How Much Weight Can a Crib Hold? The Ultimate Crib Guide

How much weight a baby crib can hold is essential to know. Parents sometimes want to climb in their baby’s crib with them if their baby doesn’t fall asleep.

Knowing the weight limit will also help you to know when your child has outgrown their crib. Keeping your child in the appropriate crib or bed for their size is essential to keep your child safe as they sleep.

Children can receive an injury from sleeping in cribs that are too small for them, or that cannot support their weight.

Here’s everything you should about how much weight cribs can hold.

Can All Cribs Hold the Same Weight?

Not all cribs are made with the same materials or built the same way. Meaning, different cribs can hold different amounts of weight, so it is essential to do your research if you’re shopping for a crib.

You want to ensure you purchase the right crib for your needs. Most online retailers will include the crib’s maximum capacity in the product description.

In general, cribs can hold 35 to 50 pounds. It can be a challenge to find a crib that can hold more than 50 lbs. In most cases, you won’t need a crib that can hold more than 50 pounds.

How Much Weight Can a Mini Crib Hold?

You might be looking for a mini crib instead of a standard size crib. As the name suggests, mini cribs are smaller. They tend to support less weight than a traditional crib.

Most mini cribs can hold 22 to 40 pounds. This weight limit is not very different from a standard crib, but it is essential to keep in mind.

If you purchase a mini crib, you will need to switch to a toddler bed sooner than you would with a regular-sized crib.

How Are Weight Restrictions Determined?

The weight restrictions are based on the type of material that is at the bottom of the crib. Some cribs have pieces of plywood at the bottom, which doesn’t provide a lot of support. The plywood can be flimsy.

Other cribs have slats with wood on top of them. Those cribs may be able to hold more weight.

No matter how sturdy a crib may seem, pay close attention to any set weight limits. Using those weight limits as guidelines can help you to keep your baby safe.

You don’t want to risk your baby’s safety, so you should always follow the instructions.

Should You Get in the Crib With Your Child?

You might be wondering how much weight a crib can hold because you want to get in the crib with your child. This is a trend that some parents may do, especially on those seemingly sleepless nights.

You might also think about climbing into your child’s crib if they’re having a hard time adjusting to sleeping alone.

Because most cribs can only hold up to 50 pounds, it’s not wise for a grown adult to get into a crib. Cribs are designed to hold babies, so the weight of a grown adult cannot be supported.

It might be able to hold you, but that doesn’t mean you should get in the crib. Even if you climb in the crib and it doesn’t break, you are putting extra strain on the material.

Eventually, they will break, and it will likely be sooner than the crib normally would.

There are a lot of risks that come with you getting in the crib with your child. You don’t want the crib to break and bring both of you to the floor. You and your baby could be seriously hurt. It’s best not to take this chance, so you shouldn’t get in your child’s crib.

Alternatives to Climbing in the Crib with Your Child

There are other ways to help your child fall asleep if your crib isn’t strong enough to accommodate you and your child. Some parents will place an air mattress next to the crib and sleep there. Others will rest on the floor beside the crib.

There are other ways you can help your child get used to sleeping in their crib. It might help to talk to your child’s pediatrician for suggestions.

How Long Does a Crib Last?

Before buying a crib, you should know how long they last. This can help you make big decisions when it comes to shopping for a crib.

Consider Price and Longevity

First, you want to know how much money to spend on a crib. If a pricier crib lasts longer, it may be worth the money. If all cribs last around the same amount of time, there’s no need to splurge on a nicer one.

Utilizing Cribs for Multiple Pregnancies

Second, you may want to pass the crib down from one baby to the next. Buying a new crib every time you have a new baby isn’t cost-effective. Plus, it makes sense to keep using the crib you already have.

Review the Reviews

It’s important to note that not all cribs are the same. As you shop around, it’s a good idea to look at reviews. Then, you can see how long each one really lasts. In general, using a crib for several of your children should be fine as long as a recall wasn’t placed on your crib. Cribs don’t expire as car seats do, and crib mattresses last around five years.

If you are planning on using a crib for several of your children, you should look into the safety features. Pay attention to these as they change over time. The safety features are more important than the age of the crib. Your crib might still be in good shape, but you may need to upgrade to be up-to-date with current safety features.

Is There a Height Limit on Cribs?

In general, cribs can accommodate children up to 36 inches tall. Children typically reach this height at the age of three.

A height limit helps to ensure that your child can comfortably stretch out. If your child is taller than 36 inches, they will hit their head or feet on the crib’s ends.

In most cases, children who are 36 inches tall are already sleeping in toddler beds.

Can Toddler Beds Hold More Weight Than Cribs?

Because toddler beds are in a different category than cribs, you might think they can hold more weight. Sometimes, you can convert cribs into toddler beds. This function is becoming more and more popular.

Toddler beds typically hold up to 50 pounds. The average child reaches 50 pounds at the age of 7. At this point, your child will likely be in a regular bed.

If your child weighs 50 pounds and is still in a toddler bed, I would suggest looking into moving them to a bed that can hold their weight safely. Otherwise, your child could break the bed and be injured.

If your crib converts from a toddler bed and then into a twin or full-size bed, the design should hold more weight.

However, you still need to follow any recommendations for the maximum weight capacity. Additional parts are typically used to convert the crib to a bed, making the bed much stronger than before.

When Should You Upgrade Your Child’s Crib to a Toddler Bed?

If your child seems to be outgrowing their crib, it’s an excellent time to transition to a toddler bed. Another reason to transition to a toddler bed is if they are trying to climb out of their crib.

If a child climbs over the crib railings, they can fall and be seriously injured. The toddler bed is much safer in this instance, and there would be no fear of your child climbing over those railings.

Some toddler beds even convert into twin size beds or full-size beds. This function can be a great way to save money but must be thought of when purchasing the crib.

Some kids start sleeping in a toddler crib at 18-months-old while others wait until they are closer to four-years-old. This transition isn’t always smooth and can take a lot of time.

If your child isn’t getting it and is small enough to sleep in a crib, you might put the toddler bed on hold for a few more months.

You can also consult your child’s pediatrician for advice for using toddler beds and when to make the switch. It’s essential to do what’s best for you and your child.