I’m a New Mom Who Has Tested Plenty of Cribs — Here Are the Top 10 I’d Recommend to New Parents

Let’s kick things off with the most aesthetically pleasing crib we found: the Babyletto Bondi Crib. This crib has a unique, boho-inspired design, with its most notable detail being the round rattan headboard on either side of the crib. Compared with the other cribs we reviewed, this one offers the perfect balance of style and function, great for those who are passionate about interior design and wouldn’t dare skimp on the quality of their baby’s bed.

This is the crib that I have in my son’s room, and it’s so beloved that I’ve had multiple friends add it to their registries. I love that it will grow with my son, ultimately converting into a toddler daybed.

I will say that as my son has become more active, he occasionally bonks his head on the headboard. Luckily, the wood is super lightweight, so it hasn’t bothered him. Also, due to the strong wood details, this crib can be a bit bulky for small spaces.

Nestig is another high-end baby furniture brand we love. The Wave crib is an elevated option that has a sleek take on a traditional crib design. With rounded edges and three colors to choose from (natural wood, white, and walnut), it’s one of Nestig’s most popular cribs.

I’m lucky enough to own this crib — it currently lives at my in-laws’ and gets plenty of use during our weekend visits. I have it in the natural wood wash, and I love how versatile it is. My in-laws have a modern design aesthetic with lots of black and gray accents, yet this crib blends in seamlessly thanks to its rounded lines. I also like that it’s on wheels; it is super easy to move around.

It’s worth noting that assembly was a bit tricky, most notably with attaching the wheels. My husband had to give it a few tries to get it right. That said, he was still able to get it assembled within an hour. It also has a high price point, but keep in mind that it converts from a mini crib to a standard crib and then to a toddler bed, so it’s quite versatile. Plus, it has an 18-year warranty, so you’re covered for any mishaps that may arise.

I followed this recommendation, but I was rather specific about my desires for a bassinet. I wanted something that could be as close to my bed as possible, had mesh walls, and was easy to move about. The Halo BassiNest Swivel Sleeper 3.0 accomplishes all of this and more.

The first feature that made this a winner was the fact that it is tall enough to swivel over the bed. It almost offered the intimacy of bed-sharing while keeping the baby in a safe sleep environment. The swivel feature was great, too, because I could just gently move it to the side when I needed to get in and out of bed during exhausting middle-of-the-night feeds.

It’s worth noting that the legs take up a lot of real estate on the ground. It wasn’t a big issue for me, but I can definitely see it being a deal breaker for some. The other note is that the swivel can be a bit wobbly, which can be disruptive if you’re swiveling the bassinet while the baby is in there sleeping.

As I got deeper into my search for cribs, I realized there are a lot of sleep scenarios that require different setups. This is where I came across yet another baby essential: travel cribs. When you’re traveling, your family members, hotels, and Airbnbs will seldom have a crib your child can sleep in. This is when you’ll need a travel crib.

Sometimes referred to as a play yard or pack-and-play, travel cribs are lightweight, enclosed spaces with high, raised mesh walls and a flat surface, making them suitable for sleeping, playing, or serving as a momentary safe space for a baby. This one from BabyBjörn is lightweight and has a slim footprint, making it the perfect travel companion. That’s why we named it the best travel crib on the market.

Many travel cribs can have an extremely firm mattress. While that’s important for safe sleep, it’s ideal to find something that strikes a balance between firmness and not being hard as a rock. According to writer Alexandra Ginos, this one does just that. “Perhaps best of all, the mattress is a little more padded and comfier than the one in our other travel crib, and our baby took some really great naps in the BabyBjörn,” she says.

While its size is a plus for traveling, Ginos noticed it’s a bit smaller than other travel cribs. This could mean your child may grow out of it faster, but Ginos was fine with that trade-off and appreciated having a bit more floor space. She also says assembly was tricky her first time around. 

Expecting and ready to splurge? Then the Stokke Sleepi Convertible Crib is perfect for you. The unique oval design is open and airy, created with the goal of offering maximum air circulation. It has swivel wheels that lock, which is ultra convenient. It converts to a toddler bed and is designed to be used until your child is 5 years old. It even comes with a mattress, making the price tag a bit more bearable and setting it apart from other contenders on the list.

Writer SaVanna Shoemaker appreciated the design of this crib. “It also has a really nice aesthetic, and even though it’s just as roomy as other cribs, the rounded corners really make the whole room seem much more spacious,” she says.

A big drawback is that since this crib has such a unique design, it can only be used with the Stokke mattress. At first glance, that isn’t a huge issue since the crib is often sold with one. But Shoemaker noticed the crib sheets made to fit the oval mattress are rather expensive, too, which may be a drawback for some.

The mini crib has become all the rage in the past few years. It isn’t quite a bassinet, but it also isn’t a traditional crib. A mini crib is bigger than a bassinet and is typically used until around 18 months of age. Designed for small spaces, its slim proportions are the real standout feature. Writer and editor Nicole Bonaccorso kept this in her room for her son for about one year. “Since we live in a two-bedroom as a family of four, it was a great space-saver,” she says.

This crib comes with a 1-inch mattress pad, but the brand recommends purchasing a mini crib mattress to go on top of it. We do wish a compatible mattress had just come with the crib instead. It also doesn’t convert to a larger size or a toddler bed, so your time using it will be limited — Bonaccorso says her son outgrew this crib before the 18-month mark. That said, it’s a great option in the mini crib category. Bonaccorso even notes it would be the perfect gift for a baby shower.

Designing a nursery is hard. Between space constraints, the desire for a practical layout that makes life easier, and balancing aesthetic taste, it can feel like an impossible equation.

We love that the Graco Benton 4-in-1 Convertible Crib and Changer offers a unique solution for nursery design woes. This crib has an attached changing table, complete with three drawers to stash clothes, diapers, and essentials. It even converts into a toddler bed and a full-sized bed, giving this purchase tons of mileage. We hadn’t seen any other crib with this sort of innovative design, so it only made sense to nominate this as the most unique crib.

This piece of furniture offers a safe sleep space for years to come at a modest price point and cuts out the need for a changing table. This makes it a money- and space-saver. However, I’d love to see it come in more colors; it’s only offered in gray, white, and black. The design isn’t for everyone, either. It isn’t sleek or elevated. It’s rather traditional and can feel bulky. 

When it comes to well-made furniture at a low price point, Ikea is the place to be. That’s why I’m not shocked the brand makes an excellent crib at a wildly low price. The Sniglar crib is a sturdy, no-frills option that’s still easy on the eyes. The long bars are reminiscent of Nestig’s Wave crib, while its rectangular silhouette offers a classic look. It can be converted to a toddler bed as well, so it only made sense to nominate this as the best budget buy.

As with many Ikea pieces, this is a breeze to assemble. It’s recommended to use the Ikea Pelleplutt Foam Mattress with this crib, which is vastly more affordable than other options on the market that creep into the hundreds. While the natural wash solid beech wood is simple and timeless, some may long to see this crib in different colors.

Additionally, this crib can only be adjusted to two heights. Adjustable heights for the mattress area of the crib are very important because they dictate how far you have to bend down to place your baby in the crib. I can tell you from experience that it’s hard on the back and abdomen to bend over the crib to place an infant on a low mattress. Lowering the mattress also helps keep your kiddo in the crib when they start to stand and climb.

That said, I believe the pros outweigh the cons, and this is a solid, affordable option.

Choosing a solid nontoxic option can be difficult — not because there aren’t enough, but because there are so many. The majority of options on this list are Greenguard Gold certified, so there’s already a guarantee of low chemical emissions. With that in mind, we wanted to look beyond the basics and see what other special nontoxic crib features were out there. That’s how we landed on the Newton Nest Convertible Crib, which is Greenguard Gold certified, made of sustainably sourced wood, and has a nontoxic finish.

Heads-up: The mattress holder on the bassinet setting can be a bit rocky. Don’t fret, that’s by design. The bracket holding it in place does not fully tighten to the frame and instead solely focuses on holding the mattress in place. It stabilizes once the mattress is laid down. Also, the bassinet mode is compatible only with Nest accessories. 

When I was first looking into crib options, I was stunned by the idea of a smart crib. It had never occurred to me that a crib could also be outfitted with features designed to help a baby sleep better. Then, I met The Snoo.

The Snoo is a smart infant sleep system created by pediatrician Harvey Karp, MD. It’s a bassinet that combines swaddling, white noise, and gentle rocking to mimic the sensation of being held in the womb. When a baby is fussy or struggling to stay asleep, The Snoo automatically responds by adjusting the motion speed and turning on soothing white noise. This has a near-magical effect where babies end up soothed and fall asleep faster.

Many of my friends have sworn by The Snoo. I even sent a friend the link when she texted me in the early hours, totally worn out by the sleepless nights of early motherhood. I love that The Snoo also comes with a helpful app that offers access to sleep consultants, insights on your baby’s sleep, and general information on your baby’s milestones.

One thing to note is that returns can be a bit of a headache. You have to pay shipping costs and a $199 restocking fee.