Between nighttime sleep and daytime naps, your child will spend thousands of hours in a crib, so cribs and crib mattresses are two of your most important parenting investments.
According to the CPSC, JPMA, and AAP, properly assembled, maintained, and used cribs can help parents ensure a safe and restful sleep, including reducing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), choking, and trapping. The perfect crib must also be safe, sturdy, high-quality, and versatile. For versatility, a convertible crib is key, allowing you to adjust the height of your mattress to accommodate newborns, babies and toddlers, as well as transition to toddler cots and other beds.
1. Nestig Wave Crib – From Mini Crib to Toddler Bed
Sustainably sourced natural Brazilian pine meets beautiful sleek contemporary style in the unmistakable Nestig Wave!Handmade in Brazil in small batches, the Wave not only focuses on style and sustainability, but also has significant substance: it can be converted from a mini crib all the way to a full-size crib and back into a toddler bed without having to purchase any additional parts! It is also JPMA certified, free of lead, phthalates, and toxic finishes, and is produced by a small American business. Clearly, the Nestig Wave has a lot to offer in terms of style, sustainability, safety, and substance!
It takes about 25 minutes to assemble the mini crib, and if you have a hand-held drill with a hexagon attachment, it will be quicker to assemble. Once assembled, the mini crib is not only beautiful and stylish, but it can also be easily moved between rooms (with locking and removable wheels) and through indoor doorways without any hassle. The mini crib consists of a custom-sized mini crib mattress (Burt’s Bees bassinet sheets fit perfectly) that ends up about 17 inches off the floor. It’s comfortable, easy to move around the home, has good air circulation, and the mattress is comfortable while remaining good and firm to keep the baby safe. When converted to a full-size crib, the Wave increases in height and sturdiness, offering three mattress heights (approximately 5″, 11″,and 16″ above the ground) that can be expanded to fit any standard full-size crib mattress (we recommend using a Newton crib mattress!).
2. Cradlewise All-in-One Smart Crib
The smartest crib on our list, the Cradlewise offers superior soothing action in an aesthetically pleasing one-piece package that converts from a bassinet to a crib.
Starting with the basic features and specifications, the Cradlewise is an all-in-one package that includes the four key elements of a well-equipped nursery: a smart bassinet, a smart crib, a baby monitor, and a sound machine! The Cradlewise crib starts in cradle mode for newborns and infants, then adjusts the height of the mattress to transition to a mini crib (the sleeping area is about 38 inches long and 23 inches wide) for children under 2 years old (or 33 pounds). In both bassinet and crib modes, Cradlewise uses soothing movements and sounds (such as white noise) that are automatically activated when your baby starts turning during the night, bouncing up and down gently, just like in Mommy’s arms. With the ingenious Cradlewise app, you can develop custom programs that are best suited to soothe your baby, track your baby’s sleep, and view baby monitors integrated into the crib’s beautiful overhead arch. That’s a lot of great features!
3. Nestig Cloud Crib – From Mini Crib to Toddler Bed
Relatively new to the crib industry, Nestig has made a splash with its beautiful styles, quality craftsmanship, and unmatched versatility. The first thing you’ll notice about the Cloud crib is its beauty, style, and sophistication. As you get closer, the next thing you’ll notice is the high-quality craftsmanship, the beautiful genuine Brazilian mahogany, the smooth steel shafts, and their sleek lines. Once you get your hands on it, you’ll notice the build quality, sturdiness, and versatility of it.
The versatility of the Nestig Cloud is one of its biggest selling points: it can be converted between three modes – mini crib, full-size crib and toddler bed! Not only that, but all the components needed to perform these conversions are included in the box, so there is no need to purchase extra! The mini crib takes about 15 minutes to assemble after unboxing, making it suitable for babies from newborn to around 6 months. Nestig includes a mini crib mattress with a Cloud crib (Burt’s Bees cradle sheets fit perfectly) and offers an upgraded version of the Lullaby Earth mattress with a bit of higher quality, not required, but it does add waterproof and Greenguard GOLD certification. This mini crib is fantastic, it comes with rolling and lockable wheels, and the size is perfect for rolling in the nursery, between rooms, or by the bedside. The mattress height is adjustable between three levels, and we like that the mattress platform is a beautiful wood rather than the squeaky and bouncy metal mattress support that is common in cribs. The transition from a mini crib to a full-size crib takes about 30 minutes, and the full-size crib is suitable for climbing from newborn to your child starting to climb or up to 35 inches tall (whichever comes first).
4. Babyletto Yuzu 8-in-1 Convertible Crib
The new Babyletto Yuzu is the newest and most versatile crib on our list, offering a true all-in-one crib experience that converts between bassinets, medium-sized cribs, full-size cribs, and cribs. In addition, it can also be used as a toddler bed and sofa bed, and is available in both medium and full-size models. Yuzu is the only 8-in-1 convertible crib on our list that grows with your child and adapts to your space constraints, making it a great choice for small apartments and families, or moving between bedrooms and nurseries (it has removable wheels!). In the medium crib mode, the Yuzu offers four mattress heights, in the full-size crib mode, it offers 3 heights, all suitable for newborns to toddlers (about 3 years old), and in sofa bed mode, the full-size crib can be used by children around 5 years old (or 50 pounds). Importantly, when you buy Yuzu, all conversion kits are included, making it easy to convert between all 8 modes. Yuzu is Greenguard GOLD certified and uses paints that are non-toxic, lead-free, and exceed all safety standards. When it comes to finishes, Babyletto Yuzu is available in natural wood, white, and beautiful black walnut. In all cases, the pomelo uses sustainable New Zealand pine and a beautiful modern touch.
5. Babyletto Hudson 3-in-1 Convertible Crib
The Babyletto series has become very popular in the last 5 years, and parents are looking for well-made cribs that not only look great, but are also easy to assemble, powerful, and inexpensive. Babyletto’s design is perfect for stylish parents who don’t want to compromise on design or safety and are willing to pay a slightly higher price than a traditional crib.
The Hudson 3-in-1 convertible is no exception, it’s a great crib that can be converted from a full crib to a toddler cot (with rails) to a sofa bed. Hudson features a stunning mid-century modern design with square corners and round shafts that make it look sleek, minimalist, and modern. Once unboxed, assembly takes about 30 minutes, which is normal, and the accompanying instructions are very clear. Install the feet, then the 3 sides, then the mattress springs, then the front. It comes with an Allen wrench, but you’ll also need a Philips-head (Phillips-head) screwdriver. Our units are available in 4 mattress heights, giving them versatility from newborn to toddler. The assembled crib is very sturdy and heavy, don’t worry about it squeaking and bending from a bouncy toddler! The weight limit for toddler beds is 50 pounds, which means you can sleep until you are about 4-5 years old and then your weight or height will exceed that standard.
In addition to the great style, quality, and functionality of this crib, there are a few other aspects that deserve you to feel good about. The crib is Greenguard Gold certified, which means it has been tested to ensure that its chemical emissions are very low. Made from sustainably sourced New Zealand pine, this crib is free of lead, phthalates (e.g. BPA), over 360 other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and over 10,000 other chemicals. It also far exceeds CPSIA, CFR, and ASTM requirements for manufacturing quality (e.g., spindle load support) as well as chemical and heavy metal content.