Page 3 of 3
Cribs and Cradles
What about crib-mattress levels? While different models have as many as four levels, a practical, safety-minded parent would say only two are needed: a high position for before the baby is sitting or pulling up, and a very low position to last until the toddler reaches 35 inches in height or can climb or fall over the sides (signs that it's time to move to a regular bed). Also assess the frustration factor for the height-adjustment mechanism; lowering the mattress is one chore you won't want to procrastinate about.
Some cribs boast "convertibility." Remove one side and lower the mattress one last notch, and you have a so-called "junior" bed that uses the same crib bedding and looks like a little daybed. On others you unstack a dresser off the end, put on a longer mattress or mattress extension and have a "youth" bed, which requires sheets in a size that can be hard to find. In the end, most toddlers are quite ready to move directly from a crib to a new and exciting twin-size bed, and anything between is little more than a marketing gimmick.
The only other factors that separate the hundreds of cribs on the market are style, price, and quality. You can buy a crib for as little as $100 at a baby superstore, or pay up to $700 at a high-end shop. Styles range as much as in adult furniture. As this piece will probably be used the shortest length of time of any furniture in the nursery (except the cradle or bassinet), you may want to choose the style of dresser or armoire you like first, and pick the crib to coordinate with it (rather than the other way around). If you plan on using the crib for more than one child, it is probably worth spending a little more for extra sturdiness and a stronger finish. A word to the wise: Buy plastic teething covers for both side rails when you purchase the crib -- babies start gnawing sooner than you think.
Crib mattresses
There are generally two types of crib mattresses to choose from: innerspring and foam, with a wide range of quality and firmness in both types. Prices run from $40 to $150, and you can pay upwards of $600 for an organic-cotton crib mattress. Some higher-end furniture stores sell only innersprings, claiming foam mattresses break down too quickly. But a quality foam mattress will last a long time and can give better value than a cheap innerspring.
Whichever you choose, be certain it fits snugly in the crib you've chosen. Also, babies need good, firm support to prevent suffocation. If the mattress is foam, press your hand on it, and then see how quickly it regains its original shape. The heavier (denser) the foam, the longer the mattress should last. On an innerspring, check not only the number of steel coils but the thickness of the coils, and look for a border rod to give the edges support.
If you want the advantages of both foam and innerspring, seek out one of the new combination mattresses with dense foam on one side, for the baby months, and springs on the other side, for the toddler period.
Some cribs boast "convertibility." Remove one side and lower the mattress one last notch, and you have a so-called "junior" bed that uses the same crib bedding and looks like a little daybed. On others you unstack a dresser off the end, put on a longer mattress or mattress extension and have a "youth" bed, which requires sheets in a size that can be hard to find. In the end, most toddlers are quite ready to move directly from a crib to a new and exciting twin-size bed, and anything between is little more than a marketing gimmick.
The only other factors that separate the hundreds of cribs on the market are style, price, and quality. You can buy a crib for as little as $100 at a baby superstore, or pay up to $700 at a high-end shop. Styles range as much as in adult furniture. As this piece will probably be used the shortest length of time of any furniture in the nursery (except the cradle or bassinet), you may want to choose the style of dresser or armoire you like first, and pick the crib to coordinate with it (rather than the other way around). If you plan on using the crib for more than one child, it is probably worth spending a little more for extra sturdiness and a stronger finish. A word to the wise: Buy plastic teething covers for both side rails when you purchase the crib -- babies start gnawing sooner than you think.
Crib mattresses
There are generally two types of crib mattresses to choose from: innerspring and foam, with a wide range of quality and firmness in both types. Prices run from $40 to $150, and you can pay upwards of $600 for an organic-cotton crib mattress. Some higher-end furniture stores sell only innersprings, claiming foam mattresses break down too quickly. But a quality foam mattress will last a long time and can give better value than a cheap innerspring.
Whichever you choose, be certain it fits snugly in the crib you've chosen. Also, babies need good, firm support to prevent suffocation. If the mattress is foam, press your hand on it, and then see how quickly it regains its original shape. The heavier (denser) the foam, the longer the mattress should last. On an innerspring, check not only the number of steel coils but the thickness of the coils, and look for a border rod to give the edges support.
If you want the advantages of both foam and innerspring, seek out one of the new combination mattresses with dense foam on one side, for the baby months, and springs on the other side, for the toddler period.
