Cheap Baby Cribs – Advantages and Disadvantages
When you bring your bouncing new baby home, you will want to have essentials in place ready, including the baby’s crib. But with all of the many varieties on the market today and with most people attempting to stick to some type of budget, how is one to know what to look for, which brand or model is better than another, or how cheap is “too cheap?”
Government safety standards for cribs are there for very good reasons, so take them into account when choosing a crib for your newborn, or expected, baby. The USA has baby crib standards which coverbar or slat size and the distance or gap between them. The height to the top of the safety rails is important when considering safety, but bear in mind that it is the distance from the top of mattress which is key.
Further, cribs made before 1978 probably contained lead in the paint, so be cautious when buying second hand.
The Advantages of Buying Cheap Baby Cribs
If you’re on a budget, cheap baby cribs can be a real lifesaver, provided of course, that they meet all of the necessary safety requirements and are well constructed. Inexpensive cribs will also allow for more monies to be spent on other much needed items, such as the crib’s bedding, bumper pads if you choose to use them, blankets, and the ever essential mattress pads, not to mention all of the other things baby will need like a stroller, or a walker, a high chair, and a playpen.
Buying cheap baby cribs should be fine from a safety point of view, as the same standards apply, but they may just not last as long or have the design features of a more expensive crib. There’s no way to be sure that an older, used model will meet the safety standards of today, or that it wasn’t subject to a recall in years past unbeknownst even to the seller.
DaVinci, Great Beginnings and Jerry Lind are good examples of well manufactured but inexpensive baby cribs.
The Disadvantages of Buying Cheap Baby Cribs
Cheap baby cribs are rarely made from “real” wood, which makes them not quite as strong and durable as their authentic counterparts. A crib must be sturdy, particularly as baby grows and begins to explore their environment and inadvertently tip the crib over, and the cheapest of cribs will usually not offer the level of sturdiness needed that those made from woods such as oak or maple will.
Some cheaper baby cribs also may not have all of the same features that more expensive models do, including mattresses that are fully adjustable, making it much easier to lift baby in and out of the crib when they’re small and unable to climb out, or railings that are convenient to raise and lower, especially while holding baby. One vital safety feature to watch for is an easy to use but effective safety lock on the side rails, so the baby cannot find an easy way out as they become active later.
Some other possible risks of purchasing cheap baby cribs are manufacturing defects, such as sharp edges or points, creases and cracks, or holes or splinters in the wood. While we all want to get a good bargain and save money whenever we can, sacrificing our baby’s safety or well being certainly isn’t worth saving a few dollars.
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