Drop-side crib - is it necessary/nice to have/not needed?

[Anonymous]

I'm 26 weeks with my first baby, and we're trying to decide between two cribs - one crib has a drop side and one has sides that don't drop down. I like the crib with the sides that don't drop down, because we can get it in a finish that matches our dresser/changing table almost perfectly, but I'm concerned that I'll miss having the drop side. It is lower to the ground than the crib with the drop side, so I'm thinking that might be good enough that we don't kill our backs getting the baby in and out of the crib. What are people's experiences with either kind of crib and what do you recommend?

[Anonymous]

It definitely depends on how tall you are. I think a short person would definitely need the drop side. That being said, I'm 5'11" and had a hard time over Christmas when we were staying at my parents house and using their crib without the drop side.

[Anonymous]

We have a crib where the side does drop down, but we rarely use it and the crib mattress is already positioned at the lowest level. Yes, it is a bit of a stretch to get my son in there (I am 5'4"), but I have never dropped him. I think it is doable.

[Anonymous]

We have a drop side and used to leave it down most of the time because I am short - 5'2". When the side is up and the mattress on the lowest level I have a little trouble lowering DD onto the mattress but it is not that big a deal. Once DD started standing in the crib we raised the drop side and now leave it up all the time. There was never really a time when we raised and lowered it frequently so I think having a side that doesn't drop down is fine.

[Anonymous]

I'm 5'4", and my now 2 year old weighs about 30lbs and I'm pregnant with the 2nd. That said, I have a crib with the drop down side and I never use it!

When you'd use it a lot because of frequent naps, the baby doesn't weigh much. Now that my son can stand up, lifting him in the crib is a bit hard, but that's only 2x a day max and it's not that bad. (once for nap and once for bed.) Now that I'm pregnant and big I just get my husband to lift him out of the bath and into the crib. (I still carry him sometimes too).

Others might feel differently, but it was a feature I didn't use much. If you do get a drop side, try doing it one-handed, because you'll be holding the baby with the other hand! (another reason I never do it.) If you like the other one with no drop side I would just go for it.

[Anonymous]

we have a drop sided crib and never use that feature

[Anonymous]

Our daughter is a bit over two now, we moved her from our bed to the crib at age 11 months, and we very much rely on the drop down feature. Those times I haven't bothered to use it, I ended up kind of "dropping" her into the crib, which was not conducive to getting her to sleep! I found the drop-down helpful for being able to lay her down gently, and I always pull it back up again so she can't climb out. I'm 5'7, hubby is 5'10, if that's relevant.

[Anonymous]

I'm pretty short and now that the mattress is on the lowest level for my 13-month old son, I find the drop-side essential - I couldn't put my son all the way down without dropping him or really hurting my back without it.

[Anonymous]

We have the drop down feature on the crib, but don't ever use it. Then again, I'm 5'7 and hubby is 5'10 so it is not a big deal for us.

As the previous poster(s) mentioned, it depends on your height. I guess you could always have a step stool nearby to stand on so you can reach down if you really wanted the crib with the matching finish.

[Anonymous]

We used it all the time. Matching finish stops being important after about three weeks.

[Anonymous]

I would argue matching finish stops being important the day the baby is born...just like wall decor for the nursery and all those other things I planned to do "afterwards."

[maynie]

My crib had a drop side and I used it all the time. I'm 5' 5"

[Anonymous]

It might be worth comparing how tall the cribs are from the mattress at the lowest setting to the top of the rail. We have a drop side and I don't use it all that much. I'm 5'7", and I can JUST BARELY lower my daughter down without dropping her. If my back is already aching, I'll lower it. Otherwise, I'm just too lazy.

BUT, I wonder if the cribs with a drop side have more distance between the lowest mattress setting and the top of the rail when it's up vs those without the drop side. It just never ceases to amaze me how many people talk about their kids being able to climb out of their cribs. My 3 year old, who is really, really tall can't climb out of his little sister's crib if I put him in there (he likes to go in for fun after naps sometimes...no clue why). I just wonder if people whose kids can get out have non-drop-side cribs and that maybe there is less distance from the mattress and the top of the rail, which might make it easier to escape. Just a theory...but might be worth checking out.

[Anonymous]

I'm 5'3" and have a fixed side crib. Our son is 2 yo, and I've never had a problem. The crib is an Oeuf, in case you're interested -- very simple, and we love it.

[Anonymous]

Never used the drop side.