HIGH POINT — Taking a child’s bedroom furnishings from crib to college continues to get easier and more fashion forward as manufacturers look for more upscale offerings that provide an abundance of function and style.

Part of the Titanium collection from Storkcraft Baby, this crib converts to a daybed and then to a full-size bed as the child grows.

The convertible segment of the youth category is growing because of the decorating flexibility it offers parents. A growing number of companies are entering the convertible crib arena to give consumers an alternative to buying crib, toddler bed and later a twin or full bed to outfit a child’s room. In many cases, a convertible crib can fill the need for all three stages.

For Child Craft Inds., the hottest selling convertible crib is its Millennium from the company’s Legacy division, which converts to a daybed then to a complete full-size bed with headboard and footboard.

Rhonda Geralde, marketing manager, said the key is that once converted to a bed, the Millennium’s footboard is lower than its headboard for a true bed look.

Kinderkraft’s Crib ‘N Junior starts as a crib with attached chest, converts to a toddler bed and later to this junior bed and nightstand.

Convertibility has been a part of the Child Craft family of products for at least 25 years. Geralde said Child Craft entered the fray with its Crib ‘N’ Bed, which featured a crib with an attached chest of drawers and can be converted to a youth bed and chest.

Geralde said consumers like convertible cribs because of the value-added features. "They see that the product can be used from birth until their child goes off to college," she said.

At Storkcraft Baby, convertibility is a key aspect of the line, and sales for the segment have increased four times over the last three years, said Eli Konorti, president and chief executive officer.

"It is so important that in 2010 we offered our entire crib line as convertible," he said. "Simply put, the retailers can choose whether they want the crib as a crib only or as a convertible."

In addition to its convertible cribs, Storkcraft has gotten creative with a number of products that convert to other items. A changing table in the line converts to a twin bed and a bookcase.

Fast-growing segment

Kinderkraft has a wide array of convertible products in its line with cribs that convert to either toddler beds or double beds. Derald Smart, Kinderkraft vice president, said the convertible portion of the company’s line is the fastest growing segment.

The Millennium Crib ‘N’ Double from Legacy, shown here as a full bed, begins as a crib and also converts to a daybed.

"We sell more products that convert than products that don’t," he said, adding that a flip-top dresser that starts as a dresser and has a top that converts it to a changing table.

Kinderkraft’s cribs are priced to retail from $199 for a crib that converts to a toddler bed up to $349 for a crib that converts to a full-size bed.

"The concept makes a lot of sense," Smart said. “When you go from a crib to a toddler bed, you get the use of the crib mattress and the bedding until age four. Then, you convert to a twin or a double bed. With a second child, you do the same thing.”

A top-selling piece for A.P. Inds. is a combination dresser that can be used with a mirror or a hutch. With a shelf removed, the piece works as a changing station with storage space above and beneath the changing area, said Gary Bryant, vice president of sales and marketing.

The Charmer from A.P. Inds. can be adapted to work as a changing station by removing the lower shelf.

A.P.’s bunk beds also offer some features that grow with children. The bunks offer options to convert from a standard twin-over-twin set to a twin-over-double, and a trundle or a storage drawer can be added underneath.

A.P. manufactures cribs, but the company’s line does not include convertible cribs. Instead, each case goods group in the company’s line includes a crib so consumers can coordinate dressers, chests and beds as need dictates.

Mike Bachraty, owner of Mondi, said his company has always offered convertible cribs. “It’s something that we continue doing because the crib is such a short-term item,” he said.

Mondi’s convertible cribs retail from just under $200 to $370 and are made of beech and birch in Italy. Most convert to a youth bed, and the company is looking into some other conversion options.

Convertible cribs make sense for retailers and make for strong sales, he said, adding that consumers like the flexibility.