crib help

I just got back from BRU and picked out a new furniture set. There were 2 cribs to choose from- a convertible one where the side does not drop down, or the one that doesn't convert but the side does drop down.
The 2nd one didn't feel as sturdy, but it was the drop down piece and its on those plastic rail type things, so that could be why..Otherwise the crib was fine.
The convertible one felt more sturdy I guess because the side doesn't move. So, if the mattress is low, i might have a problem getting the baby out.
We don't necessarily need a convertible crib.

What would you recommend?

i put pics of both. It would be in a natural wood color.
The first is the convertible, the second is the single.

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Re: crib help

As a BTDT, I say do not buy a crib without a drop down side. I have one where the side does not go down and although it does the trick and I will use it for baby number 2 (when the time comes) I wish I had bought one with a drop down side.

I hurt my back earlier this year and I could not put my son down or pick him up for a month, it was horrible. I borrowed a drop side one from a friend when my son was sleeping in my room last year and it was absolutely wonderful...

Re: crib help

I am short. After buying our drop side crib, I am so glad we did.

My questions to you are:

- Will you have room in the child's bedroom to have a full size bed later (ours doesn't so no need for a convertible bed).

- How tall are you?

- When the child gets bigger (and heavier!) and the mattress is at the lowest setting. Can you reach/put the sleeping baby (as a dead weight) in the crib without hurting yourself?

Re: crib help

i am not that tall.. depending on where we are living at the time, I dont know if we'd have room. If it was in the room we are using now, definitely not.

And no, i probably couldn't reach over..

Okay girls...i think it makes more sense to get the one with the drop down side..

Thank you

Re: crib help

DH and I are both 6 ft and that was our deciding factor in not having drop down sides

Re: crib help

I say drop down side all the way but you knew that already

Re: crib help

I was going to get the convertible no drop side at first. Then after more research I realized it would not fit and I would not be able to reach the baby.

You can find a convertible bed with drop side but if you don't have the room, the full size bed capability becomes useless really! Then you have to buy a toddler bed/twin bed. It was not worst the extra money for us.

Re: crib help

I think it depends on what you want. I wanted furniture that would last a long time, so we wanted the convertable. We are both tall, so we thought that would be OK.

In the beginning - there is no problem. When you lower the mattress, babies help you to get them out too.

The only issue I had was putting DS in sleeping when my belly started popping with #2.

Re: crib help

It is really what you want. I have to say I have a drop down side and totally recommend it. I am tall and never used it at first but it really helps to change sheets and now that I am preggo with #2 the belly just gets in the way - I need to drop it down to put DS in and out of the crib.

As for the converible - mine has the option to convert to a toddler and full sized bed (not something I looked for but happen to have on the crib I picked) - but DS has loved his crib (he's 2) so I haven't converted it and with #2 on the way - we are just keeping it as a crib and getting DS a big boy bed and skipping toddler bed. So it is great to have but depends on your needs. For me I don't see me needing the feature for a long time.