Crib Gripe

[Sheri1972]

Sooo... hubby and I went to assemble our soon-to-be-new-arrival's crib today, which was the same crib my 4 year old used when he was a baby.  We had it in storage, took it out and cleaned it all nice, and realized we didn't have the hardware.   That was no problem, since it only required 8 screws or something, so my husband asked me to print off the directions from online and it would say what size screws he needed.

To my shock, I find out this crib has been recalled due to a suffocation hazard!  We got it as a gift from my in-laws when my first was born in 2004.  It's the Graco (or Simplicity) Aspen 3 in 1 crib that was sold at Wal-Mart.  :(  Apparently anything purchased between 2003 and 2007 is recalled, and you can get some retrofitting for it to help with the hazard issue, but I certainly don't want my kid in a crib that has been patched up after a recall because babies have died!  EEEP!

So, now we have to buy a new crib. *sigh*

Question:  I know many experts say not to buy a used crib because of specifications that might change, but what do you guys think of that?  Do you think it would be okay if it's a newer crib, you research the make and model, and you go over the entire thing to ensure it's in good condition and working as if new?  Lots of people are selling relatively new (within the past few years) crib sets around here and I thought it could save us some money.

Sheri

[Sheri1972]

Thanks!  I actually did the same thing when we stored this one.  We put everything in a ziplock bag and duct taped it to the crib rails.

Oddly, when we pulled it out of storage, the tape was dangling in the breeze with no bag attached!

I suppose that is a good thing though, because otherwise i wouldn't have looked online and found out the crib had been recalled!

Sheri

[Glenda306]

A little off the subject, but I have a suggestion for storing cribs.  We take all the screws, springs, etc. and put them in a zipper bag.  I wrap the bag up with the rods (for the drop side) using plastic wrap and tape.  It keeps everything safe and together.

[Tarobinc]

I found this on ask.com.  I know you will be doing this anyway, but I figured I would post this for other moms to see as well.

Used Baby Cribs
If borrowing or buying a used baby crib or getting one as a hand-me-down from a friend or family member, to make sure that the crib is safe, the CPSC recommends that you inspect the crib for the following crib safety features:

It should have a firm mattress that fits tightly into the crib.
Make sure that you have assembled the crib properly and that no parts are loose, missing or broken.
There should be no more than 2 3/8 inches between the slats of the crib and there should be no missing or broken slats.
The crib should have no cutouts in the headboard or footboard, in which the baby's head could get trapped, and doesn't have decorative knobs or cornerposts that are higher than 1/16 inch.
It can also be important to make sure that the crib was not involved in a crib recall, or if it was, that it was properly repaired.

[PamelaBee]

Absolutely!  There is nothing wrong with purchasing a crib secondhand.  Just buy a new mattress for it!  If I don't become pregnant again, all of my nursey furniture is either going to a consignment shop, in the paper, or I'll have a yard sale!