Best Easy-to-Assemble: Dream on Me Synergy 5-in-1 Convertible Crib

Let’s talk the best natural wood cribs.

In the category labeled “everything old is new again,” natural wood cribs have staged a comeback in the past year. Once popular in the 1990’s, natural wood cribs fell out of favor as cribs in darker tones (espresso, for example) ruled the market. 

(Yes, we’ve been writing and recommending cribs for so long we remember the 90’s wave of natural wood cribs).

Before you purchase a natural wood crib design, it might be helpful to discuss just what a natural wood crib is.

“Natural wood” refers to the color of the crib. Some folks think a “natural wood” crib comes unfinished or without varnish. That’s a misnomer—all of the cribs in this article are finished with a clear topcoat.

There’s no one standard for what natural wood means. Some makers refer to this as a clear finish that lets the wood grain shine through. Others interpret “natural” finish to still have a bit of color . . . but the wood grain is still showing.

This brings up a point that can frustrate folks—”natural” cribs can range from a yellowish gold to more of a taupe hue. Unlike purchasing a crib that is say white or brown, a natural finish is harder to define in real life . . . and that can upset folks when it turns out more golden than you imagined!

We researched a dozen crib brands before deciding the Dream on Me Synergy crib is the best natural wood crib that is easiest to assemble.

What We Liked

• Light weight makes it easy to move around.

• Easy to assemble.

• Affordable.

• Great for a “boho” look. 

• Converts to toddler and full-size bed.

What Needs Work

• Conversion to full-size bed requires extra purchase. This is true for most “convertible” cribs but it is frustrating when you think you can get all those uses right out of the box.

• New Zealand pine wood can easily scratch. Avoid rubbing a belt buckle against the crib.

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

This no-frills crib is made of New Zealand pine and style-wise echoes the simple cribs from that famous store that also sells Swedish meatballs—at this price, it is easily our pick for best budget-friendly crib.

What We Liked

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

• Nice natural finish is less golden than other brands we researched.

• 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 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).

Best Tried & True Brand: Graco Benton 4-in-1 Convertible Crib

The Graco Benton has been one of our top-rated crib recommendations for years—our readers tell us they like the overall quality and sturdiness of this crib and we agree. This is one excellent crib.

The only disadvantage was the limited color choice . . . until recently, you couldn’t get a natural wood finish. But now there is good news: the Benton is available in “Driftwood”—a natural finish that lets the wood grain shine through. True, this finish has more taupe undertones than other “natural” wood finishes, but we liked it. 

What We Liked

• 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.

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

• Tried and true brand. The Graco Benton crib has been around for years and has a good quality track record, according to our reader feedback.

What Needs Work

• A bit more pricey than other natural wood cribs.

• Finish has taupe and grey undertones . . . not the golden finish you see with other natural wood cribs. This can be a plus or minus depending on your preferences.

Best Splurge: Babyletto Hudson 3-in-1 Convertible Crib

Yes, this is more of a “washed natural” finish that some folks also call a pickled finish. We liked it—the wood grain is still visible and the white wash gives it an expensive look.

What We Liked

• Mid-century vibe. This solidly made crib is a great splurge if you are looking for a crib as a statement piece.

• Lower profile also great for shorter parents. If you are under 5’5”, you may find reaching into a standard-size stationary crib challenging. Since most cribs sit a foot or two off the floor and drop-side cribs were phased out in 2011, shorter parents may find it difficult putting baby in a standard crib when the mattress is in its lowest position. At only 34” tall, the Hudson sits low to the ground making it much easier to put baby into and take her out of the crib.

• GREENGUARD Gold. 

• Included conversion kit to toddler bed. This crib comes with a toddler rail—that is usually an extra purchase.

What Needs Work

• Pricey.

• Doesn’t convert into full-size bed. While Babyletto touts the Hudson’s “3-in-1” conversion feature, the Hudson only converts into a toddler bed (yes, the rail is included). So if you wanted to use this crib as a full-size bed for an older kiddo, you are out of luck.

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!