After a baby is done with a crib, many parents are left wondering what to do with it. They could give it away, put it back in storage for future children, or make it into a day bed. It is easy to turn a baby crib into a daybed. By doing this, a crib can be recycled into useful piece of furniture that can be enjoyed by the whole family.
Start Out With a Convertible Crib
If possible, before even buying a crib try to find one that comes with a crib to day bed conversion kit or, at the very least, one that converts to a toddler bed. This will make turning the baby crib into a daybed easier. Always keep the directions and extra baby crib parts in an area where they can easily be found later such as the top closet shelf in the baby's room. If a baby bed has all ready been bought, but it is not a convertible crib, it can still possibly be made into a daybed by simply removing one of the sides.
Refinish The Baby Crib
If the crib needs to be painted or refinished it to hide any damage or teeth marks, do so before attempting to turn the baby crib into a daybed. Take the crib outside, wash it, sand it, and then prime and paint or stain it. If painting, try to use an eco-friendly paint such as Lowe's Valspar paint, Ecos Organic Paints, or Sherwin-Williams Harmony paints in order to cut down on fumes.
Move and Assemble the Baby Crib into a Daybed
Move the baby crib into the room where the daybed is to be. This might require taking the baby bed apart and reassembling it in the other room.
Put the baby crib back together leaving out one of the longer sides of the crib. If it was a convertible crib, it would be the side designated on the instructions to remove in order to make the toddler bed or daybed. If it is not a convertible crib, just remove either one of the longer sides.
Adjust the mattress to a comfortable level for a daybed following the baby crib's instruction sheet carefully. If it is a young child who will be using the day bed the most, the lowest level for the crib mattress will be best. If it is for an older child or an adult, a higher level may be needed. Replace the mattress and then sit on the new daybed to make sure that it is sturdy and safe. If it is not, do not proceed.
Decorate the New Daybed
To finish making a daybed from a baby crib, decorate it. Buy a high quality crib sheet for the mattress that will not let any pattern that might be on the crib mattress show through. Crib sheets can easily be found in any baby department, baby store, or online. Buy several coordinating pillows to line along the back of the crib and on each end that match the room's current decor or the crib sheet. Do not forget to add a crib bed skirt. Go for a bed skirt in a neutral color or stick with white so that it will match with anything.
Honey Denson - I the mother to three wonderful children and five years ago I left my job as a full time English teacher to spend more time with them. Now ...
