Using Portable Cribs in Nurseries: Is It A Good Idea?

By JB Anthony

It's not uncommon to find some parents who want to use portable cribs as the main crib for their baby's nursery. The best way to decide is to have a look at the pros and cons first. 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.

- Most portable type are actually smaller than standard cribs that are made from 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.

- A portable crib can be multi-functional. 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

As you can see, there may be several reasons for choosing such a crib. 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.

Because most portable cribs are relatively smaller 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

To ensure your baby's safety, regularly check your crib. Afterall, there is yet no law prohibiting the use portable cribs. It only comes to show that, to some extent, this type of crib is safe for baby use.

- Secure 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.

- Inspect the 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.

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