Classic, Safe Infant Crib/Toddler Bed

If you are looking for a timeless classic with natural wood that will last for generations and is safe, this is the crib for you. Bonus: it's under $125! I am 30 years old, and the crib my brother and I used was carted all over the country by my dad in hopes it would be used by the grandkids. It was the exact same crib, only the spindles were too far apart for today's standards, so I ordered this new version. I kept the hardware from my old crib, as it fits this new crib too (!) just in case I ever need another part (I doubt it, but you never know).

The best thing about this crib is that it is very easy to put together with a screwdriver and the provided hex wrench, except for tightening the bolts between the crib rods and headboards (very very tight fit with hex wrench, but doable). Whoever wrote the directions for assembly actually writes fluent English, assumes you have no technical background, and is very specific, which makes for an easy assembly. I did most of it alone, with my husband just steadying a couple of big pieces once in awhile. It was an under-one-hour assembly.

Our crib had 4 different mattress heights, so you can balance convenience for you and safety for baby as they get older and taller. The mattress lowers with 4 hex screws--you just undo each corner support screw and move the mattress frame brackets down to whatever height you want, and then put the screws back in. No biggie there.

When your baby becomes a toddler, there are specific directions for removing the casters and drop side/hardware on the front, to make a "daybed" type toddler bed until your toddler gets a "big person" bed.

The drop side (only on the front side, not both sides) is lowered by using your foot to press the stabilizer bar (underneath drop side) in towards the crib while lifting, then lowering the drop side. The drop side is returned to full height by pulling up until the stabilizer bar clicks under the drop side. Easy, even with one hand/foot. There are bumper springs to keep the drop side from slamming on hardware when lowered, so you don't have to worry about that.

There are plastic teething covers on both the front and back top sides of the crib, so you don't have to worry about baby cutting teeth all over your crib sides and leaving marks or chewing on varnish.

Our crib is maple, but the crib comes in several different woods/colors. They are all timeless, and unless the safety standards change, these cribs will last for generations and look good in any nursery, no matter the decor. They are very sturdy.

We have a changing table that we bought separately from a different manufacturer, that lays on top of about 1.5 feet of both the front and back sides, and is level when the drop side is lowered. Our daughter is 14 months now, so about 23 pounds, and I have no worries about the changing table/crib side supporting her. In the mornings, she is standing in the crib and shaking the sides, but nothing has ever worked loose.

Cleaning is really easy--just dust it once in awhile. The drop side goes low enough that even a short person (I'm 5'2") easily bends over to change the sheets without indenting their torso.

This is just a great, quality, safe, inexpensive crib that will go with any decor, last until baby outgrows a toddler bed, and takes standard sized baby mattresses. It comes with a one-year guarantee. We got ours through JCPenney. It came in a big box, about 5 feet by 4 feet by 1 foot. I would suggest having it delivered unless you own a truck. Until it is out of the box, it is rather heavy and awkward to maneuver.

UPDATE: My daughter is now 45 months old, and we are still using this as her bed. We keep the front dropped down all of the time, and just use it as a toddler bed. We thought about taking the front side off, like it says, but opted to keep it on so that she couldn't roll out of bed. She easily climbs in and out of her own accord, and still fits in the bed easily and has not voiced any complaints, so we haven't 'moved on' yet. I was originally going to get her a twin bed and push it against the wall and put a guard on the opposite side to keep her from falling out, but after reading stories of kids getting stuck between the wall and bed (and even dying), I decided it would be safer to keep her in the crib, where she is safe, and cannot suffocate no matter where she ends up. The casters were taken off long ago, so the bed doesn't roll with her movements, but it is still going strong. She weighs about 37 pounds, and it's as sturdy as day one!!!