Best Baby Cribs in 2021

The sight of a baby sleeping comfortably and peacefully in a crib is sure to melt anyone's heart away, right? Well, apart from that, a restful sleep is also essential for your baby's proper development. As a matter of fact, your baby needs almost 16 hours of sleep during early infancy. Obviously, most of that time is spent in a crib. So, it is crucial that you choose a crib for your baby that is both comfortable and safe. But as most baby-related purchases go, picking a crib can be difficult.

There are so many things to look for while picking a crib. What's more, the hundreds of options out there don't make any easier either. I know that as a parent you are super busy and need all the help and advice that you can get. So, I compiled a buying guide to help you purchase the best crib for your precious baby! I will also take a look at some of the best cribs that you can buy later in the article. It goes without saying, our reviews are completely unbiased and honest. So, let's pick a baby crib for your baby!

Best baby cribs on the market

All cribs are not made equal. Some cribs are perfect for traveling with while some are not. Some can be converted into bed while some others can't. Well, you get the picture.

Let's take a look at some of the most popular types of baby cribs that are available these days.

A convertible baby crib

As the name implies, these cribs cabs convert into beds. These are sometimes called lifetime cribs and are designed to grow with the baby. You can turn these cribs into more than one type of furniture. Some of the most common conversions include the following.

• A toddler bed
• A twin or a single size bed
• A day bed

These cribs are often advertised as '(number)-in-one' cribs. Most common ones are either 2-in-ones or sometimes even 3-in-ones.

These cribs are great if you plan to repurpose the crib later on when your baby no longer needs it. They are cost efficient and built to last. However, they can be a bit expensive, and it takes some work to convert them from one form to another.

Portable cribs

These cribs usually have little wheels (casters) on their feet so that you can move them around in the house. Some of these can even fold neatly so that they can be tucked away when your baby doesn't need them.

Although they have a distinct advantage, you should pay attention to the casters on these cribs. The casters that are meant for hardwood can damage your carpeted floors. These types of cribs are great if you have limited space in your house and need to move the crib around. You can take your baby into any room in your house. On the downside, these can be a bit more demanding to assemble and maintain as there are some moving parts involved.

Travel crib

Travel cribs are perfect for people who travel a lot with their babies. These cribs are usually made from lightweight fabric and metal which keeps the weight down. Most of these cribs can be neatly folded into a bag and carried around. Propping them up is also easy, and just like that, you have a crib for your baby anywhere you go!

That said, these cribs should not be viewed as a permanent replacement for a crib. They work best as standby cribs when you travel with your baby.

Multi-purpose baby cribs

As the name suggest, these are versatile cribs that can serve more than one function. Most common accessory attached to these cribs is a small organizer that can neatly hold your baby's clothes and other things. These cribs are designed so that you don't need to buy separate furniture items.

If you are considering one of these, keep in mind that these can be on the expensive side and somewhat difficult to set up.

What to look for in a baby crib?

Every parent wants only the best for their babies. And when it comes to the cribs, they are very careful, as they should rightly be. So, one of the prime considerations for a crib is its safety. Thankfully, there are strong safety standards for baby cribs in the US . So, almost all the cribs that you can purchase from stores comply with these standards and are safe. However, there are a ton of other features that you should consider.

Let's take a look at some of the features the best baby crib should have.

How much space is available in your house?

It is one of the most important questions to ask before settling on a crib for your baby. You don't want to end up in a situation where the crib is so big that you can't put it up in your baby's room. If you have space constraints, you can even consider a folding crib as well.

How much assembly is required?

Most cribs that you will buy will inevitably require some assembly. However, if you are not particularly great with tools, pick a crib that will not need a lot of effort. Remember, a crib must be put together correctly to ensure safety and comfort of your baby.

Do you need adjustable mattress height?

Many cribs on the market allow you to adjust the height of the mattress. When your baby is small, you can raise the height of the mattress so that it is easier for you to put the baby down. As the baby grows, you can lower the height of the mattress so that your baby can't climb out.

Although this feature is not essential to have, it a great one nonetheless.

Cribs with teething rails

Teething is a big part of growing up for your baby. As the babies start teething, they would want to bite into at almost anything including the railing of your baby's crib. As you can imagine, if the crib railings come to the mouth of your baby, he/she will start biting into the wood, which can't possibly be any good.

Many manufacturers fit their cribs with what are called teething rails to fix this issue. These rails are made from a hypoallergenic material that protects both your baby as well as the crib itself.

Size of the crib

Cribs come in many sizes and shapes. However, the most popular size of a crib is called a "standard" size. Standard sized cribs measure 52 inches wide and 27.8 inches wide.

One of the advantages of buying a standard sized crib is that you can easily get mattresses for these cribs. If you get a crib that is irregular in size like a circular crib, you may struggle to find the right mattress for it. If the mattress is not perfect for the crib, it can leave some gaps that can be dangerous. And if you think that you can fill those gaps with some sheets, you are sadly wrong! Hence, we will suggest you stick with the standard sized cribs as much as possible.

Cost

Cost is obviously a bit factor in choosing a crib. You can get cribs for a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars. The choice depends on your personal preference. That said, some cheap cribs can be so poorly made that money spent on them is a complete and utter waste.

As they say, if you have wanted a good product, you must spend some money. But as you will see in the upcoming section, you don't need to break your bank for a great quality crib.

Top 5 baby cribs on the market

DaVinci Kalani 4-in-1 Convertible Crib

Another great crib on the market, the DaVinci Kalani is a 4-in one crib as the name suggests and can be converted into a toddler bed, a daybed as well as a full bed. However, you will need to buy a separate kit to convert it to a full-size bed. The crib is very well built, and the attention to detail is simply awesome.

One of the greatest features of this crib is the fact that it comes with a Greenguard Gold® certification. The crib is screened for over 360 volatile organic compounds and over 10,000chemicals. It makes the Kalani one of the safest cribs on the market regarding chemical contaminants.

If you are environmentally conscious, you will be thrilled to know that the crib is made from 100% sustainable Pinewood from New Zealand. It is a great way for your baby to start off his/her live with an environmentally conscious choice.

The crib is ASTM and CPSC compliant and weighs 50 pounds without the mattress. It is also easy to set up, and the finish is beautiful.

Dream On Me Violet 7 in 1 Convertible LifeStyle Crib

If you are looking for a crib that is multipurpose, sturdy and comfortable at the same time, the Dream on the crib is for you. It is a beautifully made crib that complies to the highest ASTM safety standards. The crib can be easily converted into a daybed, a toddler bed, and a full-size bed. Another great feature of this crib is that you can also purchase additional accessories such as a guard rail, a stabilizer, and a full-sized rail as well. All the tools required for the assembly is included with the crib, and it is quite easy to assemble as well.

There is no lead or heavy metals used in the construction or the paint used on the crib. The total weight of the crib is about 40 pounds which is not too bad.

The crib supports four different mattress positions so that you can quickly adjust the height of the mattress. The solid pine wood finish makes it quite an attractive furniture in your house, which is always a plus!

Graco Benton Convertible Crib

The Graco Benton is one of the most beautiful entries on this list. It adopts a minimalistic design and can be converted into a toddler bed, a daybed and even a full-sized bed. Another great feature of this crib is that you can adjust the height of the mattress at three different levels.

One of the design factors that helps this crib stand apart is that it has a headboard when it folds out into a day bed or a toddler bed. The crib is JPMA certified and complies with all the safety standards of ASTM and CPSC. The paint used is lead and heavy metal-free.

Another feature that I love about this crib is gorgeous. Whether you have it in the crib mode, the toddler bed mode or the full bed mode, it is a beautiful piece of furniture. Although it can be a bit expensive, trust me, it is worth the money!

Delta Children Canton 4-in-1 Convertible Crib

Delta Canton is one of my favorite cribs on this list. It is very well put together, and the choice of material is simply excellent. The crib is also very easy to assemble and looks stunning. As the name suggests, it can be converted into a daybed, a toddler bed and even a full-sized bed with a separate kit.

The crib contains toddler quad rails and daybed rails in the price. The mattress can be adjusted to three heights, and the crib complies with ASTM and CPSC safety standards.

I especially love how easy this crib is to put together. Even if you don't like to work with tools, you will find no problems to put this thing together. Simply put, this crib is one of the best convertible cribs on the market that deserves strong consideration.

Stork Craft Tuscany 4-in-1 Convertible Crib

Stork Craft has an excellent reputation in the baby furniture industry, and the Tuscany doesn't disappoint a bit. It is a very well-built crib that is safe and comfortable. It can be easily converted to a toddler bed or a full bed with accessories. The crib is designed to last your baby for a long time!

One of the best features of this crib is the ability to adjust the height of the mattress. Unlike some other brands in the market, the mechanism of moving the mattress is quite smooth and easy. Even the conversion between crib and toddler bed is smooth and easy.

One of the most common complaints regarding DIY furniture is how difficult the instructions can be to assemble them. However, with this crib, Stork Craft nailed the instructions. It is super-easy to build thing; you can assemble this crib in less than an hour with no loose parts to spare, which is always a great sign, right!

Conclusion

After carefully testing and reviewing the best baby cribs on the market, the DaVinci Kalani 4-in-1 Convertible Crib is a clear winner. It is a great looking crib that is safe, sturdy and comfortable. It can be converted into a toddler bed as well and can stay with your child for a long time. The build quality is great, and it is surprisingly easy to assemble. I also liked the fact that it is Greenguard Gold® certified and tested for over 10,000 chemicals. Trust me; you can't go wrong with this one!

I hope that this article helped you to narrow down your options and perhaps helped you to make a decision.