What to Do with Crib No Longer Considered Safe?

I was going to say request the kit from the company to make it fixed. I also love the idea about giving it to a womans shelter or to a transition center for families in need. If the new hardware is being used that it is safe and no longer poses danger to a baby, unless there was another recall as well. Best of luck and I hope you find a great use for it!

I always thought it would be sweet if you know someone who is good with tools and wood to remake the crib into a smaller crib for baby dolls. That way it stays around, your kids could play with it and even pass it on to their kids someday to play with.

I am assuming that your crib is no longer considered safe ONLY because it is a drop-side crib and for no other reason. There are hardware kits that can be purchased (often from the manufacturer of the crib) that make the crib safer. When the hardware is installed, the crib is no longer able to function in a drop side fashion. Call the company that made the crib and see if they will provide you with the hardware (from what I understand its very simple) for a small fee, or free. Its worth looking into. Even if you end up donating the crib, at least you can donate it with peace of mind!

We took the drop side off our crib and use it as a toddler daybed. It's cute with all the pillows and animals.

The best answer appears to be to request the hardware to convert it into a crib with fixed sides. However, you could also cut down the legs, remove the drop side altogether, and make it into a little sofa seat for the child's room when it becomes a pre-schooler. It would also make a good "bench" for dolls or stuffed animals. Another idea is to take out outdoors, take off one side, and use it as a planter or plant display surface after staining the wood for weatherproofing.

I have a friend that takes old cradles/cribs and remakes them into toy chests. If you know anyone that is handy, it is relatively easy to do. You just need a little bit of wood and then you get to keep a part of something that was once special. (the slats become part of the decor on the wood toy box.)

Hi R.-

I understand you not wanting it to get used if it is unsafe, but you might want to call a women's shelter to see if they might still want it. With the proper hardware to fix the problem they might still be happy to have the donated crib as the alternatives that they might have for babies to sleep in during emergency situations might be even less safe.

Good luck,
K.

My crib was recalled, it wasn't a drop side, but got recalled for weak wood. It kills me to waste anything. (I'm a little OCD about it) But I couldn't come up with anything to do with mine either. I had to send back all hardware, and since the wood is the problem I couldn't even think of a project for it. The only thing I could think of if the wood wasn't an issue (for yours, it shouldn't be) was to make something out of the wood to use outside for like a trellis or planter. That would require being handy and having some basic construction skills, but you might be able to come up with something.

Or you could use it as a headboard that you actually mount on the wall, like in a guestroom. You could even upholster it. Then just screw it into the wall above the bed. Otherwise, you should destroy it. I am going to have my husband run a saw through all the sides of mine before I take it to the dump so it doesn't get salvaged. But maybe I will see what other responses you get before I do that, someone might come up with something I can do with mine. :)

you can keep the matress for sure and use it to make a pallet if your child ever has a sleep over with other toddlers or a toddler relative sleeps over.