I thought I was being a smart shopper by opting for a positively reviewed crib that, while expensive, converts into a toddler bed whenever my daughter is ready for the crib-to-bed transition.
However, I’ve since found out that there are actually cribs on the market for roughly the same price that convert into even more useful items, a tip that is today’s hint.
For instance, the Stokke Sleepi crib system, which gets a good A- rating in my edition of the book Baby Bargains, transforms into a toddler bed, and then into two chairs (see the image above). Meanwhile, the much less expensive Graco Stanton model transforms into a toddler bed, and then into a day bed and a full-size bed headboard (Graco cribs are “excellent,” according to my Baby Bargains book). Elsewhere, models by Baby Cache, whose parent company also gets a good A-rating, similarly transform from a toddler bed to a day bed.
However, there is some good news for parents like me that didn’t opt for such a smart convertible crib purchase from the get-go. There are tons of ways to easily transform an old crib yourself into a useful piece of furniture.
Vicky Keston’s DIY crib to sofa transformation. Photo credit: Vicky Keston.
When her daughter transitioned to a bunk bed from a crib, Vicky Keston over at Gooseling, for instance, did a crib-to-sofa transformation that she calls “the easiest DIY project ever.”
She merely unscrewed one side of the crib, took it down and then decorated the “sofa” with extra comfortable throw pillows from around her house. Now, the “new” piece of furniture serves as a reading spot for her son. (And another bonus of her trick is that it’s easily reversible if another little one arrives).
But what if you don’t need a sofa? Pinterest and the blogosphere are full of other crib upcycling projects you can consider. Consignment Mommies, for instance, covered 30 ideas a while back, including upcycling cribs into benches, magazine racks, easels and chalkboards.
Meanwhile, Cami, of the site CreatingbyCami.com cleverly transformed an old crib into a wagon, and another idea is to turn a crib into a display rack for kid’s artwork or into a desk, like this one showcased on the site FreshDads.
These upcycle ideas are also worth considering if you have an old recalled or drop side crib that you can’t donate or give to friends or family, so it would be going into the trash if you don’t find another use for it.
What are your hints for extending the useful life of old cribs? Share them below.
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Feature image photo credit: Terri David
Great ideas here, Jennifer! The display rack for kid’s artwork remains a focal point of our kids’ playroom It’s the catch all for their many art projects and photos of our kids too.