Swing time for baby (Toys R Us Swinging Crib)

Member Name: ButterBear

Product:	Toys R Us Swinging Crib
Date:	21/03/08 (134 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Safe, secure, comfy, soothing for baby

Disadvantages: Use can be limited depending on babies speed of developement

As I sit here wondering about all the things I need to buy and prepare for our 3rd child I cant help but think about all the things I've used for my babies in the past, some were fantastic hits like the Lindam steam sterilizer while others, like Lindams night and day feeding system, were 100% miss. I've been lucky to have found some great items in the past that have really stood the test of time, being able to write about something that is still going strong after 4 or more years is a sure sign of a quality item and one of those items, another complete hit is the Toys R Us swinging crib set.

Toys R Us Swinging Crib-
The Toys R Us swinging crib is a traditional style crib in antique pine finish for your baby's nursery, larger than a Moses basket in size it is much smaller than a basic cot and far more sensible for a new baby. It comes with a metal drape rod and a wipe clean mattress and has the ability to be rocked gently to soothe baby or be used without the rocking motion, a simple locking device locks the crib in place preventing it being knocked or swung. The crib is suitable from birth until the age where your baby shows signs of being able to sit up on his or her own.

The crib comes in a flat packed form consisting of the 2 main end supports and central support bar, the base of the crib, the 2 end pieces, the 2 slatted side panels, the drape rod and the mattress. You are also supplied with instructions for assembly, all the necessary screws and fittings and an alan key.

Price and Availability-
The swinging crib is a Toys R Us exclusive only available in store and online, it retails at £59.99 and while it does not come supplied with bedding or drapes bedding sets are available from Toys R Us from £29.99 including bumper, quilt and drapes in pink, blue and Winnie The Pooh themes. Other swinging cribs available from Toys R Us include a complete Winnie the Pooh themed crib and a white pine "I love my bear" themed crib.
(http:// www.toysrus.co.uk/ Product.aspx/ BruHome/ BruNursery/ BruNurseryCotsMoses/ BruNurseryCotsMosesMosesBaskets/ 727431?ref=Search -minus the spaces)

Our Experience-
The crib was bought by my sister as a gift for my son before he was born, way back in 2004, I knew she was going to be purchasing it but hadn't actually seen the crib. Naturally we didn't set it up as soon as it was bought, it would have simply sat around for several weeks gathering dust until baby finally arrived. When it did eventually get set up I didn't know it was going to happen, I had week left in my pregnancy and returned from visiting my mum one day to find my husband had set the crib up ready for me to get ready with all the drapes and blankets etc...it looked beautiful even in the cramped space that was our bedroom, a wonderful surprise, and I merrily set to making up the crib with cotton sheets and woollen cellular blankets, a soft teddy sat in the corner ready for it's new friend.

The drapes were amazingly easy to set up, the drape rod itself is secured when setting up the crib and is at the opposite end from the locking mechanism meaning that you don't have to fumble around under the cloth to try and find the lock. The drape and bedding set we had at the time is actually no longer available and was a lovely white cotton set, it's design though is much the same as the ones you can buy now and there was a simple hidden pocket like section in the drapes allowing the rod to slide through the centre, the sides then just hang loose, positioned over the edges of the crib base. With the drapes and blankets in place the crib was all ready for Christopher's arrival.

It is a lovely crib, very traditional looking but more importantly comfortable for baby and safe. The base legs and centre support bar make the crib nice and sturdy and provide a wide base for it to be able to rock without you having to worry or panic that it could tip or overbalance, the base of the crib although looking thin took no strain from the time my babies spent in the crib and is still as strong and as good as new. The solid end panels ensure that baby can be safely placed in the "feet to foot" position (where the feet are in contact with the foot of the bed) with no concern that their little toes will pop through open slats at the end but it is those open slats in the side panels that ensures good air movement through the crib and easy view for parents checking up on their little one. The crib is a good size and gives the baby plenty of space to grow into before the time comes for a proper cot, the base level on the crib cannot be lowered though meaning that once your baby is able to start climbing around or sitting by themselves they will need a larger bed.

It was great to get the mattress supplied as this is often not the case with many larger cribs and cots, it's quite a thin mattress, plastic covered with a soft foam inner but it fits perfectly within the crib and gives a nice gentle support to baby. Of course being wipe clean is fantastic as most young babies at one point or another will have a little vomit, milk dribble or something entirely more yucky come in contact with the mattress, in fabric covered mattresses this often ends up with the liquid coming in contact with the inner foam and becoming smelly or stained but there is no worry of this happening with the covered mattress you get supplied.

Both my little ones have used the crib so far, Christopher used it complete with the drapes and it looked wonderful, the extra fabric kept a degree of light from his eyes when he was sleeping and gave a picture perfect image of a contented sleeping baby in his crib, Elsa wasn't so lucky to use the drapes as we were in a different home and they were sadly not practical with the space we had, however you would not have looked at the crib and thought that something was missing. Both times we used the rocking ability of the crib although mainly when they would stir slightly and need soothing, a simple pull and twist of the round locking handle would unlock the mechanism and you were able to rock the cradle however strongly or gently you wished from side to side, it was lovely and peaceful sat quietly rocking the crib, settling the babies and watching their innocent faces as they dreamt. Of course you can keep the crib in the locked position which is my likely choice this time round unless I'm in the room with baby Lumpy (yet to be officially named as we don't know the gender) my 2 angelic babies have grown into wonderfully adventurous toddlers who'd thoroughly enjoy giving Lumpy a rock and roll experience, once locked the crib wont rock at all and is quite safe and secure.

It might not seem like good value to spend £60 on a crib that may only be used for a few months, usually 6 at the most, but it is a lovely set and great quality. I've been able to use it as long as needed with both my babies so far, knowing they were safe and that they were comfortable, when the time came for them to be moved to the big cot we could simply take the swinging crib apart and store it in the loft until the time came again to use it, because you can do just that, there is no concern with the crib that it will not be in good enough condition to use time and time again, in fact we've had such a good experience with the crib I have every intention of keeping it once my own child bearing days are over and allow my children to use the crib for my grandchildren. I can't wait until the time comes to prepare the crib for a 3rd time, but I've a few more weeks, 19 to be precise, before I can do that, still I'm excited about setting it up and getting ready for Lumpys arrival, I know he/she will get just as much good use from the crib as Both Christopher and Elsa.

If you're preparing for an imminent arrival and are looking for a proper crib rather than just a Moses basket I can highly recommend this one, you won't be disappointed, I wasn't!



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Also posted on Ciao (Piggypine)

Summary: A beautiful crib set.