Bringing home your new baby, its a thought that crosses your mind daily I bet. You've probably read hundreds of articles on baby stuff. You look at cribs and clothes every time you pass them in the stores, its like there is a magnet grabbing you when you pass something attached to the category of baby. And actually, this innate sense, this natural anticipation, its a part of us that prepares us best for having a child. We are always thinking of our baby's needs, and that means that subconsciously we are putting out a lot of effort to make sure we have what's best. Mother birds nest, Daddy groundhogs burrow, Parents of a human kind, prepare rooms that will be safe, and quiet and blessedly precious. 

So since your already thinking about these things in overdrive, lets talk about what it is you need to be looking for in specific. I mean its great if your seeing every crib you pass by, but its of no use if your not noting the goods and bads of the items you see. When it comes to buying a crib, we all have to remember the reason we purchase a crib. Babies are poor tiny little creatures that seem to need a lifetime of sleep. They haven't been able to rest since their conception, busy growing, they come to you in the hospital and have two desires, to eat, and to sleep. For your little ones health you need to be able to make them comfortable enough that they can get their fill of restful sleeping hours. It is essential for your baby's growth and development. Sleep permits psychological development as well, sleepy children are cranky because their running low on what it takes to function.  

So if sleep is so important, selecting the perfect crib, is just as essential. You also really want to have your child grow up into an active, and intelligent toddler, which means preparing for the future might be the best thing you can do now, while you wait for the joyous little bundle. Buying a durable, well made, versatile crib is like buying a lease on good moments. The more adaptable you are to your growing child, the more time you can spend watching them sleep in that angelic little way, and the less time you have to spend worrying about their needs. There are plenty of cribs out there, in all sorts of varieties.  But a few things to remember. A real high quality crib should be made of wood, and have metal screws that will stay secure for years. Solid wood is the best choice because it is the most durable option, cutting down on the chances of chipping and breaking. Also make sure the finish is non-toxic, we have found that cribs in the past have had some pretty nasty things in them, some of the worst cases have actually had formaldehyde in them!  

Convertible cribs are also something you may want to look into. These are the perfect bed for any stage of your child because they grow with your little one. At no point do you have to worry about buying a new bed, you took care of that back at the beginning with your one solid investment. Convertible cribs actually change with your growing child so that when they become toddlers and then a young child, you can change the crib into a toddler bed, and then a daybed. There are round baby cribs, these take up more space, but if you try one out in the store and find its more accessible to you, try one of those. And if you are expecting twins, well then, there are cribs made for twins. We have so many options to provide the best for our little ones. Don't get discouraged or feel overwhelmed, just take the time you need to make sure you have what you and your baby will need. Because once the baby is here, that time is about you and them, don't lose any of that.