New-Parent Alert: These 12 Cribs Are Stylish and Soothing

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Choosing a crib is one of the biggest furniture decisions you make as a parent. Not only is it potentially one of the most expensive, but it’s also a decision involving a very sentimental item. A crib might be used through multiple children and even multiple generations. It’s a very surreal moment for new parents — when you first put your baby’s crib together and step back to look at the nursery, it all becomes real. We know how important buying your first crib is, so we’re here to help you find the best crib for your baby.

Best Baby Cribs

What to Consider

We know that when you start to think about cribs, you're inundated with an abundance of choices to make, but there are just a few considerations to decide on. Then, it’s all about taste and style.

• Budget: Cribs can cost upwards of a couple of thousand dollars, so knowing how much you want to spend is critical. However, all the picks on our list range from $200-$600. The next thing you may want to consider is whether or not you're expecting the crib to serve multiple purposes. If you want something that has longevity for each child, there are options that expand the range of use from a crib, to a toddler bed, to a full-size bed. Essentially, you buy one piece of furniture that could last in your home for 18 or more years.

• Longevity: The next thing you want to think about is whether or not you are expecting this crib to become an heirloom. If you’re planning on having more than one kid and want to pass down the crib for your grandkids to use, you're likely going to want something that's made of durable hardwood or wrought iron and is a classic style that will look good down the road. If you're just looking for something to use for a few years and for one child, you can be a little laxer regarding which materials are used.

• Accessibility: In the early 2000s, crib manufacturers stopped making cribs with sides that raise and lower because of the risk of injury. That means that you will be bending over the edge of this crib quite a bit to grab your child. Tall parents should look for a crib with longer legs, and more petite parents might want something closer to the ground.

After these major decisions are made, it's all about style. There are midcentury options, princess palaces, options with storage, and even some that are high-tech. We recommend making a checklist for what you want and need, which will make the process so much simpler.

You should also consider where you plan on making your baby registry. If you want a higher-end crib, it might be best to look at a retailer like Crate and Kids, where they have group purchasing available, as well as a 15% completion bonus. Other stores, like Pottery Barn, allow you to register for gift cards that you can then use towards the purchase of a crib.

How We Chose

Right off the bat, when researching cribs for this list, we referenced the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) guidelines for what makes a safe crib. We then spent hours researching trends for home and nursery design, finding cribs that are well-reviewed for every style and price point.

We also communicated with manufacturers like Delta and Nestig to truly understand what goes into making a quality crib, and have used the information we gathered, combined with an eye toward ease, style, and budget to make our picks. Putting together furniture is never fun, so we factored ease of build into our decision-making, too. We prioritized cribs tested by members of our team, or trusted testers in our community.

Below, learn more about the best cribs on the market right now.

Jenny Lind Maple Wood Spindle Baby Crib

As long as there has been cribs, there's been Jenny Lind-style cribs. They are a timeless classic that parents love generation after generation. This is one of the best representatives of the style I've seen in a very long time. It's solid maple and poplar, with a heavy-duty MDF base. It's finished in low VOC stain, and it is convertible to a toddler bed with the purchase of a kit.

The recommendation for this crib came from one of my best testers, and they couldn't get over how much of a tank this crib is compared to other Jenny Lind cribs, saying "I looked at probably 10 in this style, and honestly, there was no comparison for us. The finish and the heft of it is perfect."

It's also the perfect crib for any registry, because of Crate's group purchase option.

More: Your Baby Will Sleep Soundly on These Crib Mattresses

The Cloud Crib

This crib is an absolute powerhouse. Not only is it heirloom quality and made of sustainably harvested Solid Brazilian Mahogany, but it's also a mini crib, full-size crib, and toddler bed all in one. The sleek lines and modern style are fresh, but classic enough that this will still look lovely and current many years from now.

Nestig goes out of their way to make sure that each and every crib is safely manufactured by having each crib tested and independently certified by the Juvenile Products Manufacturing Association.

I've personally put one of these cribs together when it was first released and watched my nephew try to absolutely destroy it, to no avail. This thing has staying power, and you can be 100% confident in your purchase.

Our executive director, Christine Anderson has this crib, and she loves the quality and the style of the crib. She has told me that it's really just good-looking and sturdy.

Yuzu 8-in-1 Convertible Crib

I have had the pleasure of sending out two of these 8-in-1 convertible bassinet and cribs for testing, and the parents rave about it. One dad told me that "We've used this from the moment our son was born, and I expect that we'll be using it until he grows out of the junior bed. It's everything we needed and it fits right into our home's aesthetic." (It really does, I've seen it. Cutest midcentury nursery, ever.)

This crib starts as a tiny bassinet, but then you add an extender and it's a mini crib, add one more, it's a full-size crib, take away the sides, and it's a toddler bed. It's on easily lockable wheels, which lets parents wheel the bassinet around from room to room if they need to. It's also sustainably sourced New Zealand pine wood, which many parents love.

Reese 4-in-1 Convertible Crib

Greenguard Gold-certified products are often only seen on the pricier items, but Delta Children really came through with the Reese crib. Not only is it a crib and toddler bed, it's also made of more sustainable woods and safer finishes.

I got to put one of these together, and it's a dead simple build. It only has a few places to place screws and it's up and ready for baby. Standard crib mattresses fit really nicely in this crib, snug on all sides, but not impossible to pull up for a sheet change. It's stunning in-person, with a satin finish that really makes the colors pop. One thing I would add is better pads on the bottoms of the legs, but those are an easy add-on when you consider you're getting such a wonderful crib for under $200.

Sarah Sherman Samuel Arches 4-in-1 Convertible Crib

We love a convertible crib that can be used from infancy to adulthood. This 4-in-1 crib starts as a regular crib, moves to a toddler bed, then a railless bed, and on to a full-size bed. Just grab the conversion kit, and you're good to go until your kid graduates from college. That is no small thing. That takes what would be considered a pretty spendy crib and turns it into a bed with tremendous value.

The style is gender-neutral, and lends itself to a variety of different aesthetics. You could go mid century, traditional, or even eclectic decor with it. It's made of FSC-certified, kiln-dried oak and an engineered-wood base for extreme durability. It does make it pretty heavy at well over 100 pounds, but that also speaks to the quality of the product.

Hadley 5-in-1 Convertible Crib with Drawer

Graco does it again. Luxury quality at budget pricing. The Hadley 5-in-1 convertible crib with storage really knocks it out of the part. Our tester has seven (yes, seven) children, and she said that this is the "most convenient crib" she's ever had. If you live in a small space or have a large (or supersize) family, the drawer beneath, combined with the crib to toddler bed to full size bed convertible crib may be your best bet.

Greenguard Gold-certified, and made of New Zealand pine wood, engineered wood, and wood composites, the crib is designed to last. Because the drawers span the width and length of the crib as well, so there's quite a bit of storage beneath. It's an all-around great buy that our tester said "feels like it won't be entirely destroyed" by the time they're older. And she would know.

Autumn 4-in-1 Convertible Mini Crib

This is not your average, everyday mini crib. It's a mini crib that's perfect for babies under age 2, then it becomes a toddler crib, and after they grow out of that, you can add a twin-size mattress and make it a twin-sized bed.

It's made of New Zealand Pine with an MDF base and sealed using a nontoxic painting process that's lead and phthalate safe. It's Greenguard Gold-certified, meaning that it's been made to avoid 10,000 different chemical emissions and VOCs.

Our tester loved that the convenient size of this mini crib offered the perfect in-between place for her little one to rest when they outgrew their bassinet but weren't quite ready for a crib. Plus, assembly was easy as can be.

The toddler crib and full-size bed conversion kits are sold separately, which is kind of a bummer.

Kendall Convertible Crib

Pottery Barn Kids delivers on their promises of well-made affordable luxury with the Kendall convertible crib. Made with solid poplar, and designed with mortise-and-tenon construction, and tongue-and-groove joinery. The Kendall converts into a toddler bed with an optional conversion kit.

The crib mattress can be set up in three different positions allowing for easy access to your baby and added safety as they grow. And one big bonus for this crib is that it comes in four colors, including a gorgeous navy color that we love.

Our tester appreciated this crib's durable build and simple design, which is sure to keep their little one's room stylish with each crib reconfiguration.

Soho 3-in-1 Crib

With its sleek, modern style, and environmentally friendly design, the Soho from Dadada is a great choice. It's a Greenguard Gold-certified crib that's lead-free and phthalate-free, made of solid beechwood, and finished with nontoxic paints and varnishes.

The crib has three mattress positions and can be converted into a toddler or daybed with the option of additional conversion kits. It does fit a standard crib mattress, and users note that it's not hard to put together or convert when the time comes. This isn't just a baby's bed, it's a piece of furniture fit for any stylish household — just look at that two-tone base.

Our testers were so impressed with this crib, it won Best Baby Crib in our Best of the Best 2022 Awards list.

Miles 4-in-1 Convertible Crib

Delta is affordable luxury at its finest. They’ve been making children’s furniture for over 50 years, and it shows.

You can put this crib together in 20 minutes, and it feels sturdy as a boulder, even though it’s not overly heavy. It has a compact footprint and classically modern design that will blend into many interiors and spaces with ease. The gender-neutral aesthetic lends itself to any number of themes, from forest sprite haven to big city nursery. You can also convert this crib to a toddler bed or child’s sofa with a few simple changes.

Also, this is one of the easiest cribs you’ll ever clean.

Orchard 5-in-1 Convertible Crib

What a beautifully interesting crib. It looks a bit like a barn or a playhouse, and if you're looking for something that maybe not everyone else has, this might be it. It converts into a toddler bed without much effort, and it all feels a bit like a fairytale, to be honest.

It's made of pine wood with a durable, nontoxic finish that wipes clean with your choice of cleaner. (Or that baby wipe you swiped off the changing station. Let's not kid ourselves.)

Chestnut/Natural Sprout 4-in-1 Convertible Crib

You can picture this crib as easily on the set of Mad Men as you can in your very own home. With warm, contrasting hardwood finishes, modern design, and low-to-the-ground styling, it's just begging to be a part of your mid-century-styled abode.

It's made of Greenguard Certified New Zealand pine, with a low VOC finish, so you don't need to worry about safety or durability with this choice. And it comes with the toddler guardrails needed to turn it into a toddler bed, making it an economical modern option.

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