Comments on: Get more use out of a convertible crib

By: Rachelle

Rachelle — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 00:05:55 +0000

I don’t understand some peoples comments about having kids close together and needing the crib? We bought furniture for our little one as a set. We got the convertible crib, dresser, nightstand/changing table, and storage bookshelves. This will serve him all the way through high school. When we have other children we fully anticipate on buying them the exact same set of furniture so it can transition with them as well.

Oh…and the total price of ALL our furniture INCLUDING the convertible crib? $450

By: Nicole

Nicole — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 03:54:07 +0000

Bought a beautiful natural wood convertible crib for dear daughter; then 2 yrs later and 4 yrs later 2 addl children born so needed the crib for them. It seems like when the children turned about 3 or so we wanted to by them big kids furniture anyway. This time around prob will not use it bec will need big kid furniture anyway so will likely get a matching set. I now believe one should go with the least expensive and simplest design for infants whatever the product may be, bec theres so much more around the corner!

By: Kris

Kris — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 15:01:44 +0000

We went with the IKEA crib as well, a model they don’t sell anymore. As far as I know, all IKEA cribs convert to to a toddler bed, but not to a double. The one we bought was solid wood and very sturdy. No particle board involved, and it was only $120. I didn’t want the convertible bed, but since it came with, we’ll use it. When he gets bigger or gets a sibling, he’ll get a twin bed.

By: Celt

Celt — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 05:58:34 +0000

I used to work for a major name brand children’s home furnishings retailer. Convertible cribs were very popular, but most people did NOT convert these cribs into beds because either a) they had a second kid or b) They lost the conversion kit bits and pieces, and by the time they came back to us to get a replacement kit the model would have been discontinued.

By: jennyg

jennyg — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 15:19:31 +0000

Hi:

We got a “semi” convertible crib which we used in a sidecar style attached to our bed. Our child is a thrashing, flopping sleeper, so the “toddler bed” did not work at all. She fell out of it almost every time she used it. We ended up just putting an aerobed on the floor for her in her room (her “nest”),which she loves, and is big enough for us to co-sleep with her in her room, which we do often. And she can’t fall out! In terms of uncluttering, aerobeds are just awesome. -j

By: Ellen

Ellen — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 04:23:08 +0000

For even less clutter: skip the crib entirely! Ours slept with us as babies, moved to sleeping pads in our room as toddlers, and eventually got twin beds when they got big enough to want them.

(We actually did have a crib for #1, thinking he might nap in it now and then, but that didn’t happen and we gave it away long before #2 came along.

And before anyone begins the “cribs are safer than cosleeping” speech — the research really doesn’t support it. See http://www.askdrsears.com/html/10/T102200.asp if you’re interested.)

By: David

David — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 01:23:14 +0000

convertible or not? what does it matter — just buy what you like when it’s time to buy — worry about “big boy” or “big girl” bed later

we skipped toddler beds with both kids — twin bed with bunkie board (like http://tinyurl.com/bunkieboard ) worked very well — quite a bit lower than using a box spring

used crib = fine, as long as you know how to use a measuring tape

used car seat = no way, no way, no way

By: Erin Doland

Erin Doland — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 14:28:57 +0000

@Michele — Unclutterer is not an anti-consumer blog. We have written in detail on this point many times in the past. In fact, our site philosophy details our position:

http://unclutterer.com/2007/01.....le-living/

By: Michele

Michele — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 13:45:13 +0000

Three hundred dollars is a lot of freakin’ money. Must be nice! It’s cheaper to get a low-cost crib and then move the kid to a twin-size bed that any child or adult can use — and we never even used a crib, because we were co-sleeping hippies.

I’ve been seeing more and more high-cost options and advice in Unclutterer lately. I, for one, find it really disappointing, and generally useless.

By: Michael G

Michael G — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 06:10:05 +0000

That reminds me of a quip I often share with my parent coaching clients that is actually true, which is similar to the original post. “We knew that Hannah was ready to move out of her crib when one day we found her climbing out of it…and we hadn’t put her into it.” That pretty much tells you the safety purposes of the crib are out the window.

By: Rachel

Rachel — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 21:14:41 +0000

I think the overall idea of this post was to show that there are long-term options for seemingly short-term troubles. How many parents out there are hoping/wishing/asking for storage solutions for baby furnishings while in between children or after their child has out grown its use. “I dont want to give it away or sell it – it was such a nice crib/playpen/stroller”
A viable solution for some could be a piece of furniture (or several) that the child could literally grow up using. While some options are more expensive (and should therefore be treated as a long-term investment piece) and others are more affordable, I truly think the intention of this post was to get us thinking about not only multi-function or multi-stage baby furniture, but other types of furniture with similar utility. I personally have an ottoman that serves as a coffee table, additional seating, service trays, and blanket sorage.
And by the way, my husband and I are 30 and we use his convertible crib and dresser to this day in our guest bedroom. If the bed were larger than full size, we’d be using it in our bedroom. His parents purchased a set for him and his sister as long-term pieces of beautiful furniture that could be utilized for many, many years. Once he out grew the use for a crib, the “crib pieces” were discarded (or, those small rails are a lot easier to keep around than an entire crib in the off chance your kid has a kid). I honestly hope to be able to do the same for my children.

By: jocelyn

jocelyn — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 20:25:14 +0000

safe slat space seems to be 2 3/8″

http://www.babycenter.com/0_ho.....owAll=true

By: jocelyn

jocelyn — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 20:23:20 +0000

Aren’t there railing guards to protect furniture from teething (and babies from eating paint)?

By: Karyn

Karyn — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 17:10:14 +0000

I agree that this is not a solution for everyone. We did buy a convertible crib for our oldest, but only because it was the only crib in the store that a) didn’t have wheels and b) wasn’t shaky and wobbly. I did like that we could take one side off to help him transition to a twin mattress on the floor.

My advice to most parents: Buy a regular crib. Transition to a mattress that you place on the floor–if they roll out while getting used to it, they won’t bump themselves hard.

This worked for my family since I have a small phobia about the Space Under the Bed which i totally projected onto my kids and freaked out about them having a Space Under the Bed…so now everyone has a box spring/mattress on the floor after they outgrow the crib. Works for us.

By: Catharine

Catharine — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 15:14:35 +0000

As a mother of soon to be 3 little girls(im due in january)I have to say that this is not the best piece of advice. A lot of my friends bought a convertible crib and because their little one used it as a teething toy they are not about to convert it to a nice looking bed. The best thing to do is to buy a cheapo crib from a place like walmart (we got ours for $80) and then just buy a twin bed when they are ready to transition….We just bought bunkbeds for our girls (a little over $400 for the bed and 2 twin mattresses new…but we live in Italy so things are a little more expensive than in the states)if they ever decide thay dont want the bunkbed then we can have the choice of making them into seprate twin beds….now thats $400 well spent