Before you bring your baby home you need to make sure you have a bassinet or crib ready for her (or his) arrival. It's good to use a bassinet for the first three months. Why? Basically because it's smaller and more mobile. You can move the bassinet from room to room with you, and the bassinet is higher than a crib, making it easier for you to pick the baby up. In addition, many babies sleep more soundly in a smaller space. Most bassinets will accommodate babies up to three months old.

Bottom Drawer

One popular feature of crib bassinets today is a bottom drawer that can be used to store sheets, blankets, and other bedding. This is a handy feature to have since it creates storage space that is virtually invisible when the drawer is closed.

But the more wood that is used to make the crib, the more expensive it is. For this reason less expensive cribs rarely have a hidden drawer.

Convertible Crib Bassinets

Convertible cribs are becoming increasingly popular. Also called 'lifetime cribs', they can convert into a bassinet, then back into a crib, then into a toddler bed, and often into a twin or full-sized bed.

A few words of warning: convertible cribs are almost always more expensive. They usually require extra bed rails in order to convert into a bed (the rails can cost anywhere from $50-$200). And if you have another baby, you'll have to go shopping for another crib since the first one you bought is now a bed.

Drop-Down Sides

Generally at least one side of the crib can be dropped down to make it easier to place the baby inside. This varies from crib to crib, but the three most common types are knee-push, double-trigger, and stationary.

Knee-push releases are pretty handy. You only need one hand to lift the side rail an inch or two, and then as you push against it with your knee the drop side releases.

You release a double-trigger drop side by pulling two plastic triggers on either side of the side rail. This is easy enough when you are taking the baby out. But its next to impossible to do when you are holding the baby and trying to put her in. You just don't have enough hands.

Stationary side rails are exactly what they sound like. There is no drop side. The good thing about this style is that there are no moving parts that can break and the cribs often feel more stable. The downside is that when the mattress is in its lowest position, it can be difficult reaching down to take the baby in and out.

Used Crib

What about a used crib? Won't that save some money? Be very careful when accepting a used crib as you don't know the risks involved.

What exactly are the risks?

1. The crib may not meet current safety standards. For example, crib slats can be no more than 2 3/8 inches apart to prevent the baby's body from getting stuck. Also, the mattress must fit tightly so that the baby cannot get trapped between the mattress and the side of the crib.

2. An older crib may have lead paint in the finish.

3. If you are missing parts or instructions, you could put the crib together wrong making it a dangerous place for your baby to sleep. Bottom line, this is your baby we're talking about. He deserves a crib that is safe.

Now, when you go browsing for cribs, don't wait until the last minute. You'll be surprised to find that most baby furniture stores will not be able to get your crib for anywhere from a couple of weeks to several months after you place your order.

Synonyms:  Rib, rcib, ccrib, cib, cirb, crrib, crb, crbi, criib, cri, and cribb are typos and mispellings for "crib."  Assinet, abssinet, bbassinet, bssinet, bsasinet, baassinet, basinet, bassinet, basssinet, basinet, basisnet, basssinet, bassnet, bassniet, bassiinet, bassiet, bassient, bassinnet, bassint, bassinte, bassineet, bassine, and bassinett are typos for bassinet.