Using Portable Cribs in Nurseries: is it a Good Idea?

It has not been unheard of for some parents to use portable cribs as main cribs in their babies' nurseries. Before you even think of doing so yourself, you should look into the pros and cons of such a step. Although different brands and different models have varying conditions and qualities, there are some general aspects that are worth considering.

Advantages

Using a portable crib in a nursery is not entirely a forbidden practice. Those who do use portables in this way may have thoroughly valid reasons for dong so.

- A lot of cribs of the portable type are actually smaller than standard cribs made of wood or metal. This would be a plus for nurseries with small and limited spaces. Space factors are one main reason why some parents use portable cribs.

- Since portable cribs are foldable, they are also easy to transport around the house when a parent needs to be somewhere else and wants to bring along the baby. This feature also makes cribs easy to store when it is no longer in use. You simply have to put it back in its compact case and because it can be stored this way, a sturdy portable crib could be kept well preserved.

- Portable cribs also sometimes have a double function which parents love. Portables need not sit idly in nurseries. They can also be folded and taken to trips so that babies can conveniently join in on the fun.

Disadvantages

It seems that there are many advantages to using portable cribs as main cribs in nurseries. There is however, only one major disadvantage that could over rule every single advantage. This is because the major disadvantage has something to do with safety.

Since some portable cribs are smaller in size compared to standard cribs, babies could easily outgrow them. Aside from growing tall, babies grow heavy too and become more active. A baby that is about to reach one year old could become too active and start putting too much stress on the structure of a portable crib. In time, a portable crib could begin having frays and damages sooner than standard cribs because of constant and extreme use.

What You Should Do

Since there is no clear law yet that specifically forbids the use of portable cribs in nurseries, you should at least make sure that you regularly check your crib to ensure your baby's safety.

- Locks- Locks such as those on the portable crib's changer could eventually become loose through constant use. Once your baby learns to get up, he could also learn to play on the locks, clipping and unclipping them. Once you notice that the locks no longer clip tightly, you should consider shelving your crib.

- Folding Mechanism - Aside from locks, you should also carefully inspect the folding mechanism. Most if not all mechanisms move up in a V before collapsing to ensure safety. It wouldn't hurt though to frequently check if the mechanism is working as it should.

- Mesh - The mesh is another important part that you shouldn't disregard. Frayed or loose mesh could either suffocate your baby or entrap her.