Short Stature and Non-drop-side cribs--Need Advice!

I have a non-drop-side crib (Infinity by Baby's Dream) and, if you can believe it, I'm 4' 10". I've never had a problem with it even with a torn rotator cuff in my right shoulder.

When my son was a baby, the mattress was high enough that I could reach in easily. As he got older and we lowered the mattress, he began to stand at the rail when I came in to get him out. Putting him in isn't a problem either. I swing him over the side and set him down on the mattress standing, then lean over to lay him down. That way, there's never any danger of me falling over or dropping him.

I wouldn't feel safe on a step stool because I'd be afraid of falling off it while getting the baby out. But maybe I'm just clumsy ...

I am a nanny for a 16-month-old boy and we have a non-drop side crib. It is on the lowest setting and I don't have a problem unless I am trying to lay him down in his crib. Then it is difficult. I am 5'5" tall but my arms are not long enough to lay him down softly. It is a problem but thankfully it doesn't happen often that I have to lay him down (asleep). When I go in to get him when he wakes up,he usually is standing up and that is not a problem at all. If he is sitting, I just ask him to "come to Nanny" and he gets up and comes to me. Hope this helps.

C.

Hi Sarah,

How about just putting a strong sturdy step stool next to the crib so that you can be about 5'8" or so. I am 5'8" and I have troble on occasion. It's not so much putting him in the brib as it is trying to get myself back out without waking him. Only other option I can think of is letting your significant other put baby to sleep.

What about a step stool? Seems like a simple solution...
We have a fixed side crib and I am 5'4". I haven't had any problems, but we're still on the highest crib setting, so we'll see if that changes. Our crib is the Commuter by C&T/Sorell. Last time I was at Lullaby Lane they had one in the sale area.

I currently have a drop side crib, actually the one that was recalled as well. I'm only 5ft and I've never had any problem reaching my son and I NEVER use the drop side. When he was younger I just had the mattress platform raised so it was easier. Also my sisters crib is not a dropside and she's just as short as I am and doesn't have any problem reaching her baby. It has never put stress on my shoulders or back, and both act up normally and they were fine with that crib.

I don't know much about the recall, but I know that the drop side crib I used for both my kids was just fine. It was not a convertable crib, which I personally think is a waste of money as you are finding now that your infant needs the crib. I would simply purchase a normal drop side crib (I'm sorry I can't remember the brand I have, but I got it at babies r us) and purchase a twin mattress for your toddler to sleep on since the crib has been recalled. I'm planning on getting rid of my toddler bed because my 2 year old has already outgrown it. I'm going to buy him a twin bed and put it on a frame with a piece of plywood instead of using a box spring. I think this will make it just about the same height off the ground as a toddler bed. I hope this helps!

I'm 5'1" with short arms, even for my height. I used a step stool, the kind that is a large platform on four legs, and it made a huge difference. Unless your balance is really awful, you should be fine with that kind of step stool, which your baby can then use in the bathroom when he's older. Just so you know, the CPSC is considering banning all drop-side cribs. We didn't have any issues w/ ours (not one of the recalled ones), but I could never get the side to drop anyway. If I were in the market for a new crib, I would definitely not get a drop-side one. Even though it's unlikely anything would go wrong, I wouldn't want to take an unnecessary risk.

I second the stepstool idea - I am just under 5'2 as well and my son is around 20 lbs. This keeps me from hurting my back.

I am 5'2.5" and we have not used the dropside on our crib. I can fairly easily lay down my 8 month old but I do put her down awake, I might have more trouble if I was trying to keep her asleep. I was looking at the cribs at IKEA which are not dropside and I noticed that they are much closer to the ground so that you could take a little bit of bending at the waist action to put baby in and you don't have to foist the baby up above chest level to get them out. With our current crib if my dd is still lying down when I come to get her or in the back croner I struggle a little to get her out.

The only thing that came to mind is having someone build you a platform that you can shove under the crib when it is not needed, be sure it has some kind of handle so you can pull it out when you do. I haven't needed a crib in a long time but I am pretty sure if you shop around you can find one that is shorter. How about having someone cut the legs down by about 3 to 4 inches? It might not look at pretty but it would function just fine for you and baby. =)

I was watching Extreme Makeover Home Edition the other night and they showed a crib with a door that was accessible to the dad in a wheelchair. He was able to slide the baby in and out without fear of falling or dropping the child. This may be the type of crib that would work best for you.
(I see you are in San Mateo, check out Lullaby Lane in San Bruno. When I lived on that side of the bay I shopped there for all my baby stuff. http://www.lullabylane.com/Catalog/Default.aspx)

I never used our drop-side b/c it was cheap and flimsy, but the crib is solid birch and quality. It was really hard to get the baby in and out with the rail up, but once they could sit/stand, it was fine. I did this while pregnant, too.

For baby #2 we have a no drop-side crib. They are lower to the ground. I guess there is no perfect solution, but drop-sides do seem unsafe and flimsy.

Greetings Sarah,
I am 5ft.2 inches as well, and both of my daughter in laws are on the short side. Actually until you sid something I just figured we were all normal and that anyone taller was odd man out. None of us have ever had a problem with a regular crib and I have 5 children, & one was nearly 10 lbs at birth! I have raised many foster children as well. I have to honestly tell you that with the one I had I just got tired of taking the side down and just left it up all the time. I honestly never had a problem with it. Got rid of it because another family needed one and I could just use the portable crib.
Something, you might consider that we did since one was still in the crib when another needed it. We got a youth bed that was smaller than a twin and yet was fun. They can be reasonable priced.
My daughter in law & son have a 2 1/2 year old that refused to stay in her bed and can get in and out faster than anything I have ever seen-- they finally just put a mattress on the floor for her because it was the safest thing to do. Her crib had been turned innto a youth size bed & she didn't like it a bit. None of them are home at the moment so I will send you a second message with the kind of crib they both have. I do know that we all have portacribs that the children have slept in until they are 2 if that helps you any.
I honestly know that parenthood has been the greatest thing that I have ever done. The rewards are amazing and the blessings to big to count. I will also say that since some of my children were who made Curious George look easy,smile **My children were more excitement than a theme park ride with all the twists and turns that it can bring and I would not give up a single day of it. Happy Holidays, Nana Glenda

Hi there !

I am pretty short myself ( just shy of 5'3'' ) and I don't have a drop down crib..so I started using a good and sturdy stepping stool. It was a great help for me to get my baby in bed. Maybe that will be helpful to you as well!?! My daughter is almost 3 now and still loves her crib! Needless to say that I am glad for that stool - now, I have her help me get her out of the crib everytime. The stool has saved my back!

Good Luck.

M.

We love our crib. It's a drop gate http://www.kids-n-cribs.com/baby-s-dream/baby-s-dream-gen...

Hi Sarah

I'm 5'2 as well and we use the Baby Miro Modo Crib from million dollar baby. I love it, its very modern looking and is a great crib. Its also pretty low I believe the height is 34' so its lower than most. I think the only struggle I may have is when I will have to drop the bed to the lowest setting but other than that its great!

I am also 5'2" and I have the non-drop side crib, and it doesn't bother me at all. Pretty soon your son will be pulling himself in, so when you walk in he will already be standing and waiting for you. So, it really won't be an issue for that long. You can also try one of the mini cribs, they are shorter and cheaper :)

When my 1st son's crib was recalled back in 07 (another Jardine) I accidently ordered a crib by Carter...I didn't like it in the store mainly because the back didn't have slates, it has a solid board, and the inside has rigid corners. I had to special order it & it took 2 weeks to get it and I didn't realize it was the wrong crib until my husband had it put all together...So I wasn't going to go through having to pick out another crib so we just kept it. Plus there wasn't anything out there that was white & not made by Jardine..Anyway the back part was a little bit of a problem just cuz' my son is a light and restless sleeper. I tried to put some velcro and put the bumper pads on it at first, but then just got the breathable bumper pads and hung a blanket across the back to keep the loud noise from him banging his head to a minimum....BUT for your sake it is REALLY low to the ground. In fact, I have the opposite problem i'm 5'9 & it hurts my back to bend over to put him in. My husband just bought extensions to put the crib up so w/ my 2nd I didn't have to bend over as much to lay him down. It might be a problem on the lowest mattress setting but I didn't put my son on the lowest setting until he was about 15 months old..You might be able to check out a floor model @ BRU to see if its low enough. It is not a dropside....Feel free to check it out

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3012851