Enable me/tell me I'm crazy - baby furniture edition

[mskitkat]

MMM, you are my arbiters of financially sound/crazy decisions.

DH and I have been to 3 baby furniture stores and done extensive online searching. This crib is the only one we have found that we love: www.directbuybaby.com/cribs/dolce-babi-angelina-convertible-crib-in-pearl.html

The catch is that it's $1k. We can comfortably afford it. We have no consumer debt and have a 6 month e-fund. But still! It's twice what I was thinking I would spend. On the plus side, it's solid wood, convertible, and well constructed. All the edges are rounded and all the screws are hidden. It's safe. It's beautiful. It's just crazy expensive.

We have until noon today to decide. That's how long the store agreed to honor a 10% off sale price, although the sale technically ended yesterday. What say you, MMM?

[samanthamkm]

How upset will you be when there are teeth marks on it?

[IrishBelle]

I would not spend that much on a piece of furniture that is used for such a short time.

[rupertpenny]

You're kind of crazy. If I had $1k to blow I'd definitely spend it on myself haha.

[Muddled]

How long will you realistically use it?
5+ years? Go for it.
Anything less? Pass.

[dcn]

I wouldn't spend that much, but if you love it and can afford them go for it.

[mskitkat]

Nov 2, 2015 8:11:30 GMT -5 samanthamkm said:

How upset will you be when there are teeth marks on it?

Not particularly. I already have cats that chew on everything. My favorite purse may as well have been a teething ring. Plus I can have my mom make a teething guard in whatever fabric I want.

[shelbyann]

TBH I think it's crazy to spend that much on a crib, but if you can afford it and it will make you happy, go for it!

[momin2013]

Putting myself in your situation hypothetically:

Before DS came along, I would be in the camp that if I loved it that much, could comfortably afford it, and didn't really have anything else on my shortlist that I'd rather buy with what I could save by getting a cheaper one, I'd probably get it.

Knowing what I know now, though, in hindsight I probably wouldn't get it because a) DS ended up totally gnawing the whole front of his crib which would have ruined it, and b) even though we got him a convertible, he ended up going straight from a crib to a full-size bed, so he wouldn't have gotten as much use out of it as I'd expected.

[luckyno7]

If you think you'll love it when it's a full bed then go for it. I hated ours as a full size. When we added a box spring it was insanely high. Also, ditto what others said. The do get pretty beat up while it's a crib. No matter how hard you try to keep it nice.

[rugbywife]

I spend as little as possible on things that the kids will be using, aka, possibly ruining. We have an ikea crib for DD and a lovely expensive crib that we got for free from a friend (all three of her kids used it).

[samanthamkm]

Nov 2, 2015 8:16:33 GMT -5 mskitkat said:

Nov 2, 2015 8:11:30 GMT -5 samanthamkm said:

How upset will you be when there are teeth marks on it?

Not particularly. I already have cats that chew on everything. My favorite purse may as well have been a teething ring. Plus I can have my mom make a teething guard in whatever fabric I want.

Then go for it. The crib I picked out was more money than I wanted to spend but we have had it 5 years and it still looks good.

[halfpint]

Yeah, just think of the potential bite marks, and then decide. We ended up covering our rails to protect them, but B wasn't really a wood chewer.

If you like it and can afford it, why not?

[mskitkat]

Nov 2, 2015 8:16:11 GMT -5 Muddled said:

How long will you realistically use it?
5+ years? Go for it.
Anything less? Pass.

The theory is that since it's convertible, we'd use it for at least 8 years if she ends up hating all things girly. Longer if she likes it. This is my first, so I have no idea how realistic that is in practice.

[dottyblue]

I wouldn't and we are in the same financial situation as you. I bought the ikea crib (other end of the spectrum) and I would do it again in a heartbeat. After one kid, it is dingy, chipped from little teeth and a long distance move and it still has to survive DS2. I would buy it again since it is still solid, but I would be furious at myself right now if I had dropped $$$ on a crib.

[stoptalking]

I would buy it based on three factors:
1) you can comfortably afford it
2) you love it
3) it converts all the way to a full size bed. That's a big one. You will get your money's worth out of it. You could potentially get 10+ years out of it

[dcn]

Also the conversion kit for our crib was extra $$. I don't know if that is the case with this One but that could jack the price up even more.

We ended up not even buying the kit and I think we will just sell/give away the crib when we are done with it.

[kdubs923]

If you're planning on converting it and using it as the big girl bed for the next 10/15/whatever years, then go for it.

We spent a good amount on nursery furniture with the intention that it is his/hers for as long as they're in the house. But my DS hasn't chewed furniture at all, so I don't regret it (yet). We'll see about this baby.

[dottyblue]

Also, I am of the opinion that convertible crib "beds" always still look like cribs. Pass

[pinotgrig]

It's really pretty!! We spent about that much on G's crib and I don't regret it. It's convertible into a full and we plan on him using it for a really long time. I was also surprisingly un-upset when he chewed on it. There's now a teething guard on there, though.

What size does this one covert to?

Are you splurging on other baby stuff or will this be your one big splurge? How bummed would you be if this one was discontinued or out of stock and you couldn't get it?

[wavepool]

I definitely wouldn't. I'd buy something cheaper and a better chair than what we bought. Even if both were in the budget, no crib is worth that much to me.

[stoptalking]

Nov 2, 2015 8:18:24 GMT -5 mskitkat said:

Nov 2, 2015 8:16:11 GMT -5 Muddled said:

How long will you realistically use it?
5+ years? Go for it.
Anything less? Pass.

The theory is that since it's convertible, we'd use it for at least 8 years if she ends up hating all things girly. Longer if she likes it. This is my first, so I have no idea how realistic that is in practice.

I think this is realistic.
Our cribs are convertible. DD is 5 and is in her full size bed, loves it, it's in great shape. I don't see needing or wanting to replace it in the next 5 years. And she wasn't a chewer, but I realize some kids are.

[zarapipe]

If you want it, can afford it and don't really care if it gets damaged then get it. It's your LO and nursery. People spend their $$$ on different things. I personally wouldn't get it, but that's just me. And like @this said, about the room décor. That is a very feminine crib and lots of times girls aren't into "girly" things, so are you ok with that and a minion décor?

[jeaniebueller]

Dont do it. Save the money for big kid furniture. Go to target and get a crib.

[countthestars]

How much are the matching dressers etc? That crib looks like you would need the full set to look right.

Anyway, I personally wouldn't buy it.

[thebreakfastclub]

I feel like a crib is a big deal at first, and then it just gets lost in the shuffle and becomes less important over time.

That being said, if you really love it, then go for it. People blow big $ on strollers, clothes, etc around here all the time.

If the crib is your thing, enjoy it. DS has a more expensive than average crib ($300 from Target.com) that is also white, and there is not a mark on it in almost 3 years.

[bowies]

If YOU love it then get it. If she uses it, say, five years and then she requests something different or you grow tired of the style then you can always sell it.

[redheadk]

Nov 2, 2015 8:23:52 GMT -5 dottyblue said:

Also, I am of the opinion that convertible crib "beds" always still look like cribs. Pass

I agree.

I'd rather buy a pretty but less expensive crib for now then but really gorgeous actual furniture when the time comes. The life of s crib is so short. Some kids are out of them by 18 months. Dd is one of the few I know still using hers at almost 3.5 (as a toddler bed).

[redheadk]

But I'll freely cop to blowing money on really indulgent stuff when pregnant just because I could. So if you have your heart set on it, go for it.

[numbers]

I'm all for a good splurge, but I personally wouldn't spend $1k on a crib.