- Nursery Articles -
10+ Types of Cribs for Your Baby in 2021
There’s no getting around it. A crib is your number one nursery essential. Just like your baby’s toys, they come in all shapes, shades and sizes. There are many types of cribs to choose from, and there’s a lot that plays into how to choose a crib that’s just right for your little one — and you.
As with any baby product, safety always comes first and that starts with the crib design. Look for smooth edges and rounded posts, appropriately spaced slats and be sure to confirm your crib is made with certified-safe materials.
Consider this your comprehensive guide to the different types of cribs, plus what to consider when determining which crib type will keep you and your baby catching ZZZ’s peacefully.
Crib Types
Babies can spend up to 20 hours a day sleeping, so it’s important to keep practicality and function top of mind when determining which types of cribs are right for your little one. Depending on your plans, the space you’re working with and lifestyle, there’s a lot to contemplate. Here are some of the most common types of cribs that will cater to your wants and needs.
Traditional & Standard Cribs
Four sides, slats a sturdy build — this is your quintessential crib. That’s because a traditional or standard crib stays put and is made to last through baby number one, two and then some. These are perfect for growing families. And because they’re the most common types of cribs, they come in many materials and styles.
Compact & Miniature Cribs
If you’re tight on space, consider a miniature crib your saving grace. These types of cribs run a bit shorter than a traditional crib, making them ideal for newborns. Just know your baby will outgrow a compact crib quicker than a traditional one. It’s worth noting that the compact size doesn’t sacrifice on features. Most miniature cribs often come with wheels for portability and some even collapse for easy storage.
Convertible Cribs
Convertible cribs get their nickname “lifetime cribs” for good reason. They’re engineered to grow with your family, as they can be reconfigured into a toddler bed with a safety rail (2-in-1), daybed (3-in-1), and twin-size or even full-size, complete with a headboard and footboard (4-in-1). Convertible cribs will cost you a little more upfront in comparison to other types of cribs. But, especially for one-baby families, it’s worth the investment.
Travel & Portable Cribs
Families on the move favor portable cribs for their lightweight and quick assembly. These types of cribs are typically crafted out of soft materials like fabric or mesh, meaning they’re not quite durable enough for everyday use, but they’re great for on-the-go families looking for easy transport. Many portable cribs also come with wheels, making it easy to move your baby from room to room.
Storage Cribs
If functionality is a top priority for your nursery, a storage crib is a great option. These types of cribs typically have built-in drawers below the bed, meaning they double as a dresser or toy chest. They’re a great way to maximize your space.
Bassinets
Think of using a bassinet as training wheels before you transition your baby to a traditional crib whenever they start rolling over. Made for newborns, bassinets are meant to be kept by your bedside in those first few months when your baby needs the most attention. In comparison to standard cribs, bassinets also have a few features reminiscent of a womb — like a hooded bed and the ability to sway side to side — to ease your little one into their big new world. The best part of all is the low sides, making it easier to bend down and pick up your baby or keep them at eye-level through the night.
Folding Cribs
Sort of the in-between of a portable crib and a miniature crib, folding cribs are compact and easy to disassemble when your baby’s ready to size up. They’re usually wooden or a solid material, fairly lightweight and, best of all, easy to stow away. They’re great for homes with slim storage options. Like the name alludes, just fold them up and slide them under a bed or another slender space.
By Style
A crib is your baby’s first sleeping space, so it’s most important to pick one that’s safe and soothing - but also one that will suit your own design tastes. Thankfully, there’s a crib style for almost every nursery theme or interior design trend, which means you don’t have to sacrifice aesthetics to keep your baby safe and sound.
Contemporary
This ever-evolving furniture style is perhaps the most popular of the crib styles. Like little ones, a contemporary crib can get playful in design, mixing materials and colors but doing so with poise.
Modern
Sleek and chic. Those are the must-haves for a modern crib. This minimalist crib dons defining features like monochromatic colors, straight spindles and clean lines to deliver on form and function. Consider it for a baby nursery where you want the crib to blend in.
Mid-Century
Think of it as a step up in design from a modern crib. A mid-century crib still delivers on that simple design and is often crafted of wood and clad with those iconic angled peg legs and round spindles.
Coastal & Beachy
This crib style nods toward the coast and all the hues that come with it. A beachy crib is often crafted of lighter wood or has white or blue finishes that remind of waves lapping up to the seashore.
Craftsman & Mission
A craftsman crib is built to be durable and, in turn, meant to stay in place or grow with your baby over time. Craftsman cribs are often standard cribs with rectangular shapes, perhaps with a headboard that’s made from a single sheet of wood and beloved for their safe and secure frame.
Farmhouse & Rustic
Similar to a craftsman crib, a farmhouse crib is almost always crafted of wood and with durability in mind. The biggest difference is that this type of crib often boasts a weathered finish and a few vintage charms as defining characteristics.
Sleigh
A sleigh crib most resembles an adult bed, given its one-of-a-kind design. These types of cribs often come with solid wood sideboards that billow out before curling at the top into that classic sleigh shape.
Industrial
Well-liked for their almost unfinished look, industrial cribs take cues from the stripped-down aesthetic of warehouse spaces. You’ll often see them crafted of metal or of wood with a dark finish like black or grey.
Art Deco
For the bold and glamorous, an art deco crib delivers features like gold edging, decorative molding and geometric shapes. It’s a showstopper that will be the statement piece of the room.
Boho
Bohemian cribs often come as bassinets crafted of softwoods or materials like rattans and wickers. This style is perfect for maximalist parents who love layering lots of textures.
Victorian
Victorian cribs, while more rare, are straight out of a fairytale. Often crafted with metals or darker woods, they’ll have ornate detailing and sometimes a canopy, just be cautious of laying fabric over top of it as you don’t want your baby pulling on it.
By Material
The makeup of your baby’s crib can really determine the piece’s durability and price. These are some of the most popular crib materials.
Wood
Wood cribs are a best-seller for good reason. Not only are they long-lasting, they also come in plenty of shades, grains and textures, making for a natural statement piece in any nursery.
Light Wood
Cribs crafted of light wood, like maple, beech, white oak, ash or birch, bring a modern feel to a room. Opting for a light wood crib could mean that the material is natural and untreated. You’ll most often see contemporary or even beachy cribs crafted with light woods.
Medium Wood
Medium wood cribs, like mahogany or walnut, lend themselves to mid-century or modern styles. Furniture crafted of medium wood usually shows off wood grains better than a light or dark wood, making these pieces visually interesting.
Dark Wood
You’ll often see a dark wood crib in a rustic or craftsman crib style and crafted of dark woods like walnut or cherry. Just be aware that when you get into darker woods that the material might be stained. If this is the case, do your research and confirm it’s made of certified-safe materials
Fabric & Mesh
Fabric or mesh cribs are indeed light and moveable. That’s why you’ll often see these types of cribs as travel or portable cribs. The malleable material makes it easy to break down. They’re great to bring outside, too, so your baby can enjoy a fresh cross breeze blowing through their bed.
Metal
Metal cribs often deliver on style and function, and they’re difficult to damage. Metal cribs span a spectrum of materials including iron, pewter, bronze or brass. You’ll often see this material in Victorian crib styles.
Acrylic
Little ones will love an acrylic crib for the see-through slats. Contemporary and modern crib styles often favor acrylic material.
By Shapes
There are a few standard crib mattress shapes. Visit our crib mattress guide to learn more about the perfect fit.
Rectangle
Rectangle cribs are the most popular of crib shapes. That's because they're easy to tuck into the corner of a room and most convertible cribs come in this shape. Moreover, this is the shape in which most mattresses and sheets are made.
Oval
Oval cribs give you the length of a rectangle crib and the style of a round crib. Little ones love a corner-less crib because they’ll be able to toss and turn all through the night. Parents appreciate them, too, because no corners means a crib is safer. Just know that not all sheets and mattresses come in a cornerless shape.
Round
Round cribs are stylish and often come in mini or compact sizes. Put them in the center of a spacious room to treat this type of crib as a statement piece. Like an oval crib, just know you might have to do some research for the right mattress and sheet size.
By Features
In addition to style and function, there are a few other features worth considering when deciding which types of crib is right for your family.
Fair Trade Certified
Buy a crib and feel good doing it when you buy one that's Fair Trade Certified. This global movement puts people and the planet first. And it means your baby is sleeping in a piece that's been crafted with respect for the makers and in factories with rigorous safety, environmental and economic standards. Oftentimes this also means that a portion of the proceeds goes back to the manufacturers to ensure worker empowerment and community progress.
GREENGUARD Gold Certified
Babies spend 90 percent of their days indoors, so they better be breathing easy - especially when they’re sleeping. It’s important they avoid harmful chemicals. GREENGUARD Gold Certified products are crafted with eco-conscious materials that have low chemical emissions. They’ve been screened for more than 10,000 chemicals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) commonly known to pollute indoor air.
Storage
Whether under the crib or attached to the side, extra storage is essential for small nurseries. Drawers on a crib often are disguised in a sleek design for chic toy storage or easy wardrobe access.
Low-Profile
It’s important to make sure the crib height is just right, making it easy for you to get to your baby when they need you. Low-profile cribs are ideal for petite parents because they are just a few inches shorter than traditional crib heights.
Changer Combo
A crib with a changing station attached makes for a larger piece of furniture, but it’s also practical. No carrying a baby with a dirty diaper across the room. Just pick them up, put them down and carry on.
Wheels
If you’re planning to move your baby from room to room, a crib with wheels is the way to go. All models should have a lock to ensure your baby doesn’t roll away.
Convertible
No questions about it. Convertible cribs give you the most mileage, because they’re made to grow with your baby into toddlerhood and even adolescence. Here’s what each configuration means.
2-in-1
A 2-in-1 convertible crib will take your baby from crib to toddler bed. Usually, this just requires lowering one side of the crib or replacing it with a safety rail, so your little one can crawl in and out on their own.
3-in-1
A 3-in-1 convertible crib is where you start to see some of the defining features of a common bed, like a solid back to the crib that serves as a headboard. This type of crib converts from a crib into a toddler bed and then into a full-on bed, whether that’s a daybed, twin-size or full-size bed.
4-in-1
A 4-in-1 convertible crib means even more options as your little one becomes not so little anymore. It’ll take them from crib to toddler bed, then upgrades in size from there and might include a headboard and footboard.
Crib Types: Frequently Asked Questions
Are metal or wood cribs better?
Both metal and wood cribs deliver on durability for your baby. But neither option is going to dissuade a teething tot from gnawing on it. It's important to be aware of the finishes or chemical treatments on crib materials. Most new cribs are crafted with strict regulations to use only kid-safe finishes.
When should you buy a baby crib?
Some parents start shopping around the second trimester of pregnancy. Others might favor a bassinet for the few months of parenthood and size up when it’s right. Ultimately, it’s up to you. In any event, we encourage taking the time to vet all types of cribs for yourself and then determine what’s best for your family.
How do you know if a crib meets safety standards?
You should never sacrifice safety over style when it comes to outfitting a nursery. When determining whether a crib meets safety standards, start with ensuring it has no sharp edges, points and small parts that might harm your baby. Evaluate it for anti-tip prevention and whether it comes with an anti-tip kit. Be sure the product has been extensively tested for lead and is crafted from materials with low emissions. Some cribs may include teething guards as an additional safety measure.
Is it safe to paint a baby crib?
We suggest purchasing a new crib in your desired finish. Retailers must meet strict safety standards. If you opt to paint a crib on your own, it is only safe to do so using natural or water-based paints with slim to no VOCs.
Remember, your little one won’t stay little forever. Enjoy these years and the memories of designing your baby nursery. It can be one of the most exciting parts of pregnancy and parenthood, especially the milestone of buying your first crib. Before you know it, you’ll be researching types of toddler beds!