As a new or expectant parent, designing a nursery is an exciting opportunity to create a unique, personal space for your baby. From choosing what art to hang on the walls to where each piece of furniture is placed, it's the perfect way to create a space that you and your baby are comfortable in and love.
As the centerpiece of any nursery, finding the perfect crib is an important first decision to make. Taking into consideration everything from style to safety, we've laid out a crib guide to help make that process as simple as possible.
Size
One of the main differences between nurseries is their size and shape. Depending on whether you're creating a small space nursery or a full bedroom, there are options to match your home.
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Mini Crib: Perfect for small space nurseries and to keep at the grandparent's house. DaVinci mini cribs can last until your child is about 2 years old before conversion. The Kalani 4-in-1 Mini Crib an fit into a little nook and eventually fit into a bedroom with its twin conversion!
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Standard Crib: Great for a separate nursery space or a larger shared room. With conversion, some full size cribs can last your child into their teen years. The Jenny Lind is DaVinci's most beloved convertible crib and you and your child will love it for years to come!  |
Versatility
Many cribs nowadays offer a variety of versatile features. Elements like folding and portability are great additions to a crib that already works for you. The main components to focus on when looking for a crib are convertibility and adjustable mattress levels as they are key to making life simpler as a new parent.
Convertibility
Some cribs are able to last beyond infancy and even into your child's teen years with convertibility. There are a variety of conversions, depending on what crib you have. Here are the main ones:
- 3-in-1: For full size cribs, this helps transition your baby into toddlerhood, converting into a toddler bed and daybed.
- 4-in-1: Also, for full size cribs, 4-in-1 conversions allow you to keep the same bed past the toddler stage. These cribs convert into a toddler bed, daybed, and full size bed. The Fairway crib is a great choice for longevity! Mini cribs, like the Kalani mini, converts into toddler bed, day bed and twin size bed!
Adjustable Mattress Heights
Cribs with different mattress height levels give you easy access to your baby and help you keep them safe as they grow. Depending on the type of crib you have, the number of mattress levels will vary. Mini cribs and portable cribs tend to have two mattress height options, whereas a full size crib can have up to four. Standard cribs by Davinci all have 4 mattress levels!
The highest mattress level on a crib is perfect for infants who haven't started to roll over or sit up. Once your baby transitions into rolling, sitting, and standing, you can easily lower the mattress level to make sure it matches their level of movement.
Other Features
Portability: Some cribs can maneuver around homes using wheels, generally with casters that lock them into place. These tend to be more lightweight and easier to move.
Attached Changing Table: If you're looking for full size crib that also saves space, a changer combo crib is the ideal piece to efficiently use a room!
The Dakota 4-in-1 Crib and Changer Combo includes an extra deep surface for diaper changes, as well as spacious storage and drawers to organize baby's necessities.
Storage: Cribs that come with drawers can store additional clothes, toys, or other accessories for your baby. The Carter's by DaVinci Colby Crib is perfect for space saving as it includes a trundle.
Safety
As a new parent, safety is a top concern, and it can be hard to decipher what makes a product safe for your babe. From standards set by the federal government to third party certifications, here are the main safety features to look out for when picking a crib.
Safety Standards: Every crib must meet a certain level of safety standards set by various organizations, such as ASTM International and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. This includes standards for slat/spindle load strength and lead content. All companies will meet these base standards, but it's important to check each company's own safety standards for its products to make it matches your own.
| GREENGUARD Gold Certification: Awarded to products with low chemical emissions, this certification verifies that a product is acceptable for use around sensitive individuals, such as children and the elderly. To receive this, products have to be thoroughly tested for over 10,000 chemicals and (marked) as low-emitting. Any crib with a GREENGUARD Gold certificate is sure to keep your home's indoor quality as safe as possible. Read more about this certification here. |  |
Style
Now that you've decided on the practical features of your crib, it's time to think about style! Whether you love the details of classic furniture or the clean lines of the contemporary, you can find a crib that's perfect for you. Cribs come in all colors, shapes and sizes, and many are also designed to pair with matching changers and dressers.
Finishes: Nowadays, cribs tend to come with a variety of color options. No matter if you're looking for a particular color like navy or white or a wood tone like chestnut or a scratch finish, most cribs will have at least a few color options - some even as many as ten! The Jenny Lind crib is a great option for you if you want to venture if you are looking for a specific color to match your nursery theme.
Shape: Most cribs are rectangular in shape, but if you are looking for something more unique, you can also find them in the shape of ovals and circles. The only downside to these cribs is that it is harder to find accessories like crib mattresses to match their shape, whereas rectangular crib mattresses tend to be standardized.
We hope this guide will help get you started in finding the best crib for your home!