Susan, I really wouldn't worry about the drop-sided cribs. For YEARS we (we, meaning thousands of people!!) have used these types of cribs and have had no problems whatsoever. The recalled cribs were also used many parents without any problems.
Drop-sided cribs are nice to have because they give you the option of lowering the rails not only to change the bedding, but to allow easier access to your baby. Realistically, you don't even use that option very much. Not even once a week!
I honestly think you should get the crib of your choice. Have your husband or another competent guy assemble it, and play with it a bit at home, learn how it works, before the baby comes.

We bought a drop down jenny lind crib for our baby due in March, and we too have decided against using it. One of our local counties has already passed a law banning all sales of ANY drop-side crib, and another local county is promising to sign the same law soon. (You can read that news story here: http://wcbstv.com/local/ban.of.sale.2.1331658.html). So my husband and I have decided to just play it safe, and we figure the cost of the new crib is worth the peace of mind, for us. Especially since, when viewing the news reports on TV showing the potential dangers of drop-side cribs, various reports on different channels kept showing demos of the crib's potential dangers while using a baby doll and... you guessed it... a drop side jenny lind crib. It made us nervous. So we personally have decided to just get a new one, for our own peace of mind. But really, to each his/her own. :)

We plan to get a stationary version from Babies R Us, and then to paint it the color we want with a non-toxic paint. They sell it in white only. So if you insist on a black crib, and IF you cannot find a stationary version of the black one, this might be an option for you? Good luck! :)

Hey Susan... congrats!

I'm with brunttoast... the recalls on the drop sides had more to do with improper (read: upside-freekin'-down!) installation and less with hardware issues.

But... having said that, I also remember the uber-cautiousness that came with baby. No amount of reassurance is going to make you feel good. SO.

Good luck, i hope people's comments will find you your crib.

I have one crib from Morigeau-lepine and one from Pottery Barn. Both are good quality cribs with drop sides. I like the drop side feature and use it a lot. Some cribs are made better than others. The recalled cribs have been cheaper lower quality cribs.

I think the non-dropside Jenny Lind cribs are the cutest and I'd also like to know where to find one!

I've never been a fan of drop-sides.. even before the recalls they struck me as finger-pinching hazards. I manage to pinch my fingers on just about anything (like my diaper pail, before I upgraded to a steel Oxo can) so I knew a drop-side wouldn't be a good idea for us...lol

The non-dropside Lind cribs also have a more classic look.

We also have a drop side crib and like it fine. However, it would be easy enough to get some bolts to make it fixed. If you're somewhat handy, this could be an option.

When our first daughter was born, we purchased a very good quality solid wood crib with the drop side. We only used the drop side when she was in the infant stage and not rolling around. As soon as she was able to sit and pull herself up, the side was always in the top position.

Here's another thing we did at the time, we actually turned the crib around so that the drop side was against the wall and the fixed side was facing out. We did that because our daughter liked to grab the rails and rattle them - the drop side was noisier than the fixed side. Turning the crib around not only made it quieter, it was also safer.

I have a non-drop side Jenny Lind made by Delta that I bought at Babies-R-Us in New York. Mine is white, but I'm pretty sure they have dark brown and black. Super cheap, too... $129, maybe?

Babies R Us has a non-drop side Jenny Lind crib, and is the only non-drop-side that I've seen. HOWEVER, it is made by Delta, who has terrible safety ratings. I don't know how many risks there could be with a totally stationary crib, but I didn't want to support a company with that kind of track record.

I ended up getting the DaVinci Jenny Lind, though we just got it yesterday and haven't built it yet. DaVinci is made by Million Dollar Baby. They have NEVER had a safety recall for any of their products. I think if you follow the directions carefully, and put it together according to their standards, you should be fine.

The Stork Craft recall had to do with the hardware being made of plastic and easy to break. The DaVinci hardware is metal, therefore more durable.

Million Dollar Baby re-engineered their Jenny Lind style crib and it now has fixed side rails. And, yes, it comes in black. I bought one for $219. It is supposed to be better quality than those sold at babies-r-us ... all hardwood and better hardware.

Jenny Lind cribs are available at several price points, but I am a believer in the saying that you get what you pay for. I opted not to get the cheapest version because, with or without a fixed rail, the reviews I read said that it was an inferior product. Its not the drop-side that makes a crib dangerous, its the hardware used and often how well the crib is assembled. Be sure to check your crib periodically for loose bits and pieces regardless of which style/brand you end up with -- most of the information I have come across indicates that any crib can be dangerous if it is not well made and well assembled.

I just started using the Million Dollar Baby Jenny-Lind crib with my newborn. We just turned the crib and faced the drop down side towards the wall. We will never use the drop down side and that way all the ugly plastic hardware for the drop down is hidden against the wall.

My 2 1/2 year old is still in his crib that has a drop down side and I have never used it so I figured I wouldn't use it on the Jenny Lind either.

Funneymonkey: the DaVinci model has a metal system instead of the plastic? Are you sure? If so, we would be willing keep ours and not buy a stationary one to replace it! Ours is still in the box, and we thought it was the cheap plastic hardware type for this drop-down, so we were afraid to use it since the recall.

If you are absolutely positive that their gliding drop-down side works on a metal hardware system, please let me know and we will open up the box containing ours, and choose to keep it! Thanks! :)

I have been looking for a stationary Jenny Lind Crib too! I just spoke to people at Million Dollar Baby -- they have just switched their Jenny Lind Cribs to being stationary and received the stock. They will go on sale in the next few weeks, so if you aren't due for a couple of months, you might be able to wait for that. Good luck!

Thanks everyone for your wonderful suggestions! Ohdedoh is a great community! I'm glad to see that they are making a stationary side crib sometime soon.
Susan

El Greco Woodworking's (www.elgrecofurniture.com) Nassau crib is a beautiful, fixed-gate Jenny Lind-style crib made in Jamestown, NY. Order here for 20% off: http://www.babycoco.com/furniture/Nassau_Crib_Cribs_furniture.html. Use coupon code FIXED2009 to save 20% off through December 31st!

I have the Million Dollar Baby Jenny Lind from Giggle and it's very nice. I'm not at all worried about the drop-side. HOWEVER, I can't manage to pull it up without shaking the whole crib, so I don't use it to put the boy in. It also has 4 mattress levels so best of both worlds, methinks. Didn't install casters, though--they look cheap and who rolls their crib anyway?

Haha! Littlest Chicken, I used to use the castors on my crib! It was a smaller crib though, and lightweight enought to move easily. Good thing, because our apt was tiny and baby's room so miniscule (w/ slanted ceiling) that I had to keep the crib in front of the closet. Anytime I needed to get into the closet I just rolled the crib out of the way. Very handy!

Burnttoast- people say the same things about baby walkers & stairs, carseats and seatbelts, pool gates, etc. The argument "thousands of people have done it and lived" is NOT a good reason to keep doing something. Hundreds of babies have died in drop-side cribs, and if you had ever buried a child, you'd know that the risk just isn't worth it. Lots of countries have already banned these types of cribs. The US is way behind on the matter.

I looked FOREVER and a day for a Jenny Lind style crib in all natural wood, finally found one by Angel Line at Dmart2000 (dot) com, but its currently on back order. I've been waiting about two months now. I wanted one that was not painted and without any chemicals, which is a whole other ballgame.

Drop-side cribs are UNSAFE and have killed hundreds of babies including my son, Tyler. Please do not purchase the drop-side death trap. It might destroy your family. Plus, many Counties are banning the sale of drop-sides...if you are sold a drop-side crib it may just cost the seller a hefty fee. Thank God.

I bought a Jenny Lind (white) from Walmart for my grand daughter after the bed she was in was recalled. The new Jenny Lind bed lasted about a month. My grand daughter is only just 8 months old, she isn't standing and at the time was not even sitting alone so she had no part in the problem. This was a non drop side bed and one of the side rails broke in half at the top. You could clearly see that it was were the wood had separated. I would not recommend this bed to anyone. It is clearly a hassard.

Grandma--2009, what was the brand? The manufacturer matters a lot.

sb3891 - did you end up getting the Angel Line crib? If so, how is it?

As an expantant mother again this will be my 3rd due in August and my family are re-locating to Florida from Scotland. I am american and with my first 2 children I used 2nd hand cribs First one was metal and was costco with drop down sides I think and the second one is all fixed sides. Now I stand at 5ft 3in so dealing with a crib with fixed sides is hard for me I have to stand on a stool. As I would like to buy a brand new crib when we move to Florida and I have Jenny Lind High chair and changing table in cherry I really want a Jenny Lind crib but I would like it to have a drop side. I understand there was a recall but to make laws banning selling them is a bit OTT especailly when the fixed sides are horrible for the shorter ppl! Does anyone know where I can get the Jenny Lind crib angel line I believe that has drop sides. I would prefer a link but if you know nation wide stores that have it please let me know. Thank you

Giggle now makes the Jenny Lind Crib in white (Fixed Rail Side). http://www.giggle.com/eng/product/jenny_lind_style_crib/5047