Cheap Baby Cribs - Advantages and Disadvantages
After bringing your new bundle of joy home for the very first time you’ll want to make sure you have certain items already on hand, like essentials including their crib or bassinet. 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 US, for example, has compulsory safety standards, covering things such as the gap between the cribs slats or bars. A key factor to consider is the height of the safety rails, taken from the top of the mattress where the baby will be standing much sooner than you think.
Also, never buy or borrow a crib that was made before the year 1978 as there’s a high likelihood that it will contain lead in the finish.
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.
To buy a cheap crib remains an option for those strapped for cash, because the safety standards are the same for cheap and expensive cribs. 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.
Examples of well made but relatively cheap baby cribs are Jenny Lind, Great Beginnings and Graco.
The Disadvantages of Buying Cheap Baby Cribs
Inexpensive cribs are rarely made from “real” wood, which makes them not quite as strong and durable as their authentic counterparts. It is best to make sure you have a strong and sturdy crib, to ensure it survives the active youngster who will be jumping up and down and shaking the bars in just a few short months’ time.
Cheap baby cribs may turn out to be moie expensive if you have a boisterous offspring who jumps up and down and damages the crib, causing you to buy a replacement, but generally the more expensive cribs are better constructed, with higher quality wood and fittings. A lock on the railings of the crib is an essential feature for both cheap and luxury cribs, as this will stop your active baby lowering the side as they get older.
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.