do you agree or am i overreacting? regarding a 30 year old crib

my mom apparently still has my crib from when i was a baby. i'm 31.

she had my father take it down from the attic and clean it up today to put it together. i told her no way are my kids sleeping in it. here are my reasons

1) it's a drop side
2) it's 31 years old
3) she doesn't have the directions to properly put it together again
4) we can get a brand new safe crib for cheap
5) we don't know the condition of the parts

i put my foot down and told her no way, so my kids are definitely not sleeping in it. she doesn't really understand why i'm concerned but agreed to respect my decision. i really believe i'm right. i'm not chancing my children's safety even if they only sleep in it a handful of times a year. the safety of an old crib can't be too high EVEN if it's in perfect condition, maintained properly and put together correctly.

i will gladly spend the money and buy her a new crib. do you agree i did the right thing or did i overreact?

Re: do you agree or am i overreacting? regarding a 30 year old crib

I agree. My MIL had this rickey old crib from her kids (the oldest who is 41!) and thought it was in fine condition. DH told her to throw it away.

Re: do you agree or am i overreacting? regarding a 30 year old crib

I wouldn't have said no. I mean if its only a few times, I see nothing wrong with it. Thats just me. People pass on OLD bassinets. So, really its kind of the same.

Re: do you agree or am i overreacting? regarding a 30 year old crib

You absolutely did the right thing for all the reasons you listed, and more. There might even be lead paint used on all or part of the crib I'm glad she's ok with your decision, perhaps show her the baby bargains passage on used cribs if you have the book?

Re: do you agree or am i overreacting? regarding a 30 year old crib

My kids sleep in a 32 year old at my moms, it is sturdier than all the ones that are around today
#2 I have a drop side crib for my girls

Re: do you agree or am i overreacting? regarding a 30 year old crib

You're right.

My MIL had saved the crib DH & BIL used. She got really mad at us when we told her we wouldn't use it. FIL pulled DH aside later and told him that he kept telling her it was too old but she wouldn't let him get rid of it.

K - if you're lurking, it was avacado green with some random orange and yellow pattern on it. I bet you would have loved to have it.

Re: do you agree or am i overreacting? regarding a 30 year old crib

agreed...i would get a cheap porta crib for the sleepovers there.

....

Message edited 3/7/2013 3:00:29 PM.

Re: do you agree or am i overreacting? regarding a 30 year old crib

I am not one to get worried about much, but a 30 year old crib is definitely something I would say no to. And did. When my mother told me she still had my crib, I explained to her that the safety standards have come a LONG way since then and there's a reason they update the standards for these things. That's all I needed to say and she completely understood. I even mentioned that they didn't test the paints they put on those cribs good enough back then. I would mention those things and she'll understand, hopefully.

Re: do you agree or am i overreacting? regarding a 30 year old crib

i would feel the same as you.

Re: do you agree or am i overreacting? regarding a 30 year old crib

My DS sleeps in my crib from when I was a baby when he stays at my mom's house.

It's 30 years old, a drop side, my dad figured out how to put it together again, and we couldn't afford a new one

If I felt, for even one second, after it was put together that it wasn't 1000% safe I would have said no way. But he sleeps in there maybe once every 4-5 months, and DD will too. And we do not ever use the drop side. It's up at all times.

In your case, since you can get a new crib, that is what I would do. But I honestly wouldn't have a problem using the old one.

ETA: This crib is wood, no paint, so that was never a concern for me.

Message edited 1/7/2010 7:25:48 PM.

Re: do you agree or am i overreacting? regarding a 30 year old crib

My mom has our crib from when were kids set up at her house. My oldest sister is 36. She used it on my niece and nephews and now she uses it for my DD. My mom watches her maybe 3-4 times a year and I checked out the crib and it seemed very sturdy.

It's all about your comfort level though. If you are not comfortable with it and you can afford to get her a new one, then by all means get a new one for her.

Re: do you agree or am i overreacting? regarding a 30 year old crib

Posted by colette

You absolutely did the right thing for all the reasons you listed, and more. There might even be lead paint used on all or part of the crib I'm glad she's ok with your decision, perhaps show her the baby bargains passage on used cribs if you have the book?

Re: do you agree or am i overreacting? regarding a 30 year old crib

I agree with you on this! We have a bassinet that is passed down and about 90 something years old, but it doesn't have to be put together and it doesn't have a drop down side. I think everyone has to do what they are comfortable with.

Re: do you agree or am i overreacting? regarding a 30 year old crib

I agree with you. You have to do what you feel most comfortable with.
Although I do think its cute that your mom still has your crib.

Re: do you agree or am i overreacting? regarding a 30 year old crib

I think you did the right thing. The slats on those old cribs were really far apart weren't they?

You can get a brand new safe crib for not much more than $100 at Toys R Us, Babies R Us, Kmart, etc.

Re: do you agree or am i overreacting? regarding a 30 year old crib

I would absolutely NOT use a 31 year old crib. No way. No how. Any book, website, or doctor will tell you the same. You totally did the right thing.

Re: do you agree or am i overreacting? regarding a 30 year old crib

I agree- NO WAY

Re: do you agree or am i overreacting? regarding a 30 year old crib

If it makes you uncomfortable, then by all means, you are right.

My parents also kept my crib from when I was a baby...and it's over 30 years old, and Lily sleeps in it almost every day because my dad watches her. It's a sturdy crib and it's in excellent condition, so I trust it. But that's me.

Re: do you agree or am i overreacting? regarding a 30 year old crib

I would not want to use it either.

Re: do you agree or am i overreacting? regarding a 30 year old crib

I agree, you did the right thing!
I'm glad your mom respected your decision.

Re: do you agree or am i overreacting? regarding a 30 year old crib

arent drop side cribs banned anyway...there is no way in h I would use that crib...

Re: do you agree or am i overreacting? regarding a 30 year old crib

I think you did the right thing. My family whipped out an OLD old high chair, without even a strap and I declined using it. You did the right and recommended thing to do.

Re: do you agree or am i overreacting? regarding a 30 year old crib

I wouldn't feel comfortable using it either.

Re: do you agree or am i overreacting? regarding a 30 year old crib

I COMPLETELY agree with you. FIL was trying to give us old wooden blocks that belonged to his 80 year old mother when she was a girl and a playpen from our niece (who is 12) and other things and I said that today's safety standards are SO different than they were even 5 years ago so thank you but no.