Convertible Baby Furniture: Gimmick or Good Idea?

When we first started delving into the baby world I was deluged by gimmicky little things with slight item improvements that promised to make life easier. Baby bath spas with built-in digital thermometers, bottles with ergonomic rubber grips, organic cotton burp cloths, musical swings with mp3 jacks, which we have, shopping cart covers, 5-stage booster seats, biodegradable table top covers. Any baby-related item you can possibly imagine is available in pastel colors from China. So when I heard about convertible baby furniture I wasn't completely sold, especially since it cost more. Did we really need it? Would it justify the extra cost and make life easier? Or was it just another gimmick in the apparently highly competitive world of baby stuff.

Well, I have to say the people who came up with convertible baby furniture are complete geniuses. This marvel of carpentry brilliance converts from a crib to a toddler bed to a full-size I'm-ready-to-move-out bed. Throw in a matching dresser for a changing surface and storage and you're set. Don't let the increased price crowd out the future convenience these things offer. A single furniture pick-up and assembly ensures that your little baby has a place to lay their head until they're 25 and paying you rent. Genius.

The crib/bed assembly is straight forward and no harder than a regular piece of furniture. You will have to buy the conversion kit, fancy talk for matching bed rails, later to convert to the full size bed. Throw on a larger mattresses and box springs and your set. Though the convertible cribs tend to cost more than the traditional anything that will reduce moving furniture and is appropriate for ages 0-18 years is a winner with me. Another plus is you won't be trying to sell the outgrown crib later on Craigslist. Nice!

Guy Recommendations:

- Gimmick or Good Idea? Good idea.
- If you can afford the convertible crib/bed get it. Eliminating future hassles is nice.
- See if there are any sets on clearance. Our furniture set was being discontinued because the manufacturer couldn't keep up with demand, so the clearance stuff isn't always the ugly junk no one wants.
- We bought a bed and dresser set by Baby Cache. Both pieces are fairly heavy and the bed has plenty of solid-wooden parts.