Got Cribs???

I think I mentioned before that we decided not to move Z from his room or his crib. We thought with all the changes coming down the pike, this would be just too much for him. The child LOVES his room and his crib and I can see him sleeping in his crib for the next 20 years. There might be a time when we take the side off and convert it into a day bed, but he loves his crib.

We were lucky enough to inherit a crib for the baby. It only needed a new mattress so for less than $100 we had a solution to our crib problem. This past weekend, after getting home from our vacation, we decided to put the crib together (well I guess I begged S to do it). Half way through assembling it, I burst into tears. It seemed very old (not even on the manufacturers website anymore) and rickety. If Z climbed up on it to see the baby, the whole thing would fall apart (no exaggeration). I thought of SIDS and all of the other horrible things that can happen to babies in bad cribs and started to freak out.

S was a bit calmer and suggested that we put the entire thing together before we decide. "We have a few months to figure this out," he said. Within minutes his frustration got the best of him and he started yanking the thing apart and used a few vulgar words. He too decided that it was a death trap and it was headed straight for the dump (the next time they were open). I just hung my head and cried. He put his arm around me and told me that we would buy a new crib, no big deal.

So I started to research new cribs.....they can be a bit pricey! For us to get a mattress and even a cheapo crib, it was going to be close to $300. We have a lot of other things we need to buy for this baby (not to mention our insurance rates just went up) and so I could feel my heart racing. Nobody is selling second hand cribs anymore due to the new laws about baby furniture (although I am not sure I want something second hand unless it is less than 5 years old) and so I started to cry again (got to love hormones).

I told my sister of our dilemma and she thought I was crazy. "Why would you spend money on something you don't need?" was her reaction. She reminded me that we have bunk beds in one room and Z's crib will convert into a double bed....we really don't need any more furniture. She suggested that the baby spend the first few months in the bassinet and then move into the pack n play until Z is ready for a big bed. We can always un-bunk one of the beds and move it into his room so that he doesn't have to move. Once again I could feel the tears welling up.....this baby isn't even born yet and is already getting the shaft. Z had a dream nursery and this baby will have a pack n play.....my crib set will not fit in the pack n play :(

So what do you think? What should we do?? S said we should try to get Z in a bed now, but is it too late for that at this point? I don't want him to think that the baby is taking things away from him and I am not sure I am ready for him to be FREE. I agree with my sister about not needing to spend the money on the crib, but is the pack n play the best option? "The baby will never know and plenty of kids sleep in pack n plays!" she pointed out. I know I am making a bigger deal of this than I should, after all Z slept in a bouncy chair for 6 months! Any advice would be welcome :)