Buying a crib is serious business and when I found out that I would be needing one that is exactly how I treated it.

While I was shopping for a crib I wanted a good solid one that had many features since I would be investing a fair share of money into one. I looked through every catalog,website and department store trying to find just the right one for my little boy.

Finally after what seemed like trying to find a needle in a hay stack I stumbled upon the Crib 4 Life. This crib seemed to be exactly what I was looking for so I decided to just go ahead and buy it and I am so glad I did!

The Crib 4 Life is a covertible crib that can be changed into a toddle bed,twin bed and also a full size bed hence the name Crib 4 Life! My sons crib came with the toddle bed conversion kit but you will need to purchase other pieces for the twin and full size bed conversion. I have seen them for about 50-75.00.

The crib that I purchased is made out of solid pine.

The crib has a drop down gate that requires two hands to open so you do not have to worry about your little one trying to open it themselves. The latches to open the gate are on each end of it which can make it a little tricky for me to open when trying to get a sleeping baby into there crib.
The slats of the crib are the wide, flat kind and are spaced within the 2 and 2/8 inch guidelines. You can also adjust the height of the mattress very easily and there is four different heights.
On the back of the crib there is a scroll like design carved into it. I like this because it is very simple and does not look girly for my son.

The Crib 4 Life is fairly simple to put together,my husband did it in about 20 mins.

I happen to love this crib but I have run into a few things that I dislike. For one there is no teething guard around the edges and my son bite a chunk of the wood out of the rail which I am sure cannot be good! Also he happens to have chunky legs like most toddles and has managed to get his little legs stuck between the bars many times and let me tell you it is not easy to get them out once they are stuck!
Another thing is that the way the rails are designed finding a mobile to fit this crib can be a little tricky so you may want to take that into consideration when purchasing a moblie for this crib.

Overall I think this is a wonderful peice of furniture that with its simple design and many functions will last my son a lifetime. I do suggest though that you keep a bottle of baby oil on hand just in case your little ones leg gets stuck! Also I would invest in a teething guard to protect the rails from excessive chewing!

The Crib 4 Life company also sells a beautiful 4 drawer dresser that has a removable changing area on top for about 275.00 if you want a matching set!

Any mattress used in this crib must be at least 27-1/4 inches by 51-5/8 inches with a thickness not exceeding 6 inches. As with any crib do not use a water mattress.
Also when your child reaches 35 inches or is climbing out of there crib it is time for a toddler bed!

UPDATE 11/22/03
We are now using this crib for our second child and it has started to fall apart. The side rail has become wobbly and the metal brackets that hold the side rail up have become jagged, probably from opening and closing it so many times. I have called the company and I can purchase additional parts for a price but have decided to instead move my child to a different toddler bed. Most would say after two children that a crib is going to be worn but my first son only stayed in this bed until he was 13 mos and then used a little car toddler bed and my second child is only 14 months. This bed is supposed to last for a long time hence the name crib 4 life. I do not even see how it could possibly be used as a toddler bed now as the side rail is completely lose and is pulling away from the crib. Even with tightening the screws it does not fix the problem. I would have to say that this might not be a great choice for active babies as I am thinking that the contast bouncing has probably contributed to this cibs demise . Also if you do decide to purchase this crib purchase a platic guard for the rails to prevent teeth marks.


Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 250.00