One of the mistakes I made when I was a rookie soon-to-be mom: I spent roughly $700 on a crib. Yes, that’s right. I spent $700 on a crib.
When I was planning my baby gear list, I got caught up in only wanting the very best for my pending bundle of joy, so I followed the “best” recommendations for each category in my Baby Bargains book to a tee.
But while my daughter’s made-in-the-USA white wooden crib certainly has worked well for us and I like that it will convert into a toddler bed, it’s a purchase I regret.
Why? Since I bought it, I’ve seen family and friends’ nurseries filled with nearly identical looking convertible cribs — from the likes of brands including Ikea, Delta Children and LaJobi — that have one major difference from the crib I bought: prices in the $100 to $200 range, and so what if they aren’t made in the USA.
So, to help other future parents avoid the same mistake I made, today’s hint is to go for the cheaper convertible crib. Delta Children is giving away a crib from its new Modern collection, the Delta Waves 3-in-1 Crib, to one lucky Hint Mama reader – details below.
In fact, according to Baby Bargains, you don’t have to spend $500 or more on a convertible crib, as there are affordable cribs in the $100 to $150 range that work great.
To be sure, not all inexpensive cribs are created equal. In fact, until recently, Delta Children’s cribs weren’t ones you’d necessarily equate with quality. According to the Baby Bargains book, one of the biggest crib recalls in history involved Delta cribs back in 2008. However, since then, the quality of Delta Children’s cribs has improved, and Baby Bargains now rates it a B- and gives it a recommendation, up from an F rating back in 2012.
“The millions of Americans who purchase cribs from Delta Children every year are a testimony to our quality and affordability,” says a spokesperson for the brand. “Delta prides itself on safety” and thoroughly tests each crib, the spokesperson adds.
Meanwhile, many of the relatively inexpensive cribs are made of pine, which can scratch easily. However, I figure that little ones are going to be gnawing on cribs no matter what they’re made of (my daughter scratched away much of the paint on the top of our top-of-the-line crib before we came up with a clever DIY crib rail cover solution), so parents should expect scratching to occur no matter the crib price tag and material.
Finally, as I’ve mentioned before, I’m a huge proponent of going for convertible cribs, since the fact that they can turn into toddler beds means you get more for your money (though you generally have to buy a separate conversion kit no matter the crib price range). An added bonus of many of the budget-friendly styles is that they’re convertible, just like they’re more expensive counterparts. Delta Children’s Waves 3-in-1 Crib, for instance, converts from a crib to a toddler bed and then to a daybed.
For more on the best budget-friendly cribs on the market, check out the ratings from my friends over at Baby Bargains (just don’t feel you have to follow the “best” rating for each category, like I did).
What are your tips for saving money on cribs? What crib model would you recommend for soon-to-be parents and why? Share your thoughts, and enter to win a Delta Children Waves 3-in-1 Crib, which retails for roughly $130 at Walmart, in the color of your choice (gray, white, espresso or navy), below.
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what an awesome giveaway! I’m pregnant with #2 so this would be amazing to win!
I would price compare several shops when looking for a new crib.
My tip for saving money on a crib is to do research online and compare prices!
There is some differences in cribs, some cribs is not very deep and that means toddlers outgrow the cribs early some as early at 16-18 months of age. Some of the very high end cribs can convert into regular beds or other furniture so you will end up saving money in the long run, and just really need to change mattresses for the different bed sizes. I also meet parents with no cribs at all, that takes a little bit more planning for the toddlers room but a very cool and cheap option. Good luck in the contest
My tip is to shop around and compare prices.
Definitely shop around and compare prices and quality. We bought a more expensive crib, but have used it on four kids so when you divide the price out it’s not that bad.
Buy a floor sample!
I would spend a great deal of time online, shopping for the “look” and the features I wanted in a crib. Then I would check the Delta Children’s lines of cribs to see where I could get a high quality crib with the same look for less.
My tip is buy a good one if you plan on more than one child. We are expecting #3 and ours is shot!
My tip is before buying any crib, look it over carefully in person.
we borrowed our crib, saving tons of money
My tip for saving money on cribs is to borrow or buy a used one.
Ask around and see if anyone has a gently used crib they would be willing to part with!
After checking them out in the store to determine what features she wanted and which brands were best for her, my daughter got a crib and a dresser from someone selling them via craigslist. It was much cheaper than buying new and they were in great condition.
A good way to save money is to buy a smaller “porta crib” which takes up less space. I found one for a really good price on Craigslist.
To save money on a crib we found one in store that we liked. After a google search at home we were able to have the same crib shipped to our home for a little less. I would also suggest getting a good crib and reusing it for all of your children.
my tip is to get a hand me down if you can. if not then compare prices online
I’ve been looking at some of the nursery design websites to get ideas and sometimes they use very expensive cribs but a lot of times they don’t. I’m realizing that you can have a very stylish nursery on a budget if you look around.
Watch a few you like on amazon and wait for the prices to drop.
Ive been searching deals and coupons for cribs!
If your really lucky you can find one on clearance or on sale .
I look for sales, discounts and great deals on cribs. I love this wonderful giveaway, thank you!
You can buy a floor model, borrow a friend or family members crib, shop around or yard sale. Take plenty of time to shop around.
My tip would be to look at used cribs, but make sure you know how long it had been used!
I don’t have any tips yet, we are having our first baby in January but I am thankful for all the tips left here!!! They will certainly come in handy!
one thing that has helped me is signing up for companies emails. you are the first to know about free shipping and great sales
My best tip is to wait for a sale. Babies r Us has their “trade in” event every year when you can get 25% off a crib when you trade in old gear, or Target, Walmart and Buy Buy Baby all price match.
You could always buy a used one online to save money or look for coupons for baby stores. My first baby had a hand me down and my second had a new one that I bought with a coupon. 🙂
My tip is not to buy one until after the baby is born! Ours slept in a rock n’ play next to our bed until four months, when he suddenly refused to sleep anywhere but our bed. We tried to move him to the crib, and even converted it to a toddler bed, and he rejected it every time. Now he sleeps happily on a full-size mattress on the floor in his room. Not the most aesthetically appealing choice but he sleeps, so I’m happy. I spent $250 on a convertible crib and it was a huge waste of money. You can always start w/ a bassinet by your bed, and if they seem okay with it, then move them to a cheaper crib. Ikea cribs get high marks from friends and has good safety ratings too, at around $100.