When we were expecting with Darah, I spent a LOT of time online researching baby gear. For the most part, I found myself getting freaked out over all the recalled items. It seems like everything out there designed for baby was dangerous, as it turned out! And all the online sources said, “Don’t buy used! What if it is on the recall list and you don’t know it? What if it has missing parts??!!”

I wasn’t convinced enough to freak out about this over swing seats and bouncers. My bff offered to let us borrow the ones she had used for her little one. Therefore, I knew that they had only been through one child and that they were still relatively new and easy to double-check for any recall problems (and of course, there weren’t any).

It was a different issue for the crib, though. The whole “missing parts” possibility I just couldn’t shake when thinking about buying used (and keep in mind, I’m not shy about buying used AT ALL…you all know my favorite place to shop is the thrift store!). Most people who are selling a crib won’t still have the user’s guide or the box, and might not even know the brand of the crib (not important for status, but rather for looking up if it is on that dreaded recall list). Additionally, it is really easy to misplace a screw or 3 when you are taking a crib apart. The problem is magnified if it has been moved from storage place to storage place or from family to family. So that’s why I decided that I would be buying a new crib for Darah.

Once I made that decision, I had to figure out exactly what type of crib I wanted. Money was definitely a factor. I wanted to find the best crib for the least amount of money, basically. So I spent a TON of time reading consumer reports (I didn’t already have a baby, so I had the time to spare!). For me, I decided that part of getting the most bang for the buck would be purchasing a convertible crib. These are the cribs that convert into toddler beds and even twin beds (though you need a different type of mattress at that point). Some people say that a convertible crib is pointless with your first child because by the time one baby outgrows it, you will likely have another one on the way. That may be true, but we just aren’t sure when Darah’s sibling will be headed our way. It could be a few more years (sorry grandparents!). In any case, I like having the option to let this furniture grow with Darah or to re-use it as a crib later. Eventually there will be no more babies and then we’ll have furniture that can grow up a bit with the child who has it!

We ended up with an espresso crib set by Graco that got great reviews for its value and its safety (perfect combo!). It has been a few years since I have done shopping, but I see some really pretty convertible crib sets out there, like the DaVinci Kalani convertible baby crib. I love all the finish options! Who knows? We may just buy a convertible crib set again for the next baby down the line. That’s how great I really think they are!

What about you? What did you decide on for your baby? Were you less freaked out than me and willing to go use? Did you do convertible or no?