If you're buying a crib in the United States you're probably not worried too much about safety. Since all cribs have to pass federal regulations in order to be sold here, it's primarily going to be cost and taste that drive your decision about which crib to buy for your baby.
There are a variety of cribs available, from the simplest basic crib that you can buy at your local
discount retailer baby section, to specialty
custom cribs that can take weeks or months to have made.
The major types of cribs can be broken down into standard cribs, portable cribs, convertible cribs, canopy cribs, and the newer round cribs.
Standard cribs are what most of us think of when imagining a baby crib. They are rectangular in shape, and frequently come with a drop-down side to allow you to easily raise or lower the side. This also can allow you to convert the crib into a small sofa when your infant gets a little older, or can be the starting point of a toddler bed as well. Even within the standard shape you can get simple cribs at a discount retailer or you can order larger, heavier cribs from other baby furniture makers.
Portable cribs are similar in shape to a standard crib, but they have a few additional quirks. A portable crib folds down to allow for easy storage if you won't be using it very often, or if you'll need to move the baby's bed from one room to another frequently. These are smaller than a standard crib, and again are available in a wide assortment of styles and makes.
Convertible cribs are often a standard among those sold at discount retailers. Since you're usually shopping in stores like that for the value factor, a convertible crib makes sense for them to offer because it provides you with the ability to convert the baby crib to a baby bed as your little one grows.
In recent years
round cribs have become more popular, but whether it's a trend or a lasting change remains to be seen. Round cribs also tend to be more expensive than any of the others, and finding bedding or sheets to fit a round crib can be a little bit tricky.
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