The 10 Best Modern Cribs

For a crib that suits a modern room and keeps going into the toddler years, the Babyletto Hudson 3-in-1 is a strong all-round choice. Rounded spindles and turned-out feet keep it light on the eye, and the toddler rail comes in the box. The frame is solid pine from certified forests, with a finish certified for low chemical emissions. It sits on a compact footprint for a full-size crib. Assembly is fiddly, and the mattress height range is short.

The Storkcraft Equinox 3-in-1 pairs a white frame with crossed, wood-tone legs, and it earned the top score in BabyGearLab's crib tests. Every mattress the testers tried fit it well, and the platform covers a wide range of heights as the baby grows. It turns into a toddler bed and a daybed, though the toddler guardrail is sold separately. It's a long crib, so measure the wall before you order.

Rounded posts and spindles give the Babyletto Gelato 4-in-1 a soft Scandinavian look, and its feet come in several finishes, including a tan vegan leather. The toddler rail is included, so it becomes a toddler bed or daybed with no extra purchase. It's light for a wooden crib, which helps on cleaning day. A full-size bed is possible later, but that conversion kit costs extra, on top of a high starting price.

Mid-century fans get angled feet and a low, flat top rail on the Babyletto Scoot 3-in-1. Its conversion parts are all included, so it goes from crib to toddler bed to daybed without another order. The platform sets at four heights, and the finish is certified for low chemical emissions. The frame is heavy, so plan on two people for setup, and there's no full-bed stage at the end.

Parents shopping for a clean modern crib with little to spend can start with the DaVinci Birdie 3-in-1. It's solid pine with simple straight legs, a walnut-tone finish and four mattress heights, and the finish carries a low-emission certification. The frame is light enough for one adult to slide across a room. The catch is the toddler kit, which is sold separately, so the real cost of the later stages runs higher.

The Graco Hadley 5-in-1 hides a full-width drawer under the mattress, split into two compartments for sheets, blankets and spare clothes. Over the years it moves from crib to toddler bed and daybed, then to a full-size bed with a kit sold separately. Its finish is certified for low chemical emissions. The paneled ends and tall headboard lean more farmhouse than sleek, so it suits a softer modern room.

Small rooms, apartments and grandparents' houses suit the DaVinci Otto 3-in-1, a mini crib that comes with its own firm mattress. Its honey finish and splayed legs look modern, and the platform adjusts to four heights. Later it can become a mini toddler bed or daybed with a kit sold separately. Babies outgrow a mini crib sooner than a full-size one, and it needs mini-size sheets.

Here is a full-size crib that folds flat: the Babyletto Maki rolls on wheels between rooms and tucks into a closet between babies. The wheels come off when you want it to stay put. It has four mattress heights, and a toddler rail is included. It stops at the toddler bed stage, though, with no daybed or bigger bed after that, which is a short run for what it costs.

The Babyletto Yuzu starts as a bedside bassinet, grows into a midsize crib and then a full-size crib, and ends as a junior bed for a child of about five. Every conversion part comes in the box, along with pads for the two smaller stages. Locking wheels let it roll from room to room. It's a big spend and a bulky frame, and the midsize pad isn't a standard size, so its sheets have to match.

The Delta Children Essex 4-in-1 brings the white-and-wood modern look at a low cost, with angled pine legs in a natural finish under a white frame. The daybed rail comes with it, so it can later serve as a daybed or a small sofa, while the toddler guardrail costs extra. In an independent fit check, standard mattresses left wider gaps at the sides, so choose a firm mattress that fits snugly.