Babycenter Best Crib Mattress
As first time parents, my wife and I had to research and buy many new things to prepare for the arrival of our son. One of the biggest decisions, among many, was what crib to buy for him. This would be the first place he would spend most of his time during the first few months in between feedings and diaper changes.Their are plenty of choices out there. You want a crib that is safe, comfortable, and easy to use and clean. But where do you start to look? Are what features are important?Obviously, safety is an important topic. Does the crib come pre-assembled? Do you have to assemble it yourself? Are you handy with tools and assembling things? Are the instructions clear and easy to follow? Have their been any issues with the crib and have the manufacturer recalled that model of crib? Once the crib has been assembled, is it sturdy and functional? Are there any "extra parts" left over? Or are there any missing parts? Some people buy pre-assembled cribs and have them delivered and setup by professionals just in case. It is not rocket science, but depending on your comfort level with assembly and following directions, it might be a necessary option. Being an experienced assembler, fortunately, I did not have to go to that extreme.
Deciding which type of crib and which features are important to you can be a big step too. Do you want stationary sides or do you want drop down sides? Single drop or double drop? Having sides which you can lower to make it easier to access the baby is important for some. But others have concerns about safety and remembering to return the side(s) to the top position afterwards or worry about potential injury with drop down sides.Do you want wheels so that the crib can be moved easily? Do you want a crib that has an adjustable mattress height? This allows the mattress to be higher when the baby is younger and then lowered as the baby gets older so they don't climb out of the crib unattended. Do you want a convertible crib so that you can use the same crib frame for when the baby becomes a toddler. This allows the bed to be used without the sides for a normal bed. But this usually involves a conversion kit purchased later. Most parents just buy a separate bed at that point and either reuse the crib for later children or sell the old crib.
So there are a lot of things to consider when choosing a crib for your new bundle of joy. I haven't even touched on what mattress to buy or what bedding goes great with your new crib. Those will be topics for later discussions.In the meantime, enjoy the waiting and anticipation of your pending new arrival.
