Blog
How to Hunt for Top Rate Baby Cribs
With a brand new baby that sleeps around 16 hours a day, it’s important to make sure you get the perfect crib. The challenge is finding a baby crib that meets all your needs and wants! I’m here to fill you in on the secrets to acquiring the crib that you want and creating that ideal nursery to meet all your baby’s sleep time needs today and in the future.
Secret #1: Do Your Research.
Some people see a cute crib, like the style and just want to buy it right away. Make sure not to buy a crib on style alone, especially if you’ve never researched brands and styles before. You might even find one, half the price that is just as gorgeous in better finishes or colors. You can also check out what other parents are saying online about the crib you like. They’ve been there and have a firsthand look at pros and cons on things no one can even think of until your baby is in the crib.
Secret #2: Read up on the Manufacturer.
Every reputable crib brand has a website. Once you find cribs you are interested in, be sure to check out their website and learn more about them. Will they be helpful with any problems or missing parts? How long have they been in business? How, where and what are their cribs made of? Are they certified with the JPMA and meet all US standards? These are super important questions you’ll want answered.
Secret #3: Check Crib and Part Recalls.
A great place to reseach crib recalls is at CPSC.gov. They have been reporting recalls since the early 70’s and even have an archive you can look up if you want a hand-me-down. Another thing to check for is problematic parts. Sometimes organizations put reports out on certain features like the recently reported drop-side options, and the crib isn’t recalled, but there is a warning on purchasing cribs with that feature. There is a warning on the drop-side, but not all brands have been recalled. It’s a choice on if you want this option, but you should always know risks with certain styles.
Secret #4: What Features in Baby Cribs are Most Important to You?
Another important decision when buying a baby crib is deciding what features are most important to you. Will you want a crib with converting options? If so, how many stages? Do you want a trundle, built in storage or changing table? There are so many options on today’s baby cribs. You can get just about any color, style and feature you’re looking for! Make a list of the needs and wants and prioritize them, so that you can stay within your budget.
Secret #5: Measure your baby’s nursery.
Measure the size of the nursery, as well as, the dimensions of the space where you want to place your baby crib. The eyes can play tricks on you so measuring it out and looking up the measurements of a standard crib for comparison will be a great thing for you to do. Consider the other furnishings you want in the nursery too. Map out the space and make sure you won’t be cramped and your baby will have plenty of room to play. If you’re short on space, you can get a mini crib that looks exactly like the standard crib but is on a littler scale. Many mini cribs even have converting features.
Secret #6: Placing the Order
You found your crib style, researched the brand, checked recalls and measured your space and are ready to place your order. Now before you order your baby crib, consider the option to get the whole set versus each piece individually. Most brands offer big savings on pairs, trios and even 4-pieces that will supply the whole nursery with what you need. It takes away the fear that finishes won’t match, you can get the whole collection without having something on back order and gives you the option to personalize what kind of storage you need. There’s nothing better than getting everything you need at one time and having it all set-up when baby arrives, rather than looking piece by piece.