In Depth Baby Product Reviews Led by a Pediatrician
We buy all the products we test — no freebies from companies. If you purchase through our links, we may earn a commission, which helps support our testing.
We bought and tested the top 8 cribs from DaVinci, Babyletto, Storkcraft, Graco, and more to find the best options for every budget and nursery
Credit: Matt Lighthart
By Wendy Schmitz and the BabyGearLab Review Team ⋅ Mar 5, 2025
The Best Cribs
Every new baby needs a place to sleep. It could be a bassinet for newborns, a special box in Finland, or a standard baby crib you can use until your baby graduates to a big kid bed. A crib is a great place to use safe sleep hygiene, giving your little one their own place to sleep peacefully and dream. Whether you plan to build your nursery around your crib or just want a reasonably priced option you don't hate, a crib is an important purchase.
We bought and tested the 8 most popular cribs on the market after considering more than 20 contenders. We tested the cribs side-by-side over months for assembly, adjustability, eco-health of materials, mattress fit, and more. From assembly and quality to ease of use and more, we have the details you need to help you find the perfect option for your baby and your budget.
Our favorite baby crib is the Storkcraft Equinox 3-in-1. This attractive crib offers simple styling with a bit of flair on the ends. We like the looks, the adjustability, and the easy assembly.
A lovely, more budget-friendly baby crib we love is the Carter's by DaVinci Colby 4-in-1. If basic and gets the job done without breaking the bank is your jam. This lovely crib is everything you need from newborn to toddler without the frills and price that come with them.
Limited under crib storage, gaps with some mattresses, longer assembly times
Short adjustment range, bigger mattress gaps, no toddler rail included
Lots of fasteners, not great with all test mattresses, limited height settings, higher rail height, bigger footprint
Bottom Line
A high-quality, simple crib that fits most test mattresses well and uses no styrofoam, but it is expensive and harder to build
A higher-quality crib with an appealing design, but it is expensive and takes time to assemble
A well-priced crib with a simple design and a deep platform for toddlers, but the adjustability range is smaller, and no toddler rail is included
An attractive, minimalist crib with a wide range of height adjustments that fit many mattresses well
A poor quality crib with flaking paint and loosening fasteners after only a short test period
A simplistic design that is highly adjustable that is shorter for petite parents, but not all mattresses were a good fit
Basic crib with a deep toddler setting and easy assembly, but it only offers 3 platform heights, and many mattresses didn't fit well
A fun-looking crib that comes in a paint-free option, but we struggled with some of the test mattresses, leaving a gap, and didn't like the fewer height levels
The Storkcraft Equinox 3-in-1 crib is a modern take on a familiar classic with simple styling and playful crisscross end caps. This primarily solid wood baby crib has chip-resistant paint and a sturdy stance and is one of the easiest in our tests to assemble (set up between 30-33 minutes). We like the overall appearance, which at least attempts to hide or disguise fasteners, unlike most contenders that leave them exposed. One tester said, “I like the simple, clean design.” This frame converts to a toddler or daybed with parts you must buy separately. The materials are GREENGUARD Gold Certified, and the crib opening fits our favorite mattresses with ease during testing. We like that the platform is metal, avoiding the MDF board, which can contain formaldehyde and other off-gassing materials.
The Equinox is one of the largest options in the group, measuring 58" X 29.5" in our tests. This could be a deal-breaker if your space is smaller. The Babyletto Hudson and the Babyletto Lolly are 4.5 inches shorter and could be a better fit in some spaces. The Equinox also has one of the lowest sitting mattress levels, which can be a blessing and a curse. While its depth is excellent for standing or climbing toddlers, petite parents can find it challenging to reach deeper into a crib to soothe a distressed baby. The mattress height is adjustable, which will alleviate some potential problems, but not all of them. As one tester stated, “I think I'll have to make frequent adjustments to make this suitable for me and my baby as they grow.” If your budget is a bit tighter, the Carter's by DaVinci Colby 4-in-1 is a similar minimal-style crib that costs less with similar features. Overall, we love the unique look of the Equinox and find the design complements most modern nurseries with a subtle look that allows other elements to shine.
The Equinox is a stylish and affordable crib that performed well in all our tests, but it has bigger footprint than competitors.
The Carter's by DaVinci Colby 4-in-1 is an unassuming, lovely option that lets your baby and fitted sheet shine like a framed, priceless work of art. This product lets other nursery pieces stand out with a simple rectangle, slat design, and contrasting color scheme. This crib is solid wood with potential multi-step, non-toxic paint (though we prefer the unpainted option after testing both). It is also GREENGUARD Gold Certified and made from sustainable New Zealand pinewood, and TSCA-compliant engineered wood. It includes four mattress heights with a range of 8.5 inches and a metal platform that avoids MDF. The Colby was one of the easiest in the group to assemble, taking under 30 minutes in our tests with fewer dowels and bolts than some competitors. Our tester reports, “I think this crib was easier to assemble than most of the competition and felt intuitive.”
The wood on the Colby feels somehow softer than much of the competition, and it easily dents (we experienced this during our limited testing), or the paint might transfer to objects that knock into it (again, we'd choose the unpainted option). We think this crib might show its age before it has outlived its usefulness, which is something to consider if you find long-term perfection necessary. However, as our tester stated, “I don't think this will impact its longevity.” It is on the bigger side at a measured footprint of 55.6 X 29.6 inches in our tests, so if space is a concern, one of the Babyletto cribs could be a better fit. If you like simple but want a little more detailing, the Storkcraft Equinox 3-in-1 has a modern design that offers closed ends and a bit more style (warning: it is even bigger, though). Overall, we love Colby's simplicity and think most parents will love it as much for what it is as they will for what it isn't.
The Colby is an impressive and top-performing option with one of the lowest prices in the group.
The Babyletto Lolly 3-in-1 is a modern and beautiful nursery addition we think most parents will love. It comes in a styrofoam-free package with included hardware and tools. In our tests, it offered a wide platform height range of 8.8 inches, with one of the higher platforms for infants and young babies to make it easier on caregivers. This crib has fine attention to detail, like rounded corners and an MDF-free design. Our tester remarked, “I can tell the difference side-by-side in the quality of the Lolly compared to less expensive options.” Our tests show it worked well with our favorite mattresses and includes a metal wire platform. The Lolly is GREENGUARD Gold Certified, lovely to look at, and easy to use. It is one of the smaller options in the review, measuring 53.5" x 29.8" inches in our tests, making it a good contender for those with smaller spaces.
Like all of these styles, the metal wire platform is not suitable for mattress sensor movement monitors that require a firm surface under the mattress. Our tester states, “Given that many great movement monitors do not have mattress or platform concerns, I don't think this is a deal-breaker.” The Lolly is also harder to assemble, but theoretically, this is a one-and-done operation with the potential second assembly of turning it into a toddler bed. It took us over 40 minutes to put together during testing, and some of the fasteners were so similar in size that it was a pain to figure out which one we needed. The Carter's by DaVinci Colby 4-in-1 is much easier to assemble and costs significantly less than the Lolly. Overall, we think the Lolly is a great crib that will work for most families who have the budget or plan to use it for multiple babies to defray some of the higher price.
We love the Lolly despite being harder to build, but the higher price could make it out of some parent's budget.
The Babyletto Hudson 3-in-1 is an impressive convertible crib that comes with a toddler rail for conversion to a toddler bed. We love the quality of this crib and the fact that it doesn't use styrofoam packaging. This crib fits our favorite mattresses like a glove during testing with a snug fit but not so snug it was hard to change a sheet. We like the metal wire mattress platform that helps it earn a GREEGUARD Gold Certified status. In our measurement tests, it was one of the smallest, with a footprint of 53.5" X 29.5". In our tests, it offers four platform heights and has a range of 8.5 inches. As our tester reports, “The mattress platform range is pretty good. I like the different levels for newborns and toddlers.”
The Hudson build took a long time and was more complicated than competitors. If you loathe the idea of assembly, the Storkcraft Equinox was significantly easier but took about the same time. Both are easier than the Babyletto Lolly, but the Carter's by DaVinci Colby 4-in-1 was hands down the simplest and took less than 30 minutes. This crib is also one of the most expensive in the group. However, our tester stated, “I think the quality and attention to detail could very well justify the price, and using it with more than one child will help improve its value; it could be a deal-breaker if your budget is smaller.” Both the Storkcraft and Colby are less expensive and have a similar enough minimal style. Overall, we think most parents will love the Hudson and, if their budget is bigger, will be happy to build a nursery around it.
The Hudson feels like a high-quality and durable choice, but it is more expensive than most competitors.
We run multiple tests on each crib with our favorite mattresses to determine which cribs are true standout options.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
How We Test Baby Cribs
We considered more than 20 potential baby crib contenders before narrowing the selection to those in this review. We based our selection on our prior test group experience and popular or compelling options. We considered the materials used for construction, ease of assembly, mattress fit, and more in our testing. We purchased and built each crib to compare them side-by-side. We considered features, quality, materials, design, and more to determine award winners.
One test we performed is ease of assembly, tracking the time it took to unbox and build each crib, like the Equinox shown here.
Credit: Graham Faulknor
The test metrics break down as follows:
Mattress fit (40% of weighting)
Eco-health of materials (20% of weighting)
Adjustability (20% of weighting)
Ease of Assembly (20% of weighting)
Finding a great crib that makes everyone happy can be easier with our insider information.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Why Trust GearLab
We at BabyGearLab have been testing baby gear since 2013. We evaluate and test products, taking them through side-by-side comparisons to determine which competitors are real standouts in their categories. Bob Wofford, the Senior Test Analyst, built the cribs in this review and put them through their paces in our lab to rank how easy they are to assemble, how easy they are to use, and their overall quality to determine which options are the best. Wendy Schmitz, Senior Review Editor at BabyGearLab since 2014 and mom to two boys, assessed the contenders to determine the award winners.
We purchased and built each crib for testing in this review.
Parents need ready access to little ones at a comfortable mattress height level.
Analysis and Test Results
We evaluated a variety of cribs before settling on top options from various brands and styles to help you find the right fit for your needs and your wallet.
What's the Best Value?
A crib's value can be somewhat up to interpretation based on how many children you plan to have or if you intend to use it as a toddler bed (assuming convertibility) in the future. This means it is a little more than what is good enough for a reasonable price. Our favorite budget pick is the Carter's by DaVinci Colby 4-in-1. This option scored highly and did well in most metrics with a quality level we think we last through multiple babies. It doesn't come with a toddler crib rail, but one can be purchased if that is the goal. Our favorite crib also sports a reasonable price compared to some of the competition and is a durable option we think will last through multiple babies. It can also become a toddler or daybed without a toddler rail to help prevent roll outs.
A mattress should fit inside the crib snugly, but not so snugly that you can't get the mattress out or easily change sheets. Gaps between the mattress and crib edge should be small and not big enough for a child to become entrapped.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Mattress Fit
All of the baby cribs have a similar mattress opening size. Still, experience has taught us that a headache could be waiting around the corner as crib mattresses seem to vary slightly in size, resulting in a pair that doesn't play well together. We tested our favorite crib mattresses with each crib to determine how well they fit, on average.
Being able to change your crib mattress sheet is important for quick middle-of-the-night messes.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
If your mattress fits too tightly, this will be a frequent frustration as you'll lift the entire thing out to change a sheet (frequently). If there is too much gap, the combination isn't safe as little arms and legs could become entrapped (or worse). Since sheet changes could be daily, you'll want to check your mattress size with your crib opening as soon as you get it to ensure a proper fit before your return period is over.
Not all mattresses fit all cribs, and it is important that you test your chosen mattress with your crib to ensure it fits well before the return window expires.
A snug fit that is not "too" snug is important for a safe sleep area.
You want a snug fit for safety, but if it is too snug, you will curse in the middle of the night while changing sheets after a diaper blowout. Especially if your mattress of choice includes inner springs and is heavy to lift.
We tested our favorite mattresses with each crib to see how well they paired. This pairing is the Naturepedic Organic Cotton Classic 150 Seamless 2-Stage and the Carter's by DaVinci Colby 4-in-1 crib.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
The best in the group for a snug fit that wasn't annoying for crib changes includes the Babyletto Hudson 3-in-1, Babyletto Lolly 3-in-1, Carter's by DaVinci Colby 4-in-1, and the Storkcraft Equinox 3-in-1. Each has about a 1/2 inch gap on each side, allowing for the mattress to be lifted easily without causing a concerning gap or a fit so snug you can't move the mattress. The largest gaps were seen on the Delta Children Essex 4-in-1 and the Delta Children Tribeca 4-in-1, which both had an average side gap of 1 1/4 inch and up to a 3/4 gap in the front. Alternatively, the Graco Benton 3-in-1 is so tight and snug that there is almost no gap, and lifting the mattress to change the sheet was a pain.
Finding a crib with the fewest concerning chemicals and lower levels of off-gassing is important, given the amount of time your little one will spend sleeping in and potentially chewing on their crib.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Eco-Health
More than ever parents are considering how products are made, what materials were used, and whether or not those materials could potentially be harmful to their baby or the Earth. While there are many unknowns in this arena, we encourage parents to do the best they can with the information they have and the budget they are working with. We believe in using your hard-earned money to make choices that encourage manufacturers to make better choices for the planet and our health. What we've seen in the last decade is that companies are listening, and many are choosing to present products that use sustainable resources and offer fewer potentially harmful ingredients.
We consider many factors to determine which options offer more eco-health than others. Most of the cribs in this review are GREENGUARD Gold Certified, which means they have been tested and verified to have lower levels of off-gassing chemicals. This certification aims to help create healthier indoor air.
Babies spend a significant amount of their early years sleeping, and most parents search for the safest possible products for them to sleep in and on.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Those that do not have this certification (or at least are not advertising that they do) are the Graco Benton 5-in-1 and the Storkcraft Beckett 3-in-1. We also think it is important to note that the Babyletto Hudson and the Babyletto Lolly did not use styrofoam in their packaging. Carter's by DaVinci Colby 4-in-1, Delta Children Essex 4-in-1, and Delta Children Tribeca 4-in-1 each claim the use of sustainable New Zealand pinewood and are TSCA-compliant engineered wood, which is concerned about the emission of formaldehyde from materials.
A higher mattress height can translate to tending to your little one easier without significant bending.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Adjustability
You might think all cribs are the same, and in some regards, for safety reasons, this is true. All baby cribs sold in the US must adhere to specific safety guidelines, and these restrictions often make them very similar in design and materials. This review's options are primarily wood, with most being sustainable New Zealand Pine and one being hardwood. They all have adjustable mattress platform levels with three to four variations and come unassembled. They all have different designs, styles of slats, overall dimensions, and mattress platform heights. Mattress height adjustability, conversion capabilities, and crib size can all impact your crib experience.
The Storkcraft Equinox offers a broader range of mattress platform heights than most competitors.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Only a handful of the competition came with parts for converting the crib to a toddler or day bed. These include the Babyletto Hudson 3-in-1, Babyletto Lolly, the Storkcraft Beckett 3-in-1 , and the Delta Children Tribeca 4-in-1. The rest of the competition requires an additional purchase. This feature is cool if you use it. However, we don't think many parents use the conversion kit. They often reserve the crib for the next child or are tired of looking at it and want to mark the transition to a big kid bed with the purchase of something new and exciting. Often, parents lose the parts and hardware required to make the switch. Plus, a new bed can encourage the change from sleeping in the crib to a more traditional bed. However, some parents will use this feature, and if you think you might, it can save you money to buy a crib that includes the parts you'll need to make this change.
Deeper mattress height options are useful for toddlers but can make tending to infant more challenging.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Mattress platform heights varied in this group between three and four height levels. Both variations are acceptable, but four potentially give you a longer lifespan for crib use, as taller toddlers will find escaping a lower-sitting mattress more challenging (though not impossible). Alternatively, a determined Houdini will escape no matter what height you offer (trust us), and a climbing toddler usually indicates they are ready for a toddler or big kid bed.
Most of the cribs have 3-4 height options, with both Delta cribs only offering 3.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
More importantly, we think the higher levels genuinely help some parents as some petite parents won't want to or can't bend down into the abyss to retrieve their baby. We think one is about the same as another unless you have a physical reason for needing something special.
Crib Platform Height Range From the Ground
Platform Settings
Platform Height Max
Platform Height Min
Babyletto Hudson
4
16.8 in
8.3 in
Babyletto Lolly
4
17.0 in
8.2 in
Carter's by DaVinci Colby
4
16.5 in
8.0 in
Delta Children Essex
3
15.5 in
8.0 in
Delta Children Tribeca
3
17.0 in
9.5 in
Graco Benton
4
18.0 in
7.7 in
Storkcraft Beckett
4
17.8 in
6.8 in
Storkcraft Equinox
4
19.0 in
8.2 in
The range of mattress platform height differences between cribs went from 7.5 to 11 inches, so there is a strong disparity, and choosing a crib with a shorter range means you could find yourself potentially aging out of the crib earlier whenever your toddler learns they have climbing skills that rival Olympic athletes. The Storkcraft Beckett 3-in-1 and the Storkcraft Equinox 3-in-1 have the biggest range with an 11-inch span for the Beckett and a 10.8 span for the Equinox. The shortest range is 7.5 inches for both Delta cribs.
While cribs are a standardized product for the mattress opening, the outside footprint does vary somewhat based on the design, with end caps or angle feet creating bigger cribs.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Another consideration is the overall crib footprint. While not something you can adjust, and most are similar, if your space is smaller, it might be worth measuring your space to ensure your choice will fit. Depending on where your crib will reside, some options might fit better than others. A larger, more stately crib might be what you want if you have a vast new nursery that echos due to size.
Thanks to the decorative end pieces, the Equinox is one of the longest cribs in the review.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
The Storkcraft Equinox 3-in-1 is the longest crib in the review at 58 inches compared to the shortest, which is 53.5 inches. The widest is the Delta Children Tribecca at 30.8 inches in our tests; this is about 1.7 inches bigger than the average.
Each mattress height setting is designed for different ages and stages of development, with higher levels being suitable for newborns and lower levels for standing babies and toddlers.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
No Drop Sides
Drop sides are NOT safe and should not be part of your baby's crib. Modern cribs no longer include a drop-side feature (by law), as babies were historically injured and even died from drop-style products. So, while it might be sweet that your mom saved the crib she used with you, it isn't safe, and you should find a crib that fits current safety standards. Always check the design and safety guidelines against the crib you hope to use if it isn't new.
Some manuals are easier than others to use, with varying levels of detail and useful images.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Ease of Assembly
Many of the cribs were similar in parts, instructions, and design—so much so that we suspect some came from the same manufacturing plant. However, there was variation in assembly difficulties.
Credit: Graham Faulknor
The Graco Benton 5-in-1 was hands down the most difficult crib to assemble. It could be better if you have two people, but if you're riding solo, we suspect you won't have any more fun than we did. The instructions and fasteners force you to fight against gravity, and it is really easy to install parts backward if you aren't double-checking your work. There are no alignment pins we saw on competitors and the backboard's continued rattling made us feel like we did something wrong. If you're worried crib setup will surely be your downfall, the Carter's by DaVinci Colby 4-in-1 is your go-to. This option came with pre-sorted hardware, was straightforward and easy to assemble, and we managed it in about 25 minutes. Following the Colby for easy assembly was the Delta Children Essex 4-in-1.
Important Helpful Advice
Assemble your crib inside your nursery or the room where you intend to use it. Many cribs are far too wide to go through a standard doorway, and you will need to take it apart to get it into your nursery if you fail to assemble it there to begin with. Trust us, we've done this.
The Babyletto cribs were a little tricky to assemble and had directions that weren't always clear.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
How to Pick the Best Baby Crib
Choosing a baby crib is often one of the more fun items to pick as it influences the nursery and is used daily. Finding the best one for your family can be easy if you consider a few things when choosing.
Nursery Style
Your nursery style is often influenced by or influences the style of the crib you choose. Whether you want a minimalist nursery or an elaborate one, the crib is a large piece of furniture that sets the stage. Choosing one that matches your overall style or intended nursery decor can bring a feeling of peace when spending time in the nursery. Whether or not there are matching furniture pieces might also influence your choice.
The Equinox is one of the biggest cribs in the review.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Overall Footprint
While crib mattresses are relatively standard, the outer dimensions of a crib can vary widely. You should measure your intended space to determine which cribs will fit where you want the crib to go. Also, the size of your home can influence how much of an impact you want the crib to have on the overall feeling and living space. Often, less is more, and choosing a simple crib can give you the calm feeling babies enjoy.
Theoretically, all mattresses should fit in all cribs, but this is not the case. Finding a Goldilocks fit that isn't too tight and doesn't have giant gaps is important.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Pair with Your Mattress
Many parents are very particular about their mattresses, and the materials used in the mattress could be non-negotiable. Since your baby will spend a significant amount of time sleeping and inhaling any off-gassing materials beneath them, we think it is important to choose your mattress first, then make sure it fits in your intended crib mattress space. Check for gaps and ensure the two marry nicely in a way that helps prevent potential harm and isn't so tight that changing sheets will be a problem. We recommend keeping the mattress and returning the crib if they do not work well together.
Finding the right crib for your nursery, your needs, and your wallet doesn't have to be challenging with the great options evaluated in this review.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Conclusion
Your baby's crib might take center stage as a nursery centerpiece and the most used piece of furniture. Parents often choose to decorate their nurseries or create a theme around the crib style, further indicating its importance in the schema. Your crib's style, quality, and ease of use can impact long-term happiness with your choice, the ability to use it with another child or to donate it to a friend. This is why finding the right crib for your needs might be more important than you thought. We think you'll find enough information in our detailed analysis and first-hand experience to choose the perfect crib for your baby and your nursery.
