Crib and Crib Mattress Recommendations

We probably should have purchased these things by now,  but I'm kind of at a loss.  There's so darn many!

When my daughter was born, we had an Espresso colored Jenny Lind crib and I hated it!  The drop rail was a pain to operate, it chipped all over the place and just wore itself out before she could get to a toddler bed.

As far as mattresses goes....it's been years and I'm clueless.  What am I looking for?  Coil or foam?

What do you have and do you like it?

I cannot really say on a specific brand, but I would spend extra and get a convertible one. One that goes from crib, to toddler bed, full size. It is very much worth the money in my opinion.

The nursery we have for my son is pretty small so we did not want a huge crib... I found a good one at Baby Depot, it is a honey colored wood and is a  convertible 3-in-1 that goes from crib, to toddler bed, to a headboard for a full size bed. It is Simplicity and was lucky for us not one of the recall ones. It also came with a roll out drawer for under crib storage. It was around $300 I believe. The matter was about another $100...not sure on the brand. I did buy a fitted crib pad because otherwise with the crib sheet straight on the mattress it made too much noise when my son moved about in his sleep because the material was a vinyl type. I do not think we will use it past the toddler bed stage though but who knows. Also I have never had an issue with the crib rail because never really had to use it. I am tall enough that I could reach in and just get him yet it is high enough that even with him standing he can't get out. The mattress can be adjusted to drop down so as he got older we just adjusted that.

We bought our crib and mattress from JC Penney.  It's the Morgan convertible crib.  I would give it two thumbs up thus far. 

I would have to double check on the mattress, but I'm pretty sure we got the middle of the road Sealy.  

We got our crib from Ikea for $150.  I love it - but it doesn't fit bumpers really well.  At first I was irritated that the sides don't drop but it's been totally fine!!  It turns into a toddler bed - which my youngest son is using right now.  I love that it is an antique brown wood, looks like a miniature little bed - not a crib with one side off - and it was not expensive at all!  We are looking for a second one since we are having twins.
I think we got the mattress at BRU.  We got a nice firm one...I think it's spring but I have no idea.  Everyone said go FIRM so we went firm.  :-)

Good luck!
Sandy