Best Baby Cribs of 2017 - Safe, Versatile, Comfortable

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4. DaVinci Kalani 4-in-1 Convertible Crib. This convertible crib has been around for several years now and has changed quite a bit along the way. It is an awesome choice for someone looking for high versatility and safety, may not be looking for the mid-century modern look, or isn't willing to pay the price premium for the top-rated babyletto crib. It is an awesome, handsome crib made by a company with a great reputation for quality, safety, and convenience. This crib has it all: Greenguard Certification for lead, phthalates, and emissions, 4 mattress height adjustment levels, a low profile to help you reach in and out, and it surpassess all current safety standards. It also uses New Zealand pine sourced from sustainable forests, which makes you feel good about your purchase. This crib has won several awards for its great features and quality, including from BabyCenter, National Parenting Publications, and Babble. It comes in several finishes including Cherry, Espresso, Black/Ebony, White, and Chestnut. It converts from an infant crib, to a toddler bed with rail, to a day bed without the rail, all the way to a full-size bed (but of course you will have to buy the full size mattress and frame). This is an great convertible crib, but it also has some downfalls relative to the higher options on this list. First, we tested out the white version and didn't like that the dark colored screws stood out so much visually. Second, DaVinci used to include the toddler rail with this crib, but recently stopped including it, even though they have not lowered their prices any. Finally, we found that during assembly it was a little too easy to scratch the thin finish on the wood. Overall, this is a reasonably priced crib option with really excellent features, but you will need to get your own toddler rail and the build quality isn't as great as it used to be. Usually sells for about $220-250 online.
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5. DaVinci Jenny Lind 3-in-1 Convertible Crib. This high quality convertible crib uses the popular spindle style slats, bringing back nostalgia from the cribs of yesteryear! Parents tend to either love or hate this style, so it's solely a matter of personal preference. If you like the style, you're getting an excellent crib, though not quite as versatile as the 4-in-1 options above. This is another DaVinci crib, with one of the most solid reputations in the crib industry. This crib has Greenguard Certification for lead, phthalates, and chemical emissions, it also has 4-level mattress height adjustment, a medium-height profile to make things not too difficult for getting your baby in and out (for lower profile, don't attach the included wheels), and it includes the toddler rail for converting to a toddler bed. Like the DaVinci Kalani it is made with solid wood sourced from sustainable forests. It has also won several awards, including from BabyCenter, Baby Bargains, and National Parenting Publications, so it has a great following and reputation. It comes in several color options including White, Cherry, Ebony, and adorable baby blue "Lagoon" and yellow "Sunshine." It converts from an infant crib to a toddler bed with an included toddler rail, and then to a day bed if you remove that rail. It does not have the capability to convert to a full-size bed (thus the "3-in-1" rather than "4-in-1"). Cons? Well, like we just said, it's not a 4-in-1, so that's a bit limiting for some parents. Usually sells online for about $250.
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6. Union 2-in-1 Convertible Crib. This is a relatively basic, no frills crib that still has great build quality and a solid reputation for safety and reliability. This crib is relatively lightweight, easy to assemble, and complements a minimalist nursery style. The crib is made with sustainable solid New Zealand pine wood, and uses a non-toxic finish that is lead and phthalate free. Like the best on this list, it has 4 adjustable mattress heights, accommodating a wide range of baby height and mobility. When we assembled it, it only took about 20 minutes using a battery powered screwdriver. We found that at first it was a bit wobbly but we tightened down the bolts and it became much sturdier. It has a low-profile height to make it easy to put baby in and out. But it's important to note that it doesn't include the rail to convert to a toddler bed, which surprised us when we received it. You can either buy their recommended DaVinci toddler rail (which we thought was way too small), or you can buy a better universal toddler conversion kit for only about $20. This crib comes in several great colors, including traditional White, baby blue "Lagoon," cute yellow "Sunshine," Espresso, and light Gray. Cons? Well, it doesn't come with the toddler conversion rail which is unfortunate, and some customers report that it's not as sturdy as they'd like (but see our note above about assembly). Overall, this is a great, no-frills option that is also the least expensive on our list. We found it online for about $110-130.
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7. Dream on Me Classic 3-in-1 Convertible Crib. This is a classically styled crib with some great features and a price point that's usually under $100. There's a lot to like about this crib. First, the wood is high quality solid pine wood and stain that is free of BPA (phthalates), lead, and latex. Second, it has 3 mattress height positions for versatility and safety when your baby begins to roll, crawl, and pull up to stand. It is available in white, cherry, natural, black, and espresso colors, and we love the simplicity of the classic design. It's a no-frills crib, and it fits well into a minimalist nursery style. Third, it is a 3-in-1, allowing you to convert from a crib to a toddler bed with a rail (not included, but sold here), and then you remove the rail to make it a "day bed." In our testing, we found assembly to take about 30 minutes (with two adults), and we thought the overall build quality was quite high, especially for a crib at this price point. The wood and attachments felt solid, and even with that the entire crib only weighed about 35 pounds. Cons? Well, it doesn't include the toddler rail, which brings the price up a bit when that time comes. And we suggest buying the rail now rather than waiting, since it's difficult to predict whether the compatible rail will be available in the future. It also only has 3 mattress positions, while we generally prefer 4 for added versatility. We also don't see any GreenGuard Certifications for materials or finishes, and no information about sourcing materials from sustainable sources. Of course, those things are basically impossible to find at this price point. Overall, this is an excellent, no-frills crib for simplicity and functionality. Definitely recommended for the budget conscious crib buyers!

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