So in my searching for used furniture for my best friend I see a couple different types of beds for babies:bassinet's, cribs, and convertible cribs.

I know that many people buy a bassinet because its pretty, but the baby outgrows it pretty quick and they can be expensive. I doubt she'll want one for her baby, as she is having a boy.

Now that leaves us with cribs and cribs that convert to toddler beds when the kid gets old enough. I got a twin bed with sides when I got out of my crib, and had the same thing till I went to college. The convertible ones seem pretty nifty and come in nice generic colors or wood and what not. I worry about the safety of the structure though and convertible parts moving when they shouldn't.

So does anyone use a convertible crib instead of a standard crib or even have a preference for wood or plastic? Or any brand they really liked or didn't?

I never did the bassinet deal that much. With my first born (son) he was born 3 weeks early, and slept the first week in a laundry basket. :) He ended up getting an old antique crib from his great grand mother. For my girl born a year ago (this 11th) she is in this (http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2401693&categoryId=2256274). The only thing close to bassinet for the girl is the part of her play yard that goes on the top of it.

My son spent his first few months in a small pack-n-play, because it was just the right size for him, inexpensive, and easy to put away when we didn't need it.

After that he moved to what I'll admit is probably a little overkill... we furnished his nursery with "furniture we intend to have last." He's got a very heavy, very solid convertible crib (I like it because it's the only one out of the dozens and dozens we looked at that didn't wobble or shake when you bumped into it... probably weighs 150lbs though), a matching bureau and changing table, and a night table that's in storage until he's older.

Wow alexis that is gorgeous. She's a lucky little girl. I've heard good things about the convertible cribs since it gives you the option to not have to wait to get a "big kid" bed because of cost. And lots of them come in nice neutral colors so they wouldn't have to worry about it being "girly" and what not.