Best Baby Cribs of 2017 - Safe, Versatile, Comfortable

Finding the perfect crib can be tough. You want it to be cute and match the style of the nursery, conform with all current safety standards, be versatile and transition easily to a toddler bed, and be comfortable, well-built, affordable, and easy to assemble. We totally get it, and we've been there! Purchasing a crib and mattress (we review crib mattresses here) can be a big investment, and hopefully will last your baby for many years. Since convertible cribs are designed to transition all the way into the teenage years, make sure you get something you like looking at for several years! Here are the most important things we considered when making this best cribs of 2017 list:
Safety. Here at Mommyhood101 we take safety very seriously. And cribs have come a long way with regard to safety. Many cribs used to feature a drop-down side to help parents reach their baby: these were banned for good reason in 2011. We won't get into why they were banned here, but suffice to say you should never purchase a drop-side crib online or at a yard sale! Older cribs can also have unsafe gap width between slats. Current standards call for 2-3/8" (2.375")maximum distance between slats, but older cribs have wider gaps leading to little heads getting stuck between slats. Some cribs also have decorative cut-outs, maybe of a cute animal or character, but these should also be avoided as there is a risk of getting a little arm or leg caught. Finally, never get a crib with decorative rail posts that stick up on the corners; these are a snag hazard and need to be avoided. Fortunately cribs have come a long way, but so have parents' needs: fast forward and there are many new safety criteria we're all looking for. First, Greenguard or other certification for lead, phthalates (BPA), and other chemical emissions. Second, you want the crib to be strong with high slat load strength, good stability, and low frame flex. Third, you want to make sure the company does not have a bad recall history for things like lead paint use, and ensure that it does not have any recent recalls. Finally, you want to make sure you get a mattress (usually sold separately) that is high quality with squared corners (we review those here). So as you can see there are a lot of safety considerations when selecting that perfect crib for your baby. Don't worry, we did the work for you. Our best crib list only includes cribs that meet these stringent safety criteria. We don't want to freak you out, but here are some of the most common questions we get, with one consistent answer: NO! Are crib bumpers safe? Are pillows safe? Are thick blankets safe? Are sleep positioners safe? No, no, no, and no! They are all unsafe due to suffocation risks.
crib what not to do
Versatility. Convertible cribs have become the norm. Like a convertible car seat (we review those here), convertible cribs accommodate a much wider age range by converting to suit developmental stages. For infants, the convertible crib starts as a basic crib with four sides. These always have adjustable mattress height, so you start with the highest setting with a newborn and then gradually move the mattress support lower as your baby gets older. This makes it easy to reach in when you have a newborn, and then you move it lower to ensure your newly mobile baby (crawling, pulling up) cannot climb or fall out when standing. About a year after getting to that lowest setting, maybe when your toddler is about 2 years old, you convert the crib to a toddler bed. This happens by removing the front side and replacing it with a (typically included) toddler rail. This is designed to give your toddler some independence but also keep them from rolling out of bed in the middle of the night. Then when you think your growing child (maybe around 4 years) is ready for a day bed you can remove that partial rail. Finally, many convertible cribs will also convert into a full-size bed for the "tween" and teenage years, using the back and front sides as a headbard and footboard. A convertible crib saves you from purchasing multiple different beds along the way, keeps the style consistent for many years, and gives your growing baby easier transitions with the familiar look and feel of their own crib. All of the cribs we review below convert from infant to toddler and beyond. Beware of convertible cribs that advertise as 6-in-1 or even 7-in-1 convertible cribs: these usually do exactly the same as a 4-in-1 (crib, toddler bed, daybed, twin bed headboard/footboard), but their marketing people figured out they can add more uses if they count with or without the headboard and footboard separately. Silliness, we suggest going up to a 3-in-1 or 4-in-1 if you truly believe you will use the same head/footboard as part of a twin or full-size bed. Here is a great example of a convertible crib that goes from infant all the way to teenager, the DaVinci Kalani convertible crib:
crib what not to do
Comfort & Convenience. There are a few things to look for here. Now that there are no drop sides, you want to make sure the mattress height is adjustable between at least 3 levels. Like we said above, you want to start an infant at the highest level and then move it down as your baby becomes more mobile and there's a risk of crawling/standing/climbing. Second, you want to pick the right mattress for comfort and safety. We review and rank the best crib mattresses here, but to summarize you want one without harmful emissions, with even and firm support, with squared off corners, and with dual firmness. If you get a good quality mattress, it will fit snugly into the crib and provide many years of comfortable and safe sleep. You also want the crib to be low profile, without really tall legs that make it difficult for you to reach in and out. Finally, for convenience you want a crib that doesn't take 5 hours to assemble! You basically only want it to have the 4 walls and mattress support. You attach the 4 sides together then put on the mattress support. If it's more complicated than that, then it's worth paying a lot more at a specialty store and having them assemble it for you. Most parents buy cribs online nowadays and report assembly taking about a half hour to an hour. Modern cribs include not only the intructions and parts, but also all necessary tools. All of our best cribs are easy to assemble.

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