This guide contains:

Background on baby cribs
Important features and functions of baby cribs
How to find the best baby crib for you

This independent guide was created to help you understand the basics of shopping for baby cribs online and to help you choose the right baby crib for you. We do not sell any baby cribs ourselves, so you can be confident that all of the information in this guide is independent and unbiased.

Background on baby cribs
Baby cribs come in all sorts of styles, types and prices, and you can now get just about whatever baby crib and related accessories you need online. However, there are some differences among online baby crib stores and some things to pay particular attention to when comparing baby cribs and the sites that sell baby cribs online.

Features and functions of baby cribs
As mentioned above, baby cribs come in a wide range of styles, types and prices. Here are some features and functions that will help you compare baby crib makes and models:

Portability- some baby cribs are designed to be conveniently portable- they are smaller, lighter, easier to take down and put up than regular cribs. Some include smaller mattresses and have casters (with brakes) for easy rolling.

Convertability- some baby cribs are designed to grow with your child and be useful to you for years to come. Some baby cribs will convert to toddler beds by removing the side rails, and some will convert to full-size beds (the crib will become the headboard and footboard, and you'll need to get a frame and mattress to fit).

Adjustable Height- many baby cribs let you adjust the height of the mattress. This can be very convenient because as your baby is new, you can keep the mattress on the highest level so that you don't have to bend over very far to pick up your baby. As your baby grows, you can lower the mattress so that the rails are high enough to prevent unwanted 'escapes'.

Drop mechanism- some cribs are more convenient in letting you drop the side railing; cribs that allow for one-handed operation are MUCH more convenient than those that require two hands to operate.

Size- while most cribs are of the same approximate size (about 30 inches wide, 60 inches long, and 48 inches high), you should still measure your space and cross-check the dimensions of any crib you're interested in to verify that the crib will fit as you want it to.