Choosing a crib: do you really need one with a side that lowers?

As long as you don't mind bending over the railing, you should be fine. I actually found a convertible that has a drop side. I don't remember the brand, but they are out there. I, personally, think that we needed the drop side. We had a particularly adventurous one-year-old and had to drop the mattress to its lowest very early. I didn't think putting her in the toddler bed would be right because she was constantly wandering around and trying to get into things (and I worried that I didn't get everything with the baby-proofing). However, she was a jumper nad couldn't be up any higher. I don't think I'd have survived until her second birthday if the side didn't drop down.