You can find cheap baby cribs that are still safe and attractive.
One of the first categories that you'll probably look for in baby furniture is cribs. A crib is an essential piece of furniture for your baby's nursery, and with so many choices out there it can be confusing.
When you choose a baby crib you're not just picking furniture that looks pretty or is comfortable for your child, you also want a baby crib that is safe and will hold up to wear and tear.
Cheap baby cribs are available from several manufacturers and can be just as safe and good looking as their more expensive prototypes.
But how do you know what to look for in a baby crib? And how can you find a cheap baby crib that won't break your budget? Read on to find out.
Baby Cribs Can Be Cheap Without Sacrificing Good Quality
Since your baby will only use the crib for more than two years or so, you might not want to spend a fortune on this piece of baby furniture. A crib is the big piece of furniture in your baby's nursery so quality and looks are important. The good news is that you can find a cheap baby crib that is safe, well made and stylish. The money that you save on buying an inexpensive baby crib can be spent on other parts of your baby's nursery like the changing table, other furniture or crib bedding.
How much does a baby crib cost?
Cribs are essentially furniture so they aren't the cheapest thing that you'll buy for your baby's nursery. You can find a crib to fit almost any budget. Most cribs run around the 200-500 dollar range with cheap cribs around the 100 dollar range and the most expensive cribs costing up to several thousand dollars. Online stores can be one of the best places to buy a crib for the lowest price.
What to Look for in a Baby Crib
The most important things to watch out for when you're shopping for a baby crib are safety and quality. Above all you want to make sure your infant is safe and the crib won't fall apart or malfunction in some way. Other things to look for when buying a crib are ease of construction (if you will be putting it together), style, attractiveness and of course value.
Different Types of Cribs




There are several different types of cribs. The most common ones standard cribs and convertible cribs. Standard cribs are just cribs with tall sides and no moving parts. Convertible cribs are cribs that can change from baby cribs to toddler beds as your child gets older.
One type of crib to avoid is the drop-side crib. These cribs have been recalled and many retailers no longer sell them due to accidents that have happened. Drop-side cribs have sides that can get caught and can cause death or injury to babies, so do not consider this type of crib.
Safety Must Haves for Baby Furniture and Cribs
As safety is the number one concern when getting a crib, it's important to know the red flags that can make a piece of baby furniture unsafe. First of all, your baby's crib and other furniture should be complete with no missing or broken parts. If the crib has decorative woodwork it should not have any cutouts or large gaps in the headboard or footboard where your baby's head can get caught. Also the crib slats should be no more than 2 and 3/8 inches with the top rails at least 26 inches above the top of the crib mattress.
Many parents consider buying used cribs or taking hand-me-downs from friends and family. This can be perfectly safe, but when getting a used crib there are additional safety concerns. Make sure that the crib has all of the original working pieces and hardware with the assembly manual. If the crib was manufactured before 1975 it could have lead paint, which is harmful for your baby.
And in recent years many cribs have had safety recalls. So before you purchase any crib, make sure it has not been recalled for safety reasons.
Where to Buy Baby Cribs
There are lots of places where you can purchase a crib for your baby. Where you go really depends on how much money you want to spend and the type of selection that you'd like. For cheaper cribs and a fair selection you can shop at a low price retailer or a large baby store. If you want a mid-range crib, you can find it at a more exclusive store or a furniture store that also sells cribs (like Pottery Barn.) Want the top of the line? Check out a specialty baby store in your area or do some searches on the internet.
When to Get a Crib
You may think that you can just hop down to the store and pick up a baby crib on the day you buy it, but this is not always the case. Baby stores stock a few models but like many other types of furniture, baby cribs usually need to be ordered in advance and then there's lag time before delivery.
Even if you see many models in at the store, they are probably just for display. Typically most cribs need to be special ordered and that can take up to 12 weeks depending on the store and the crib manufacturer. The time could be more if you want something custom or less if you order online or from a large reseller like Sam's Club.
If you're getting close to your baby's due date and you need a baby crib right away, ask the store about rush shipping or try to choose one of the models that they already have in stock.
How to find a cheap baby crib
The best way to find an inexpensive baby crib is to first decide where you can buy a cheap crib. You can start at online or at retailers like Walmart, Target, Sam's Club, BJ's Wholesale and the big baby store, Babies 'R Us. These stores have a decent variety of cribs to choose from and their prices start at the low end.
You can also find cheap baby cribs online. There are some internet stores that specialize in baby cribs and because they don't have the cost of a brick and mortar store, they can discount products more than other retailers and they often offer free shipping.
Two additional ways to save are by purchasing a convertible crib that your child can use beyond the infant years and also finding a crib that has free delivery. Many online stores offer free delivery with crib purchases and if you buy in store, lots of retailers will allow you to pick up the crib and avoid delivery charges.