Dionne25's Full Review: Storkcraft Baby Riley Crib
Getting ready for baby's arrival can take a first-time parent on many roller coaster rides. As our son's birth was getting closer, we knew we wanted a crib that would be sturdy and hopefully be passed on to future generations. My in-laws also wanted to get in on spoiling their first grandson, so they offered to purchase a crib. While browsing the Sears catalog, I was very interested in the Storkcraft Baby Cribs.
Dimensions, Specifications and General Info
This information is taken from the storkcraft.com website:
Assembled Dimensions - 56.75"(L) X 29.75" (W) X 44.5" (H)
Packaged Dimensions - 60" (L) X 37.5" (W) X 7" (H)
Great looking sleigh design crib with an extra large bottom drawer for storage
Innovative one hand drop side rail
Adjustable one piece mattress support
Easy to assemble
Made of solid wood and wood products
Permanently attached instructions
Our Experience
The Storkcraft Baby Riley Crib was delivered to our home and depending on the size of your baby's room, you need to make sure to decide where you plan to assemble the crib. It comes with all the necessary hardware; all you need is a Phillips screwdriver handy for assembly. I left all the assembling to my husband because that's his thing and he's much better at it than me. Although Storkcraft claims this is an easy assembly, there is some work to it, but for the most part, you can be done within 30 minutes.
One of the first things that caught my eye was the fact that the instructions were attached on the base board of the crib. No need to worry about losing the instructions amongst all the bubble wrap, Styrofoam, or in the box. I immediately fell in love with the sleigh design of the crib. It wasn't your typical box type, straight square design. It had rhythm, it flowed nicely and it was a different spin on crib designs. There is also a drawer at the bottom of the crib that comes in handy for storage. Just be careful not to overload it with large blankets or quilts; otherwise you may have some problems opening it.
The crib itself has three adjustment levels to accommodate your growing baby. We set it on the highest level since our son was still a newborn. The first time we put him in the crib, he almost got lost in it because he was so small. That first night, he slept soundly (for the most part) and seemed very comfortable in his new crib.
Getting him in and out of the crib was also fairly easy for both of us. Using the drop rail is very simple. I do have to point out that it is designed to go one way. It contours in ward slightly so that when you are lifting it up and down, it moves with your body
As he's gotten older, we have adjusted the level of the crib and my husband was able to handle that with ease. He would just grab a handy Phillip's screwdriver, adjust it to the next level and we would go from there. The crib is now set at the lowest setting and there have been times that I have been worried my son will be able to climb out on his own, but so far, so good.
Another great feature with this crib is that it has the capacity to convert to both a toddler and day bed. Unfortunately the hardware for that did not come with the crib (it was stated on the instructions), but it is available for purchase if you wish to make the conversion.
The crib is fairly low maintenance. It's easy to clean - just grab a dust cloth with Pledge and give it a wipe down every once in a while. The wheels at the bottom make for easy mobility when necessary and they come with locking mechanisms to keep the crib in place.
The only downfall is you only get the crib. You have to make sure you purchase a mattress. We had to wait a week for the mattress to arrive, but that wasn't a problem since he was already sleeping in a bassinet for the first few weeks of his life.
Sturdy, Sturdy, Sturdy
We are very impressed with the Storkcraft Baby Riley Crib in that it has been able to withstand some serious challenges. As my son has gotten older, his energy level has grown as well. There have been times when he would be in his crib for some time and he'd use that time to give his legs a good workout. He's kicked, tugged, and manhandled the rails to the fullest and so far, no problems. I will admit that I have had to tighten the screws every now and then, but I think that comes with the level of activity this crib sees on a daily basis. For the most part, my son has put this crib to the test and the crib has come out on top each time. We've also had to take it apart when we moved and I was worried that there might be problems. The only hurdle my husband encountered was it took a little longer to assemble. This was only because our son wanted to help as much as possible.
A Great Piece of Furniture to Become Part of Family Heirlooms
I love everything about the Storkcraft Baby Riley Crib. My father-in-law decided to go with the Cherry Wood finish and I couldn't have picked out a better choice. It is designed beautifully, it's made of wood, durable and everyone who has seen it has great things to say about it. Our next baby is only weeks away and while I know our son has gotten very attached to his crib, he will be moving on to something new. He's broken in this crib for the past 27 months and it's still standing like new. My husband and I are confident in the fact that this crib will be able to withstand our next child. Eventually, we would like to pass this crib on to one of our children if and when they decide to have a family of their own. That way, they will be able to tell their children stories of when they used this crib.
Final Thoughts
I have never been happier with a product than I am with the Storkcraft Baby Riley Crib. It has yet to let me down, my son enjoys his crib and we love the fact that he has lasted as long as he had in it without any problems. The Storkcraft company is a company I can honestly say I trust and will use once again.
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