Many of our favorite cribs offer conversions, transforming into toddler beds or daybeds once the baby years are in the past. These convertible cribs provide families a nursery item with longevity that reduces the number of items to buy for a new baby. The best convertible cribs go from a standard crib size to a toddler bed—while others start out as mini cribs or bassinets—and the top models make that transition seamless by including all the necessary conversion pieces and tools.
The best convertible cribs grow with your child, saving you from having to buy more gear.
Illustration: Forbes / Photos: Retailers
“The main perk of the convertible crib is that it will stay with you the longest, because it can convert from a crib to a toddler bed,” says Christine Brown, a certified child sleep consultant, parenting coach and founder of Bella Luna Family. “Many can then be further converted to a twin or a full-sized bed. In the long run, this will save you time and money.”
Brown points out that converting a crib to your child’s toddler bed can be a comfort to the kid, because you don’t need to familiarize them with a new bed. You’ll simply remove the side rail of their existing crib in most cases. “This allows a child to have familiarity with the crib/toddler bed, which can help ease the challenges of change for little ones,” she explains.
After speaking with experts like Brown, parents and diving deep into baby beds and sleep research, I’ve put together this list of the best convertible cribs. There’s sure to be one here to match your family’s needs and budget. After reading this story, consider shopping these tested best crib mattresses or these additional top cribs.
Materials: New Zealand pine wood | Weight capacity: 50 pounds | Dimensions: 55 x 31 x 35.3 inches | Conversions: Crib, toddler/daybed, full size bed | Warranty: 1-year limited
If you’re looking for style, utility, affordability and sustainable practices, the Babyletto Gelato Convertible Crib is for you. It can be raised to four mattress heights and goes from crib to toddler bed to daybed and full-sized bed with the addition of a conversion kit. The toddler/daybed conversion setup is included with the purchase of the crib, but the full-size kit is sold separately. It’s available in four pleasing tones, including Walnut with Gold Feet, Washed Natural/White, Washed White/Natural and Washed Natural/Black.
With all of these conversions, this bed could hypothetically take your kid all the way to college—with only a mattress upgrade here and there. Plus, it’s made from sustainable New Zealand pine and is Greenguard Gold certified.
Best Value Convertible Crib
Excellent Reviews Combined With An Affordable Price
Amazon
Delta Children Fancy 4-In-1 Convertible Crib
Material: Solid and manufactured wood | Dimensions: 54.5 x 3o.5 x 43.8 inches | Weight capacity: 5o pounds | Conversions: Crib, toddler bed, daybed, full-size bed | Warranty: 1-year limited
This solid Delta Children crib offers four conversions, going all the way from a standard crib to a full-size bed with a headboard. As Brown explained, “Delta Children makes quality, safe cribs that meet all design aesthetics and they are reasonably priced,” which is part of the reason she named it as one of her favorite convertible crib options. While the company offers a variety of convertible cribs, this Fancy model has blown reviewers away, earning a 4.8 out of 5 overall rating on Amazon.
It also has three mattress height options, is easy to assemble and comes in a handful of suitable neutral colors. It’s JPMA-certified. Keep in mind that the full-size bed conversion kit and toddler guardrail kits are sold separately as they are with many other but not all convertible cribs. You’ll want to consider the total price of these additions if you plan to use these conversions. It can also be used as a daybed with the full-size bed conversion kit.
Best Splurge Convertible Crib
A Stunning Crib That Includes All The Conversion Kits In One Price
Nestig
The Nestig Candy Cloud Crib
Materials: Brazilian pine wood, eco-engineered wood | Dimensions: 30.25 x 22 x 31 inches (mini crib), 54 x 30.25 x 36 (full crib), 54 x 30.25 x 31 inches (toddler bed) | Weight capacity: 5o pounds | Conversions: Mini crib, full crib, toddler bed | Warranty: 18-year limited
If you’re like me, you’ll likely fall in love with the Nestig Candy Cloud color options at first glance. But this charming crib earned a spot on this list thanks to the fact that it’s one of the few cribs on the market that moves from a mini crib with convenient wheels to a full size crib and then to an adorable toddler bed with rails. It adjusts to three mattress heights and includes the mini crib mattress and conversion kit for the full crib and toddler bed. You do need to purchase the full-size crib mattress separately. It’s also JPMA-certified and comes with an 18-year limited warranty (nearly unheard of with cribs). It’s constructed from sustainably harvested Brazilian pine and eco-engineered wood.
Another Nestig crib fan is Sholeen Damarwala, a home and shopping editor with Forbes Vetted, who bought the Nestig Wave for her firstborn. “[It] seems expensive upfront, [but] the thoughtful design has ended up saving me a lot of money I would have otherwise spent on a separate bassinet, crib and eventually toddler bed,” she says. “As an added bonus, it's just so darn stylish.”
Best Modern Convertible Crib
For Homes Of The Midcentury Modern Or Just Plain Modern Variety
Amazon
DaVinci Marley 3-In-1 Convertible Crib
Materials: New Zealand pinewood, manufactured wood | Dimensions: 53.5 x 29.5 x 35 inches | Weight capacity: 5o pounds | Conversions: Crib, toddler bed, daybed | Warranty: 1-year
This DaVinci convertible model is a classic baby crib in more ways than one with its timeless design, affordability and 3-in-1 convertibility, going from a crib to a toddler bed with guardrails to a potential daybed. Not only is it aesthetically pleasing—especially if your nursery and home lean toward a Midcentury modern or standard modern design—but it also packs on the perks for about $200, though you pay extra for the conversion kits. It offers four adjustable mattress heights, pine and manufactured wood construction and Greenguard Gold certification. And because it’s so sleek looking, it easily tucks into an office corner or guest bedroom once the kids are grown. The toddler bed guardrail conversion kit is sold separately for $80.
Best Convertible Crib For A Toddler Bed
Just The Thing To Take You From 0 to 5 Years Old
Nurture&
Nurture& The Crib
Materials: Poplar, MDF wood, oak veneer | Dimensions: 54.5 x 35 x 29.6 inches | Weight capacity: 5o pounds | Conversions: Crib, toddler bed | Warranty: 1-year limited
This Nurture& crib isn’t just soothing to look at. It’s made partially from sustainably harvested wood, is sturdy and adjusts to three mattress heights for safety and parental comfort. While some other cribs offer more conversion opportunities, Nuture&’s crib might be ideal for families planning to have more than one child who want to convert it back to its crib status for No. 2 vs. turning it into a daybed or full-size bed.
It’s also an ideal choice for those who appreciate thoughtfully crafted baby items. It comes in similarly interesting hues as the Nestig, including White Natural, Sage, Blush and Navy, and makes for an eye-catching nursery centerpiece. It’s made from a mix of poplar, manufactured wood and oak veneer, doesn’t use any fire retardant chemicals and is JPMA-certified. You’ll need to pay extra for the guardrail conversion kit to turn it into a toddler bed, but there are some savings to be had by bundling your additions on the Nestig site like a mattress and crib sheets.
Best Traditional Convertible Crib
A Classic Pick
MOST POPULAR
Pottery Barn Kids
Pottery Barn Kids Kendall Convertible Baby Crib
Materials: Poplar wood | Dimensions: 57 x 32 x 44 inches | Weight capacity: 50 pounds | Conversions: Crib, toddler bed | Warranty: 30-day return period
Pottery Barn Kids is a parent’s go-to for nursery furniture for several reasons. Of course, its cribs—like the beloved Kendall—are beautiful, but they’re also well-made enough to last for the long term. The Kendall crib came up again and again in my conversations with parents as I researched this story, because it’s classic in design and well-crafted from poplar wood. It’s fairly standard in terms of its offering with three mattress heights, a no-fuss look available in five colors and an affordable price. It’s easy enough to assemble, according to reviews, or you can have it assembled in your home. It converts from a traditional crib to a toddler bed with a separately purchased kit, and you can also purchase the mattress in a bundle set via Pottery Barn Kids. This classic crib is also Greenguard Gold Certified and made in a Fair Trade-Certified facility.
Best Value Convertible Crib
A Hard To Beat Price
Amazon
Graco Benton 5-In-1 Convertible Crib
Materials: Pine wood, engineered wood, wood composites | Dimensions: 29.7 x 56.7 x 41.7 inches | Weight capacity: 50 pounds | Conversions: Crib, toddler bed, daybed, full-size bed w/ headboard, full-size bed w/ headboard and footboard | Warranty: 1-year limited
A bestseller on Amazon, this extra affordable Graco convertible crib is under $200 and converts into five family-friendly options—a standard crib to toddler bed, daybed and full-size bed with two style options (thanks to separately sold conversion kits). There are three adjustable mattress heights available as your baby grows, and it’s Greenguard Gold and JPMA certified. For the price, it’s hard to find a more suitable crib, but of course, the conversion kits must be factored in as well. Parents can select from among five neutral color combinations.
Some reviewers have complained about locating each conversion kit (this rail is for the toddler bed conversion), as well as some quality issues, such as paint chipping and wear, so you may want to consider that into your equation in terms of the total value of this crib.
Best Upholstered Convertible Crib
For Fans Of A Traditional Aesthetic And Solid Craftsmanship
Modern Nursery
Namesake Darlington 4-In-1 Convertible Crib
Materials: American poplar, rubberwood | Dimensions: 57.8 x 31.8 x 47 | Weight capacity: 50 pounds| Conversions: Crib, toddler bed, daybed, full-size bed | Warranty: 1-year limited
Relatively new to the baby furniture sector, Namesake has made a name for itself thanks to its heirloom quality pieces and style. This specific convertible crib transforms into a toddler bed, daybed and full-size bed with the addition of two conversion kits (both sold separately: toddler rail and full-size bed kit) and includes clever details like a removable linen fabric back that can be washed. It adjusts to four mattress positions and is Greenguard Gold Certified. There’s also a lovely six-drawer matching dresser for this crib that also has a changing topper available.
It’s also worth mentioning that Brown recommends cribs like this with “a taller back wall so if your young toddler...starts climbing out of the short side of the crib, you can turn the tall side out. My team and I recommend trying to keep toddlers in their cribs until 3 years old or older. This allows their impulse control to become more developed, making the crib-to-bed transition easier.”
The editors and writers at Forbes Vetted are dedicated to product research and testing, so you can find the best items for your family and home. We’ve already reviewed hundreds of baby gear and nursery items and tested everything from diaper bags to jogging strollers. Our team cares deeply about safety, especially when it comes to children, and finding the best quality, smartest products.
For this specific article, I spoke with certified sleep consultant, parenting coach and mom Christine Brown about what to look for in the best convertible cribs. I also polled my parent friends and Vetted staff for their favorite picks. Additionally, I utilized my own experience as a mom and shopping writer who specializes in baby and toddler gear to help highlight the best convertible cribs.
How We Chose The Best Convertible Cribs
In selecting these individual cribs, I considered value, reviews, utility, materials and design to ensure they all met Forbes Vetted’s rigorous standards. I looked at how many different ways a crib could convert and if you had to buy the conversion kits or the mattresses separately to determine value and longevity. I looked for certifications, including JPMA and Greenguard Gold to ensure overall safety, and considered how many mattress height adjustments were available. In the end, I wanted to pick cribs versatile enough to fit many families’ needs and budgets.
Is A Convertible Crib Worth It?
It truly depends on the needs of your family, whether you plan to have multiple children and if you do intend to have multiple children, how close in age will they be? If you have one child, a convertible crib makes a lot of sense, because you can utilize it as a toddler bed as well. Then, if the one you’ve purchased becomes a full-size bed or daybed, you can continue to use it for longer. Each model is different, but some can suit your kid until they move out of the house.
If you intend on having multiple children with years between them (mine are about 3 years apart and a convertible crib has been fantastic), it’s also a good idea. The elder child can eventually graduate to a twin or full bed while the younger uses the convertible crib. It may not make as much sense for people who have children close together, because both might need a standard crib longer, or perhaps you’ll wind up with two convertible cribs. It’s also worth mentioning that your space and style might, so that’s something to consider when planning ahead.
How Does A Convertible Crib Work?
In most cases, convertible cribs require a conversion kit to shift from a crib to a toddler bed and beyond. Some companies include these conversion kits in the original purchase of your crib, while others sell them separately. Further conversion kits may be required if you transition your crib into a full-size bed or daybed, so it’s important to take that into consideration and factor in the additional cost. With a conversion kit, you can typically switch the crib’s configuration very easily. When changing my son’s crib to a toddler bed, we were surprised to find it only took about 20 minutes and wasn’t difficult.
What Is The Best Convertible Crib?
The best convertible crib is the one that suits your family’s needs the most. Some are five-in-one (meaning they can become five different kinds of beds), whereas others only go from crib to toddler bed. It’s important to factor in your family plan (how many kids you’ll have and how far apart), your budget and your sleep situation when figuring out which convertible crib is best. In my research, I’ve found that the best overall option is the Babyletto 4-in-1 Gelato Convertible Crib, but we’ve included many additional options here, too.
