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Best Baby Cribs

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Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
Delta Children Emery 4-in-1 Convertible Baby Crib
Delta Children
Emery 4-in-1 Convertible Baby Crib
Customer Favorite

This popular crib is durably built and made to grow with your child.

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Customer Favorite
Bottom Line

This popular crib is durably built and made to grow with your child.

Pros

Constructed with strong and sturdy wood. Can convert from crib to toddler bed, daybed, and full-size bed with headboard. Includes mattress with 3-point adjustable height. Easy to assemble. Meets ASTM safety standards

Cons

Some noted an unpleasant smell.

Best Bang for the Buck
Dream On Me Synergy 5-in-1 Convertible Crib
Dream On Me
Synergy 5-in-1 Convertible Crib
Bargain Pick

This affordable option is designed with your child’s comfort and safety in mind.

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Bargain Pick
Bottom Line

This affordable option is designed with your child’s comfort and safety in mind.

Pros

Made with sturdy solid pine wood. Can change from crib to toddler bed, daybed, and full-size bed. Includes mattress with 4 adjustable height settings. Comes with 13 attractive design options. Meets or exceeds all safety standards set by the CPSC and ASTM.

Cons

Toddler guardrail, stabilizer, and full-size rail need to be sold separately.

babyletto Hudson 3-in-1 Convertible Crib
babyletto
Hudson 3-in-1 Convertible Crib
Most Eco-friendly

Earning our baby expert's approval, this crib is versatile, environmentally friendly, and tested for absolute safety.

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Most Eco-friendly
Bottom Line

Earning our baby expert's approval, this crib is versatile, environmentally friendly, and tested for absolute safety.

Pros

Built with sustainably sourced solid pine wood. Designed with rounded spindle, turned-out foot, and open silhouette. Able to convert from crib to toddler bed and daybed. Comes with toddler bed conversion kit. Made with non-toxic materials and free of lead or phthalate.

Cons

More pricey than other options.

DaVinci Kalani 4-in-1 Convertible Crib
DaVinci
Kalani 4-in-1 Convertible Crib
Simple Yet Solid

Scientifically tested for safety and built to accommodate your children as they develop.

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Simple Yet Solid
Bottom Line

Scientifically tested for safety and built to accommodate your children as they develop.

Pros

Constructed with sturdy and solid pine wood. Has mattress with 4-point adjustable height. Able to transform into a toddler bed, daybed, and full-size bed. Designed with non-toxic paint. Lead-free and phthalate-free. GREENGUARD Gold certified.

Cons

Some noted difficult assembly.

DaVinci Jenny Lind 3-in-1 Convertible Crib in White
DaVinci
Jenny Lind 3-in-1 Convertible Crib in White
Most Stylish

This is a good choice if you are looking for a beautiful pine wood finish bed with a timeless design that requires little assembly.

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Most Stylish
Bottom Line

This is a good choice if you are looking for a beautiful pine wood finish bed with a timeless design that requires little assembly.

Pros

It is a beautiful and sturdy crib. Setting it up is quick and easy. Users love the three settings it adjusts to and its size that fits into small rooms.

Cons

The instructions can be misleading and you can get parts that do not match.

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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
HOW WE TESTED

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

First Reviewed
January 21, 2022
30
Models
considered
30
Hours
researched
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Buying guide for Best baby cribs

Written by Lauren Corona, and fact-checked by Aimee Ketchum
Updated May 2023

Few things are so exciting as preparing for a new child, and selecting a baby crib is high on that to-do list.

Between naps and bedtime, babies spend a good portion of their days in a crib, so caregivers need to choose one that will be a safe and comfortable place for a little one.

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You should always buy a baby crib new to feel totally secure about its safety features and quality.

Types of baby cribs

First, let's examine the main types of baby crib on the market.

Standard

Standard baby cribs have four fixed sizes with vertical slats around the edges. They're only suitable for babies and young toddlers up until the point when they outgrow their crib (or decide they like to climb over the sides), which is usually around 24 months.

Convertible

Convertible cribs can be turned into a toddler bed – and sometimes a daybed or full-size bed – once your little one has outgrown the crib stage. If you don't mind doing a bit of DIY to convert them, this can be an affordable option, as convertible cribs tend to cost around the same price as comparable standard cribs.

Expert tip
Convertible cribs are handy unless you are going to have another baby use the same crib within two years.
BestReviews Baby and Child Expert

Travel

Travel cribs are soft-sided and easily pack down and pop up, perfect for when you go on holiday, or for your visits to relatives. However, they shouldn't be a baby's main crib, so we won't focus on them in the guide.

A note on drop-side cribs

Drop-side cribs are cribs where either one or both of the long sides slide down, supposedly making it easier to get your baby out. However, it was discovered that these cribs could be unsafe and had led to a number of infant deaths.

As of December 29, 2012, it has been illegal to manufacture or sell drop side cribs so, in theory, you shouldn't come across one.

Even so, it's worth mentioning, in case you see a used drop side crib or someone tries to pass one on to you as a hand-me-down.

Considerations for selecting a crib

Adjustable mattress height

Many cribs have adjustable mattress heights. If you set the mattress to the highest setting, it’s easier to lift your baby out of the crib. However, once your baby is able to pull herself up and stand in the crib, holding onto the rails, it becomes dangerous to have the mattress too high, as they could fall out.

To be on the safe side, you should adjust the crib's mattress to the lowest height setting when your baby reaches about six months old.

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Caution
If you’re using a baby monitor, make sure it is far out of reach of your child, especially if it has any cords or detachable parts.
STAFF
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Size and shape

Baby cribs should be of an appropriate size that a standard crib mattress – measuring 27 1/4 inches wide by 51 5/8 inches long – fits snugly inside. While you can find cribs of non-standard sizes and shapes (such as round or oval cribs), we recommend opting for a regular, rectangular model so that finding a well-fitting mattress isn’t a hassle.

Did you know?
Common mistakes when purchasing a crib include buying one seen in an advertisement or choosing one based on what it looks like in the nursery. Consider the functionality of the crib and your baby's needs above all else.
STAFF
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Stability and construction quality

The last thing you want is for your baby's crib to fall apart around them as they sleeps. Or for any parts to come loose, or fall off with use, as this could be hugely dangerous. Choose a stable and well-constructed crib that will last the two or more years that your child will sleep in it.

Baby crib safety tips

Any parent's prime concern is their child's safety. A crib can be a dangerous place for a baby if you're not cautious, so we've put together some notes on safety.

  • Look for JPMA certified baby cribs. This means the crib meets or exceeds all safety standards put forth by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM.)

  • Make sure you can't fit more than two fingers between the crib's mattress and the side of the crib. If you can, you need a bigger mattress.

  • Never use bumpers, pillows, quilts, or blankets in your baby's crib, or let your baby sleep with a stuffed toy. All of these are suffocation hazards. Swaddle your baby, or put them in a wearable blanket.

  • Use well-fitting sheets on your baby's mattress. If they come loose, your baby could become tangled in them and suffocate.

  • If you're not 100% sure you can assemble a crib properly yourself, enlist the help of a handy friend, or hire a professional to do it. It will be worth the peace of mind in the long run.

  • Place your baby's crib out of reach of windows, blinds, curtains, wall hangings, and other similar hazards.

  • The slats and posts on a crib should be no further than 2 3/8 inches apart from one another, so your baby can't stick their head through. If you can pass a standard can of soda between them, they're too far apart.

Accessories

Nursery dressers: Many dressers for nurseries can double as a  changing table and include safety features that prevent children from pulling the dresser over on themselves.

Crib sheets: Protect your crib's mattress and give baby a cozy surface to sleep on.

Crib mattress: A good crib mattress provides a safe and comfortable sleep for your child.

Expert tip
Make sure the side goes up and down easily and quietly and can be operated with one hand.
BestReviews Baby and Child Expert

Baby crib price

Expect to pay $90 to $500 for an average baby crib, but know you won't find a huge difference in features between the most inexpensive models and more costly ones.

The main difference between basic cribs and high-end models is the build quality and materials.

Top-of-the-line cribs tend to be extremely durable and constructed from quality wood – the kind of thing you can pass on through the generations – and some are also more aesthetically pleasing. For instance, you may find high-end cribs that look like traditional vintage models, but conform to all the latest safety regulations.

Tips

  • Having at least two people around to assemble the cribs is highly recommended, both to make assembly easier and guarantee the final product is baby-ready.

  • Since babies are known to shake and rattle their cribs, we recommend periodically checking the hardware of the crib to make sure nothing has come loose or broken.

  • If you purchase a painted bed, check the paint regularly to make sure it’s not chipping or peeling.

  • When your crib and crib mattress first arrive and are assembled, check that they fit together snugly. If you can place more than two fingers between the mattress and crib, the mattress isn’t big enough.

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Most cribs come without any additional parts, such as mattresses or teething rails. If you want to purchase extras, be sure they fit with your crib and offer no safety hazards.

FAQ

Q. Do baby cribs come with mattresses?

A. No, you usually have to buy a crib mattress separately. A standard-sized crib mattress should fit perfectly in a standard-sized crib, however, it's worth checking the fit carefully.

Q. I like the look of cribs with cut-out patterns in the headboard and footboard — are they safe?

A. Babies can get body parts or clothing stuck in cut-out patterns in headboards and footboards. This poses a real risk or injury or even suffocation, so you should stick to models with plain slats for safety reasons.

Q. What else should I check for before I put my baby in their crib for the first time?

A. Once you're sure the crib's sturdy and properly constructed, complies to safety standards, doesn't have any cut-outs or a drop side, and has properly spaced slats, the only thing left to do is ensure there are no splinters or rough edges to the wood, and there's no peeling paint.

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