The excitement of having a baby is tempered with a few serious skills you need to learn before the little one arrives, such as learning how to assemble baby cribs. Used for an average of 24 months and supposedly your baby’s repository when you need to attend to a few things, the crib has to be assembled to a tee to be a safe haven for your little angel.

What are the different types and how to assemble baby cribs

Baby cribs come in various styles, sizes, and designs. As it is, each of them requires little to a considerable amount of time to assemble.

• Travel cribs.

  Are made of lightweight materials and are usually the easiest to assemble. Most need a simple fold and unfold action to setup and to pack.

• Standard cribs.

  It’s the no-nonsense, traditional crib that requires some nuts and bolts to be put in place.

• Portable cribs.

  This type allows you to easily transfer the crib from place to place. Hinges are an important feature and consideration of this crib with regard to installation.

• Convertible cribs.

  This crib may be something your child will never outgrow. It goes from a standard crib and day bed to toddler and twin-sized bed. Like the previous two types of cribs, this may require you to flex some handyman muscles to put together.

A word of caution when selecting baby cribs

Steer clear from baby cribs with drop down sides. Although they have been banned by the Consumer Product Safety Commission for causing 30+ infant deaths, you might have or will have come across with one at a yard sale. Don’t buy or use them.

What are the basic parts of a crib?

• Headboard/back panel.

  The side of the crib where the head points. Some front and back panels are similar. Others are differentiated with the back panel being longer than the front panel.

• Front panel.

  This refers to the side of the crib where the feet points.

• Side panels.

  The left and right side parts of the crib, which along with the front and back panels, guard the baby or toddler from falling.

• The horizontal part of the crib where you place the mattress.

• Stabilizer bars/rails.

  The bars stationed beneath the base, running from the headboard to the front panel, which steadies the crib and helps retain its shape.

Tips on how to assemble baby cribs

• Run an inventory and quality check.

  As soon as you’ve received and paid for your pack, take out the assembly guide, and make sure all the parts are complete and in good condition. Then determine if you have the necessary tools to assemble the baby crib. Some baby cribs would require a Philips screw driver, hammer, drill, and/or ratchet set. Doing this initial step will save you time from going to and fro the furniture or hardware store.

• Assemble the crib where you would have it stationed. You wouldn’t want to finish assembling the baby crib only to find out there’s no way around to get it through the door without having to disassemble and re-assemble it. Also, if you move it, some screws or bolts might come loose.

• Follow instructions diligently.

  Each crib comes with a manufacturer’s instruction. It is important that you read and follow the one that comes with your pack. Study how to assemble baby crib for your child’s safety, and so as not to void your crib’s warranty.

• Have another person help you.

  Aside from making the job easier, having someone steady or hold some parts of the furniture will avoid damaging it during the assembly process.

• Determine the level for your base.

  For newborns, set the base of the crib at the highest level; for toddlers, choose a lower or the lowest level.

• Have it tested.

  It is wise and prudent to have the baby crib assembled before the baby arrives. That way you can check durability or safety issues. Shake it. Put some weight. Execute the necessary corrections if the crib wobbles or if some parts come off.

• Perform regular checks. When the crib’s little resident is there, check it from time to time for loose bolts, broken pieces, or malfunctioning locks. Perform checks as well every time you move the crib from place to place.

With some planning ahead and due diligence, assembling baby cribs can easily become one of the most stress-free or even enjoyable preparations for your baby’s arrival. And, of course, when the baby arrives, you can be smug that he/she will be safe in the crib you have assembled.