A vital component of the Amish community is the family, hearts joined in love for God and for one another. Parents treasure each child as a gift from the Lord, often raising seven or more children in the traditions of their Amish faith. As home life is so important, fathers work as close to home as possible, on the family farm or in craft shops near the home. This allows families to spend time together in work and play, as fathers and mothers train their sons and daughters in the skills needed for future self-sustenance. When a new baby arrives, it is a time for great rejoicing. The parents have quietly been preparing to welcome their little one. A crib, built with great care by either the father or a close member of the community, reflects the Amish way of life.

Fashioned of the finest natural woods with the strictest traditional techniques, the Amish crib becomes a family heirloom to be passed on to generation after generation. The Amish craftsman employs mortise and tenon joinery in the construction of every solid wood baby crib to ensure that it is sturdy and will survive the daily wear and tear of its little occupant. The best Amish wood products are handmade in small family-run shops adjacent to the home rather than large factories of nominally Amish character. This allows the artisan to take the time to give his full attention to quality details such as hand cut dovetail joints.

According to safety experts, the safest cribs are the simplest in design. With no scrollwork or finials, there is no risk of an infant getting their clothes tangled and possibly strangling. The solid construction ensures that the crib will not fall or collapse. Amish cribs meet all national safety standards in regards to slat spacing and strength, railing height, and providing no ornaments for the older infant to climb on. Exact specifications can be found at http://www.cpsc.gov/BUSINFO/regsumcrib.pdf

Another major safety feature of an Amish crib is that no harmful finishes are used. These baby-safe finishes include natural oil and water-based wood finishes and completely non-toxic tung oil and beeswax finish. The most common finish on Amish furniture is conversion varnish, the purpose of which is to completely protect the wood from damaging moisture and other exterior threats. It is resistant to a wide variety of harmful chemicals and will not flake or peel. It is important to avoid lacquer or polyurethane coatings, varnishes and stains that may be harmful to your baby over time.

Amish cribs are available in a wide variety of furniture styles, including Mission, Traditional, Shaker, Sleigh, Spindle, and Cottage. These styles are offered in Red Oak, White Oak (quartersawn), Cherry, Hard Maple, Hickory, or Black Walnut. Before purchasing a crib, other baby bedding options should be considered, such as a cradle, bassinet or a conversion or transition bed. The attraction of a conversion or transition bed is that it starts as a crib, and then as the child grows, it can be converted to a toddler day bed and then a full length twin bed. And because it is of Amish construction, it will last the lifetime of the child and beyond.

A young Amish woman shared this lovely traditional Amish lullaby with an "English" visitor. In Pennsylvania Dutch, it is called In der Stillen Einsamkeit (In the Still Isolation) and is sung to the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.

In der Stillen Einsamkeit, (In the still isolation)

Findest du mein lob bereit (You find my praise ready)

Grosser Gott Erhöre mich, (Greatest God answer me)

Denn mein Herze suche dich. (For my heart is seeking you.)

Unveränderlich bisht du, (You're always here)

nimmer shtill und doch in ruh (Never still though silent)

Yahreszeiten du regiersht, (You rule the yearly seasons)

und sie ordenlich einführsht. (And you set them in order.)

Diese kalte winder luft, (This cold winter air)

mit enfindung gräft ruft (Calls with mighty feeling.)

Sehet welch ein starker Herr, (See what a mighty Lord,)

Summer Winder machet er. (Summer and Winter He makes.)