Crib Shopping Secrets & Insider Tips

Let’s talk the best white cribs for baby.

Did you know that all cribs sold on the market today must meet basic federal safety standards?

That’s right—whether they run $100 or $1000, all baby cribs must meet the same safety regulations issued by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Here’s a quick insider tip for crib shoppers: always unpack and inspect the crib immediately when it arrives (that is, don’t wait for weeks or months to assemble it). That’s because most cribs sold today are made of wood . . . and wood can easily be damaged in transit. Even if the box looks undamaged, always inspect it ASAP. 

Another tip: always verify all the hardware is included.

The crib brands we recommend in this article have a good reputation for quality . . . but shipping damage or missing hardware can happen with even the best brands.

Finally, remember this: when a crib says it is convertible, it means it is CAPABLE of being converted. To actually convert a crib to a full-size bed, you must separately purchase bed rails (or a Hollywood-style bed frame). Yes, this can cost as much as the crib! As of this writing, few crib makers include the conversion rails with a crib purchase.

Ditto for the crib mattress: even though you’ll see cribs pictured with mattresses, this is (almost always) a separate purchase.

Best Budget Friendly Crib: Dream on Me, Synergy 5-in-1 Convertible Crib

For the best budget-friendly crib, we’d recommend Dream on Me’s Synergy 5-in-1 Convertible Crib. Yep, as the name implies, this crib converts to five uses: crib, toddler bed, day bed, full-size bed with head and footboard and full-sized bed without footboard.

We should point out that to achieve those last two uses, you have to buy a universal bed rail or a “Hollywood-style” bed frame . . . those are extra purchases.

Here’s why we recommend this crib:

What We Liked

• Sturdy.

• Clean, modern style.

• Affordable.

• Several colors available, in case you don’t want white.

• Gender neutral design.

• Metal spring mattress support.

• Converts to full-size bed.

What Needs Work

• Conversion requires separately purchased bed rails. And that adds to the final price, of course.

• Assembly instructions could be more clear.

• Occasional reports of shipping damage or missing hardware. This is not the rule, of course—but as always, inspect the box when it arrives and check for all included hardware. Dream on Me is a reputable brand that has good customer service in case a problem happens.

Best Convertible Design: Graco Benton 4-in-1 Convertible Crib

The Graco Benton is a simple, affordable crib that is easy to put together and can morph into a full-size bed (when you use the curved side as a headboard and separately purchase bed rails).

Why is this the best convertible crib? Well, we like the higher, curved headboard (side rail) of the Benton . . . this makes into an attractive headboard when the crib is converted to a full-size bed.

Here’s more:

What We Liked

• Easy assembly. It took us about 45 minutes to assemble and we found it easier overall than most other cribs.

• Good quality. We like the metal spring mattress platform—some low-end cribs come with flat wood boards as a mattress base, which we don’t recommend.

• Affordable.

What Needs Work

• Paint can chip. Like most lower-price cribs, the Graco Benton uses a soft wood that is easily scratched—take care with the assembly or moving the crib around. A simple belt buckle can leave a scratch when accidentally rubbed against a crib rail.

Best Jenny Lind Crib: DaVinci Jenny Lind 3-in-1 Convertible Crib

What is a Jenny Lind crib? Jenny Lind isn’t a crib brand, but a style.

Jenny Lind-style cribs look like a series of thread spools stacked together. It’s named after (spoiler alert) Jenny Lind, a famous 19th century singer. Lind was said to sleep on a bed carved from wood that resembled thread spools . . . for some reason, this became a popular crib style that endures until this day.

Jenny Lind cribs are still hip since they have that mid-century modern vibe so popular in home furnishings. For the best Jenny Lind-style crib, we’d recommend DaVinci’s take on the style. Their 3-in-1 convertible Jenny Lind crib is good quality—and available in several color choices to fit just about any decor.

What We Liked

• Easy to assemble.

• Sturdy.

• Vintage look at price that doesn’t break the bank.

• GREENGUARD.

• Made from New Zealand pine.

• Converts to toddler bed and daybed.

• 4 mattress heights.

What Needs Work

• Doesn’t convert to a full-size bed. 

• Hardware is visible. That’s not a safety issue, just aesthetics. 

• Watch for shipping damage or missing hardware. As we pointed out earlier, however, this is an issue with all wood cribs.

Best Easy To Assemble: Dream on Me Chelsea 5-in-1 Convertible Crib

Yes, some cribs are easier to assemble than others—this model, the Dream On Me Chelsea, is one of the easiest. And it has a bit of panache, with curved side rails. 

Here’s more:

What We Liked

• Convertible to toddler bed, daybed, full-size bed with or without footboard.

• Made of New Zealand pine.

• Affordable.

• 4 position mattress support.

• Unique styling.

• Easy to assemble with all tools included. 

What Needs Work

• Paint can chip. This is true for all cribs made of New Zealand pine, however.

• Conversion requires separately purchased bed rails. And that adds to the final price, of course.

• Occasional reports of shipping damage or missing hardware. This is not the rule, of course—but as always, inspect the box when it arrives and check for all included hardware. Dream on Me is a reputable brand that has good customer service in case a problem happens.

About the Authors

Denise & Alan Fields are consumer advocates and best-selling authors. The Fields have authored 12 books with three million copies in print, including the best-selling guide to baby gear, Baby Bargains.

The Fields have been featured and quoted in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times.

As consumer products experts, the Fields have been guests on the NBC Today Show, Good Morning America and ABC’s 20/20.

How We Pick Products To Recommend

We often turn to our readers (3 million strong!) to find products to recommend. We ask our parent readers for their favorites and consider their real-world experiences in our recommendations.

When we test a product, we always purchase it with our own monies. We do not take free samples, as we believe that compromises our independence.

We also fact check manufacturer information with our own measurements. If a maker claims a product weighs X pounds, we will weigh it to make sure. If the battery life is supposed to be six hours, we will see how it stands up in the real world.

In some cases, we will do interviews with experts in the field to get additional feedback on products.

To get hands-on time with products, we regularly meet one-on-one with gear companies and even tour manufacturing facilities. (When we do this, we pay our own travel expenses).

Why Trust Us

We’ve been rating and reviewing products for the home and families since 1994. We do extensive research, evaluating products with an eye toward quality, ease of use and affordability.

We make our living from affiliate commissions, but we always recommend what we think are the best bets for our readers (not the ones that are the most expensive). We are always looking for products that offer the best bang for the buck.

Our independence is a key reason why we have been doing this so long. As we mentioned above, when we purchase a product for hands-on testing, we do so with our own money.

Here’s another key point: we don’t take money from the brands we review. No free samples, no sponsors, no “partnerships.” Our work is 100% reader-supported!