drop-side or standard fixed-side crib
December 17, 2009 7:27 AM Subscribe
Should we opt for the drop-side or standard fixed-side crib? My man's 6'2 and I'm 5'9, so I'm thinking the drop-side may be nice for putting down the (soon-to-be) baby when he gets heavier (especially if I'm pregnant again by then)!
Problem is because of the recall I can't see the floor models anywhere, so I'll have to buy based on online reviews and photos.
Also, do you have a reasonably-priced crib you can suggest?
Problem is because of the recall I can't see the floor models anywhere, so I'll have to buy based on online reviews and photos.
Also, do you have a reasonably-priced crib you can suggest?
What unixrat said (2 kids here).
posted by infinitefloatingbrains at 7:54 AM on December 17, 2009
posted by infinitefloatingbrains at 7:54 AM on December 17, 2009
Drop-side is nice.
To avoid any drop-side recall stress, look for the kind where the drop side rides on vertical steel rods, rather than the sketchy/cheapo kind that may eventually get recalled.
posted by misterbrandt at 7:59 AM on December 17, 2009
To avoid any drop-side recall stress, look for the kind where the drop side rides on vertical steel rods, rather than the sketchy/cheapo kind that may eventually get recalled.
posted by misterbrandt at 7:59 AM on December 17, 2009
Drop sides are dangerous. For just a little extra convenience you add lots of risk. 5'9" is not very short. My wife is 5'3", and our fixed side has been fine. She's pregnant (9 months) as well. Remember that you'll probably be raising the crib mattress a bit by the next the next baby shows up, which will make it easier for you when this baby is bigger and so are you (due to pregnancy).
posted by MustardTent at 8:01 AM on December 17, 2009
posted by MustardTent at 8:01 AM on December 17, 2009
I have heard tales from several parents about toddlers that have figured out how to drop the sides on their own cribs when they want out. While I don't think you know your child's mechanical aptitude yet (I'd be worried if you did), it's a concern.
posted by GJSchaller at 8:05 AM on December 17, 2009
posted by GJSchaller at 8:05 AM on December 17, 2009
2 kids: Drop-side! Our drop-side requires pressing against the bottom of the side, lifting, and then dropping. We never had any trouble with the kids gaming it. Also, the side comes off and we have a 1/2-guard-rail attachment for when they got to ~1.5 years old and could crawl out of bed by themselves safely.
posted by msittig at 8:08 AM on December 17, 2009
posted by msittig at 8:08 AM on December 17, 2009
We had a drop side but rarely, if ever, used the feature.
I'm 6'0
She's 5'9 as well.
posted by csmason at 8:14 AM on December 17, 2009 [1 favorite]
I'm 6'0
She's 5'9 as well.
posted by csmason at 8:14 AM on December 17, 2009 [1 favorite]
MustardTent, your link doesn't say that drop side cribs are dangerous. It says that one particular brand of crib, one with a plastic trigger and one-handed operation, was recalled. In fact, the release specifically says, "This recall does not involve any cribs with metal rod drop-side hardware. It involves only those cribs with plastic trigger and one-hand-system drop-side hardware." You've provided no evidence to support any claim broader than "don't buy this crib that has just been recalled."
posted by decathecting at 8:15 AM on December 17, 2009
posted by decathecting at 8:15 AM on December 17, 2009
I only have one kid (who weighs 28 lbs and has his crib set to the bottom) and I'm 5'8". Our drop front crib was recalled and we replaced it with a fixed front one. I prefer the fixed front. Even when we had the drop front, I didn't use it that often.
posted by drezdn at 8:15 AM on December 17, 2009
posted by drezdn at 8:15 AM on December 17, 2009
We have a fixed side crib. When the baby was very small, the mattress was mounted high, so that we had easy access. When my daughter started pulling up on things, we moved the mattress down. But most of the time when we pick her up, she's standing and holding onto the rails anyway.
No problems for me or mrs. mattybonez so far. Our daughter is almost a year old.
posted by mattybonez at 8:19 AM on December 17, 2009
No problems for me or mrs. mattybonez so far. Our daughter is almost a year old.
posted by mattybonez at 8:19 AM on December 17, 2009
We have a borrowed drop-side crib - and we've never dropped it. I'm 5'4, he's 5'11. If the baby was sleepy, dropping the side always seemed too clunky and noisy to bother with. And now that the baby is 21 months, he just stands up when he's ready to come out anyway.
posted by pinky at 8:27 AM on December 17, 2009
posted by pinky at 8:27 AM on December 17, 2009
MustardTent, your link doesn't say that drop side cribs are dangerous. It says that one particular brand of crib, one with a plastic trigger and one-handed operation, was recalled. In fact, the release specifically says, "This recall does not involve any cribs with metal rod drop-side hardware. It involves only those cribs with plastic trigger and one-hand-system drop-side hardware." You've provided no evidence to support any claim broader than "don't buy this crib that has just been recalled."
I provided an example which was way too easy to locate. Just google for "drop side crib ban" and take a look.
Here's a few other links:
World's standards organization comes down against drop-side cribs.
Consumer advocates are alarmed because most of the recalled products have met the current safety standards for new cribs.
posted by MustardTent at 8:31 AM on December 17, 2009
I provided an example which was way too easy to locate. Just google for "drop side crib ban" and take a look.
Here's a few other links:
World's standards organization comes down against drop-side cribs.
Consumer advocates are alarmed because most of the recalled products have met the current safety standards for new cribs.
posted by MustardTent at 8:31 AM on December 17, 2009
I've only got one kid, but I'd swear by fixed. Drop sides make me nervous. By the time baby gets big enough that the weight is significant, you're not really putting them in and out of the crib very often anyway (since about 4 months old I've only been doing it once per day, as naps happen elsewhere). We've got this one, and it's been great. Same heights here (actually, slightly taller) as well. I'm generally of the opinion that simple is best though. Oh, and make sure your change table is high enough to avoid backache!!
posted by Go Banana at 8:33 AM on December 17, 2009
posted by Go Banana at 8:33 AM on December 17, 2009
IMHO, I would not get a drop-side crib. Just one more hazard to contend with, with not all that much added benefit.
posted by gnutron at 8:53 AM on December 17, 2009
posted by gnutron at 8:53 AM on December 17, 2009
We have a drop side. To drop it, you have to lift up, push in the bottom slightly, and then push down. No way a kid could game it from the inside. No way the rail could be mounted upside down (part of the problem with the recalled parts). We like it. Our baby is almost 7 months, and she's in it several times a day -- for naps and sleep and, becuase the mattress is still high, for diaper changes. We're moving the mattress down soon (she isn't pulling up on anything yet, but probably will be soon), and I'm not sure how I would get her in the crib without the drop side unless I had a step stool (which seems even more dangerous to me). Course I'm only 5 foot 3.
posted by dpx.mfx at 8:59 AM on December 17, 2009
posted by dpx.mfx at 8:59 AM on December 17, 2009
Nthing drop side. Don't get a crap one, don't get the cheapest one.
Because babies get heavy, and they get even heavier when they're sleeping, and when the baby's asleep in your arms, and you want to put him/her in the crib, the number one thing in the world is to keep that baby sleeping during the transition. Drop side makes it 100% easier.
posted by BlahLaLa at 9:17 AM on December 17, 2009
Because babies get heavy, and they get even heavier when they're sleeping, and when the baby's asleep in your arms, and you want to put him/her in the crib, the number one thing in the world is to keep that baby sleeping during the transition. Drop side makes it 100% easier.
posted by BlahLaLa at 9:17 AM on December 17, 2009
We have a borrowed drop-side crib - and we've never dropped it. I'm 5'4, he's 5'11. If the baby was sleepy, dropping the side always seemed too clunky and noisy to bother with. And now that the baby is 21 months, he just stands up when he's ready to come out anyway.
Our measurements and age of our child is similar, and we've also never used the feature. Early on we had the mattress mounted higher in the crib, and then we lowered it once Little B got bigger.
posted by Big_B at 9:23 AM on December 17, 2009
Our measurements and age of our child is similar, and we've also never used the feature. Early on we had the mattress mounted higher in the crib, and then we lowered it once Little B got bigger.
posted by Big_B at 9:23 AM on December 17, 2009
We have the Graco Ashleigh drop side and have not had an issue with either of our twin boys (14 months old now). My wife chose this one because it can be converted into a toddler bed later when the guys are older. I'm 5'9" and she's 5'8" and we've liked having the drop side.
I have heard tales from several parents about toddlers that have figured out how to drop the sides on their own cribs when they want out.
If it comes to this, the kid is probably ready to be in a bed.
And don't let videos of "loose" crib rails scare you -- a couple of millimeters of wiggle room is not a problem.
Ultimately, though, it's probably not a big deal if you get a fixed side crib. Like others have said, when the baby is small and light, you can mount the mattress high so you don't have to reach in too far. When the baby is older and heavier, the mattress should be mounted at its lowest but by then the baby will be sitting up/standing so you won't have to reach all the way to the bottom anyhow.
posted by puritycontrol at 9:55 AM on December 17, 2009
I have heard tales from several parents about toddlers that have figured out how to drop the sides on their own cribs when they want out.
If it comes to this, the kid is probably ready to be in a bed.
And don't let videos of "loose" crib rails scare you -- a couple of millimeters of wiggle room is not a problem.
Ultimately, though, it's probably not a big deal if you get a fixed side crib. Like others have said, when the baby is small and light, you can mount the mattress high so you don't have to reach in too far. When the baby is older and heavier, the mattress should be mounted at its lowest but by then the baby will be sitting up/standing so you won't have to reach all the way to the bottom anyhow.
posted by puritycontrol at 9:55 AM on December 17, 2009
I am 4'11. Yes, you read that right. In theory I am exactly the target audience for the drop side. But I don't have one and I am fine. I've never once considered the fixed side to be an issue. My kiddo is 16 months old now, so we've been doing this for a while. We have the Sniglar crib from Ikea. We have dropped it to its lowest mattress level. I am still able to lift him out just fine. I am very happy with this crib. At $80, it is very reasonably priced. HTH.
posted by rabidsegue at 10:18 AM on December 17, 2009
posted by rabidsegue at 10:18 AM on December 17, 2009
I have a drop side which has been used for two kids. I use it almost every single time I put the baby to bed and haven't had any problems.
But...I am 5'. In shoes. I use the drop side because without the side dropped, I can't reach to lay the baby down on the mattress without painfully leaning over the (raised) side. I imagine taller folks wouldn't have this issue.
posted by leahwrenn at 10:39 AM on December 17, 2009
But...I am 5'. In shoes. I use the drop side because without the side dropped, I can't reach to lay the baby down on the mattress without painfully leaning over the (raised) side. I imagine taller folks wouldn't have this issue.
posted by leahwrenn at 10:39 AM on December 17, 2009
We ran both kids through a drop side which matches the description of the better ones: lift up, push in the bottom, let down. My younger child was a light sleeper and when he woke up from a nap at any point, he wouldn't go back down. I frequently put him down with the side up to minimize noise and it was a lot harder on my back than if the side was down.
I don't think it was a deal breaker, but I appreciated it.
And as a general note for when to switch to a toddler bed, keep a careful eye on when your child starts to haul themselves up. S/he won't send you a postcard before throwing her/himself over the rail. Once we had the first inkling of that with my son, we moved him to a big boy bed.
posted by plinth at 10:44 AM on December 17, 2009
I don't think it was a deal breaker, but I appreciated it.
And as a general note for when to switch to a toddler bed, keep a careful eye on when your child starts to haul themselves up. S/he won't send you a postcard before throwing her/himself over the rail. Once we had the first inkling of that with my son, we moved him to a big boy bed.
posted by plinth at 10:44 AM on December 17, 2009
I'm just a wee bit taller than you, and had a drop-side crib for my last baby. I never saw the point. Dropped, not dropped, it's only a few inches difference.
posted by The corpse in the library at 10:51 AM on December 17, 2009
posted by The corpse in the library at 10:51 AM on December 17, 2009
Another vote for fixed sides. 2 kids here. We have a drop side crib but never ever drop the side. I'm 5'8", and it's never an issue. By the time you have to lower the mattress to the lowest level, kiddo will be standing up every time you go to take him out.
On preview, plinth brings up a good point. The mechanism is loud enough to wake a sleeping baby, so if your little one fell asleep elsewhere and you go to take him to his crib, you'll always hope that you remembered to put the sides up last time you took him out (which you probably didn't because you had your hands full!).
posted by ellenaim at 11:05 AM on December 17, 2009
On preview, plinth brings up a good point. The mechanism is loud enough to wake a sleeping baby, so if your little one fell asleep elsewhere and you go to take him to his crib, you'll always hope that you remembered to put the sides up last time you took him out (which you probably didn't because you had your hands full!).
posted by ellenaim at 11:05 AM on December 17, 2009
Don't get a dropped side. I had one when my kids were small and frankly it was easier to keep the side up. And again, they have been found to be dangerous.
And seriously, if you guys are that tall you'd have no problem getting the baby in and out. I'm short, and it's harder to do at my height. But I managed.
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 12:52 PM on December 17, 2009
And seriously, if you guys are that tall you'd have no problem getting the baby in and out. I'm short, and it's harder to do at my height. But I managed.
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 12:52 PM on December 17, 2009
The disadvantage of a dropside is that you likely won't be able to sell it or give it away when you're finished with it.
Other than that, unless you're careless in putting it together, or don't raise it until it clicks (on both sides), then a dropside is fine. You're both blessed with height, but will someone else occasionally be putting the baby to bed?
posted by Chuckles McLaughy du Haha, the depressed clown at 2:11 PM on December 17, 2009
Other than that, unless you're careless in putting it together, or don't raise it until it clicks (on both sides), then a dropside is fine. You're both blessed with height, but will someone else occasionally be putting the baby to bed?
posted by Chuckles McLaughy du Haha, the depressed clown at 2:11 PM on December 17, 2009
There was just a massive drop-side crib recall/conversion here in Canada (about 1 million cribs), and we obtained a free part from the company to convert the drop-side into a standard crib due to risks. It's just not worth taking any chances in our eyes. It sucks for my wife who is shorter than I am, but given the fact that a drop side has a looser edge and the potential of allowing a child to slip through and suffocate, why take the chance? YMMV.
http://cpsr-rspc.hc-sc.gc.ca/PR-RP/recall-retrait-eng.jsp?re_id=888
If you want nightmares, please look at Image 3. Yikes. Not for me, thanks.
posted by swrittenb at 7:34 AM on December 18, 2009
http://cpsr-rspc.hc-sc.gc.ca/PR-RP/recall-retrait-eng.jsp?re_id=888
If you want nightmares, please look at Image 3. Yikes. Not for me, thanks.
posted by swrittenb at 7:34 AM on December 18, 2009
Sorry, linked URL here:
http://cpsr-rspc.hc-sc.gc.ca/PR-RP/recall-retrait-eng.jsp?re_id=888
posted by swrittenb at 7:35 AM on December 18, 2009
http://cpsr-rspc.hc-sc.gc.ca/PR-RP/recall-retrait-eng.jsp?re_id=888
posted by swrittenb at 7:35 AM on December 18, 2009
By the time you have to lower the mattress to the lowest level, kiddo will be standing up every time you go to take him out.
My issue is putting down the sleeping baby, not picking up the awake baby.
posted by leahwrenn at 7:40 PM on December 18, 2009
My issue is putting down the sleeping baby, not picking up the awake baby.
posted by leahwrenn at 7:40 PM on December 18, 2009
This thread is closed to new comments.
Experience: 2 kids.
posted by unixrat at 7:37 AM on December 17, 2009