(1) General Questions
1. Do you sell the rails to connect the stages crib to a full size bed?
We do not sell the bed rails. The rails must be purchased separately from a bed rail retailer.
2. When the crib is converted into a full size bed, does it still take the same mattress size as a crib did?
No. The mattress size for the bed is a full size or double. The crib mattress can not be used for the full size mode.
3. Should I use a crib that was given to me by a friend or relative?
You may use such a crib so long as you are confident that the party giving it to you purchased it new, you know how it was used and stored, and whether it meets all current safety standards.
4. Can I purchase Stork Craft products directly from your on-line catalogue?
Stork Craft does not sell directly to consumers, but supplies a wide range of retailers in Canada and the United States. To determine where to purchase Stork Craft products, please click on any of the retailer logos listed on our website http://www.storkcraft.com/wheretobuy.aspx and use the store locator to detect the store nearest to you.
Please note, product availability and the location where the product is available at are subject to retailers' internal planning and cannot be influenced by Stork Craft.
(2) Safety
5. What type of paint is used in cribs?
The law says that you should use only non-toxic paint, which has no lead in it. Make sure that this is always the case when you buy a crib. If in doubt, call the manufacturer. Reputable manufacturers have good customer service departments that are able to assist you and give you the comfort in knowing that the paint is non-toxic and it will not harm your child.
6. Is the one-handed drop side system better than the two-handed drop-side system?
It is really a matter of preference. Both systems are good, and each meets the safety standards. The best alternative would be to go to a store, try both systems, and purchase the one that you feel most comfortable with. You will be using this system for approximately two years, so you want to be comfortable with it.
7. Are cribs governed by Safety Standards?
Yes. How cribs will be built and what safety features need to be incorporated into a crib is regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission in the United States, and Health Canada in Canada. It is illegal to build and sell cribs that do not meet these safety standards. The best manufacturers build their cribs to include both mandatory and suggested safety standards.
8. Is it safe to buy a crib in a garage sale?
We recommend you stay away from baby furniture that is sold in a garage sale. You never know how the crib was used, maintained, stored and, most importantly, whether it meets all current safety standards. Do what is most safe for your baby. Cribs that are sold in garage sales are not covered by manufacturers' warranties.
9. How do I know if my used crib is safe?
We do not recommend buying a used/old crib in garage sales, as there is usually no way of knowing how old or safe it is, or where it was manufactured. If your crib was manufactured in Canada before 1986, the crib is most likely unsafe. Health Canada changed the safety standards in 1986. In the United States, additional voluntary standards were added in 1988 by ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) to make cribs even safer. If you do consider a used crib, there are a few ways to determine whether it is safe and whether it meets the current safety standards.
Inspect the crib and make sure that there are:
- No missing parts
- No loose parts
- No joints are coming apart
If in doubt, do not use the crib. Your child's safety should be your utmost priority.
10. What do I do if my crib does no meet the safety standards?
Do not use the crib. Break it apart and throw it in the garbage.
(3) Pricing
11. How do I get the prices for Stork Craft merchandise?
Prices for Stork Craft merchandise are published on the websites of designated retailers and are also available in stores that sell Stork Craft products. Because we are a business-to-business company, we do not sell our products to the end-customers directly.
12. Why do cribs vary so much in price?
The primary reason for price variations in cribs is the type of wood used in the crib. Cribs made from maple and oak are the most expensive. Additionally, various cribs contain different features, which cost the manufacturer a bit more. However, an inexpensive crib may not necessarily be an unsafe crib, so long as the crib was built by a reputable manufacturer.
(4) Color Match
13. I have purchased several Stork Craft items for a room set. Can I expect the colours of all the pieces to match exactly?
No. There are several variables involved: country of manufacture, type of wood available/used, and painting process. Depending on the country of manufacture, or even wood availability in the same country at different times, the same type of wood may not be used for every manufacturing run of an item. The same painting process may be used on two different types of woods, yet the wood may take the paint differently. Even within one tree, certain sections may react slightly differently to the painting process. This is just the nature of wood. So, while the colour will always be very close, there may be slight variations between items, or even within different parts of the same item. Part of the beauty and uniqueness of Stork Craft furniture are these natural variations that indicate real wood fabrication.