compare. If you buy a standard crib that costs the same as a convertible crib, you will get a stronger, higher quality piece of furniture.
Most of the other advantages of a standard crib are more like the disadvantages of a convertible crib. Standard cribs will save a bit of space as they don’t have bulky conversion rails that need to be stored until use. It is suggested to purchase all conversion kits with your convertible crib in case the manufacturer discontinues your crib before you are ready to convert it.
The biggest advantage to me of a standard crib is that I don’t have to decide what kind of look I want for my child’s bedroom for the whole life before he or she is born. I’m too design nerd not to ever want to redecorate, and I’m pretty sure that by the time my child gets out of the crib, I’ll be ready for a new look, which will include a new bed. Another downside to planning to keep the same bed forever is what if ** gasp ** your perfect child uses his crib as a teether? I have heard from so many parents that this has happened to them. When they were ready to turn their crib into a bed, it was covered in tooth marks from their sweet little razor-toothed angel.
Overall, I feel like the market is pushing parents toward convertible cribs, not necessarily a bad thing. But I like to make my own decisions and not just agree with the crowd. When searching Babies R ‘Us, there are 298 convertible cribs to choose from and just 12 standard cribs. There are advantages and disadvantages to both types of cribs. It is a personal decision based on many different factors for all parents, so do what is best for yourself and your growing family.