Best Modern Style: Dream on Me, Synergy 5-in-1 Convertible Crib

If you are planning a minimalist/modern nursery, we 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 . . . that is an extra purchase.

What We Liked

• Sturdy.

• Clean, modern style.

• Affordable.

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

• 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 occurs.

Best Metal Black Crib: Million Dollar Baby Classic Winston 4-in-1 Convertible Metal Crib

Metal cribs have seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years—and if you’re planning a vintage-style motif in your nursery, this would be our pick: Million Dollar Baby Classic Winston crib. It checks all the boxes we look for in a quality crib: GREENGUARD Gold certified to be low in emissions and yes, it converts to a full-size bed (conversion kit is sold separately.

What We Liked

• Easy to assemble.

• Sturdy.

• Beautiful black finish.

• 4 mattress positions.

• Converts to toddler bed, day bed and full-size bed with separate conversion kit.

What Needs Work

• Can scuff. Be careful with belt buckles, as the finish can scuff if you rub up against it.

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

If you have a small apartment or condo, a mini crib might be the best solution for your baby—this model by DaVinci would be our pick for the best black mini crib. Excellent quality with a “turned spool” design that echoes vintage and antique styling. 

What We Liked

• Easy to move from room to room.

• Quick assembly.

• Great for small spaces.

• Sturdy.

What Needs Work

• Babies can outgrow mini cribs. This is an issue for all mini cribs, not just this model. A full-size crib can last a baby for three or more years—when they are ready to move to a toddler bed. Smaller mini cribs have a shorter life span, which might prompt a move to a toddler bed before your child is ready. 

Best Budget-Friendly: Union 4-in-1 Convertible Crib

This no-frills crib is made of New Zealand pine and style-wise echoes the simple crib sold by a famous Swedish furniture chain—at this price, it is easily our pick for best budget-friendly crib with a black finish.

What We Liked

• Easy to assemble. We clocked assembly time at just 30 minutes, which is better than most cribs.

• Variety of finishes. The Union crib comes in five finishes, including blue and yellow, which is unusual at this price point. Typically, affordable cribs are offered in only one or two colors. The caveat to this is that we’ve noticed that some finishes are more popular than others and may run out at times. So if you have your heart set on a particular finish and see it in stock, we wouldn’t wait to order it.

• Solid, sturdy crib. Yes, this is a very affordable crib, but it is well made—solid and sturdy.

• Good brand reputation. The Union crib is made by Million Dollar Baby, a Los Angeles-based crib importer with a strong safety record. We’ve been tracking nursery furniture brands since 1994 and Million Dollar Baby is one brand we recommend.

What Needs Work

• Exposed screws and screw holes. That doesn’t compromise safety; it’s just an aesthetic issue. More expensive cribs hide this hardware, but that is the trade-off to get the price so low.

• Soft wood can scratch. This crib is made from New Zealand pine, which is soft and can easily scratch. Hence, take great care when unpacking and assembling this crib. Even rubbing a buckle against the crib rail will scratch it (when you lean into the crib to pick up baby, for example). Also: if your teething baby decides to munch on the crib rail, the finish will most likely come off. It isn’t a health hazard (the paint is non-toxic), but this has alarmed more than a few parents. (If teething is an issue, you can use a cloth rail cover). We realize a chewed-on crib doesn’t look perfect, but having a baby in your house means everything will now be scratched, scuffed and chewed on—your crib will simply match the rest of your furniture. (“You can either have children or nice stuff!”—Dennis Miller).

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!