The baby crib is one of those essentials you are wise to have in place ready for the arrival of the newborn baby and her coming home from hospital or clinic. But with all of the many varieties on the market today and with most people attempting to stick to some type of budget, how is one to know what to look for, which brand or model is better than another, or how cheap is “too cheap?”

Your baby is so precious and vulnerable, so when first considering buying a baby crib, ensure safety standards are met. The US, for example, has compulsory safety standards, covering things such as the gap between the cribs slats or bars. When choosing a crib, safety should be high in your thoughts, and the distance from the mattress to the top of the rails is critical.

Older cribs (pre 1978 in the US) may contain lead in the paint, so beware when buying second hand cribs of that age; new is best.

The Advantages of Buying Cheap Baby Cribs

If you’re on a budget, cheap baby cribs can be a real lifesaver, provided of course, that they meet all of the necessary safety requirements and are well constructed. Inexpensive cribs will also allow for more monies to be spent on other much needed items, such as the crib’s bedding, bumper pads if you choose to use them, blankets, and the ever essential mattress pads, not to mention all of the other things baby will need like a stroller, or a walker, a high chair, and a playpen.

To buy a cheap baby crib is still an option for those seeking economy in the short term, as the same safety standards apply. If you buy a second hand crib, you do not know if it safe, especially if safety standards have changed since it was manufactured.

DaVinci, Great Beginnings and Jerry Lind are good examples of well manufactured but inexpensive baby cribs.

The Disadvantages of Buying Cheap Baby Cribs

Cheap baby cribs are rarely made from “real” wood, which makes them not quite as strong and durable as their authentic counterparts. A crib must be sturdy, particularly as baby grows and begins to explore their environment and inadvertently tip the crib over, and the cheapest of cribs will usually not offer the level of sturdiness needed that those made from woods such as oak or maple will.

Some of the cheaper baby cribs amy lack the features of those cribs which cost more, such as the ease with which you can raise and lower the sides to put in/remove the baby. One thing to be sure you have is a locking mechanism on the rails so that your rapidly growing baby will not pull them down in a few months’ time.

Some other possible risks of purchasing cheap baby cribs are manufacturing defects, such as sharp edges or points, creases and cracks, or holes or splinters in the wood. While we all want to get a good bargain and save money whenever we can, sacrificing our baby’s safety or well being certainly isn’t worth saving a few dollars.