cribs -- drop-side or stationary?

[Anonymous]

Most of the convertible crib styles we've been looking at (ie: the ones we like the appearance of) seem to have stationary, rather than drop-sides in front. I'm wondering what other moms think about how big an issue this is for those of us who are on the shorter side? (I'm 5'2", husband is much taller) I've heard some people say it doesn't matter much and stationary cribs are safer anyway, but I've heard others say that for them the drop-side was a must-have for getting kiddo in & out. Just curious what others think, before we make any decisions. Thanks!!

[Anonymous]

given your height, I wold definitely go for the drop side. I'm 5'5" and would not have been able to easily get the baby in & out once the mattress needed to be on the lowest level.

[Anonymous]

I thought the same thing about the drop side and height. I'm 5 feet tall. But I realized that a drop side with a drawer underneath was much lower (so harder to reach) than a stationary convertible. I was kicking myself for buying a drop-side and suffering through it for a year (I couldn't raise or lower the side without waking baby - so I never used it). At a year, I bought a stationary convertible (for safety reasons) and was so much happier when I realized that I could actually put him down in it without dropping him. Plus, the stationary's are safer, which frankly, is more important in my opinion. I didn't know it when I bought the drop-side. Now the drop-side crib is at grandma's.

[Anonymous]

You need to go to the store and try both--but my vote is for drop-side (I'm 5'4", and once my kid was about 20 lbs, I needed the drop side to lift him out of the crib).

[Anonymous]

I'm 5'4" and had a stationary convertible--loved it, never had a problem putting my son in, asleep, when it was lowered all the way. You could always have a little footstool stashed underneath if you needed it.

[Anonymous]

I am 5'2". The saleslady at Buy Buy Baby said that most stationary cribs are easier for short women than drop-side. We bought stationary and are very glad with our choice! It is very easy to put baby in. My sister-in-law has a drop-side and it is much harder for me to put baby into her crib!

[Anonymous]

How can a drop side be harder if you can always just not drop the side? I'm not trying to be obnoxious - I just don't get it.

I couldn't have managed without the drop side, and I am short. The question to ask isn't about managing a newborn (light, and the base of the crib is high), but about managing a toddler (heavy and the base of the crib's been lowered).

[Anonymous]

I'm 5 ft 7 and still like the drop -- makes patting easier on the lower rungs (I pull up a chair near the crib).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How can a drop side be harder if you can always just not drop the side? I'm not trying to be obnoxious - I just don't get it.

I couldn't have managed without the drop side, and I am short. The question to ask isn't about managing a newborn (light, and the base of the crib is high), but about managing a toddler (heavy and the base of the crib's been lowered).

16:23 here. It was harder for me because I couldn't drop the side. It's way too noisy to raise and lower with a sleeping baby (and I had one of those quiet ones). And without lowering the side, the mattress is higher off the ground, making it harder for short people. I've heard many moms say the same thing about the noise waking baby. I truly was shocked to discover how much easier the stationary is to use as a short person. The whole crib is lower to the ground making it more accessible.

Going to the store to check them out isn't that useful because all the mattresses are in the highest position. Otherwise, I think I would have figured it out sooner. I didn't figure it out until I bought the stationary, got it home and started using it (after using and hating my drop-side for a long time).

[Anonymous]

I am 4'11 and absolutely could not use a crib without a dropside. A crib must have a certain height bar and railing in order to be safe for an older child. So the issue is whether that certain height railing is always very high, or not.

It will not be an issue with a newborn, because the mattress is high up. ONce the mattress is lowered as the baby rolls and sits and stands, there is are a few fee between teh top of the rail and the mattress. There is NO WAY I can reach into my son's crib with the rail up. If I need to reach in to give him his lovey, I must lower the crib rails. My DH sometimes takes him out with the rail up, and I must lower it in order to put my son back in.

Perhaps the stationary cribs start off lower, so the baby is closer to the floor and the rail does not go up as high. However, you would still be reaching very far down to get to the mattress.

If someone has an issue with being unable to lower the rails, or the rails are noisy, that has more to do with crib quality than type of crib. I can lower the rails noiselessly with one hand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps the stationary cribs start off lower, so the baby is closer to the floor and the rail does not go up as high.

This is exactly the difference with many stationary cribs.

[Anonymous]

Also, if you like the the stationary crib but not the sleigh-shape they usually come in, check out the oeuf cribs (www.oeufnyc.com)
. They look like the drop ones but are stationary and are about a couple of inches lower than most cribs.