Best Cribs of 2025, Lab-Tested and Reviewed

When testing baby cribs, we focus on three main criteria: ease of assembly, construction quality, and how easy it is to change the height of the mattress.

Ease of assembly: Is it simple to put the crib together, or is it so complicated that you might find yourself in tears before the crib’s even built? Assembling a crib should be straightforward enough that you would not need to hire a professional, but some setups can be overly complicated. To assess this, Muratore uses a methodology known as the Consumer Assembly Friendliness (CAF) score. The CAF considers the total number of parts, how many actions it takes to assemble, and the number of different types of parts to reach a total score. The fewer parts, the better for each metric. The final score factors into our ratings and recommended models. 

Construction quality: Our testers look at the primary crib material, the type of mattress support (slats or platform), and how the support is attached to the crib itself. They also look at the placement of the required safety label—parents may be tempted to remove obtrusively placed safety warning labels, like if they’re visible above the sleeping baby’s head—as well as how easy the label is to remove. (Remember: The label contains important safety information that’s vital for all caregivers, so don’t remove it!) Muratore’s team also checks for any flaws or defects in the construction of the crib, such as dents or nicks that were painted over rather than repaired, parts that don’t fit together perfectly, and inconsistent colors. 

Ease of changing mattress support height: Young infants should sleep in a crib at the crib mattress’ highest support height. As the baby gets older and can start rolling over or pushing up on their hands and knees, you should lower the mattress, decreasing the likelihood that the baby will be able to lift themselves or climb out. Typically, parents need to change the crib mattress height only a handful of times, so this makes up a small fraction of the total score of each crib. However, the ease of this essential task nevertheless adds to the overall experience a parent will have with their baby’s crib. We look at how easy or difficult it was to accomplish this task, and whether it requires two adults or one.

A note on convertibility: Most of the cribs we test are convertible, which means you can modify them into toddler beds, daybeds, and even full-sized beds down the line. Consumer Reports refers to the convertibility listed in each crib’s manual, which may occasionally differ from what the company advertises. It’s a smart idea to buy any necessary conversion kits at the same time you purchase your crib (or add them to your registry), so you can make sure the style or color doesn’t go out of stock before you need them. Be sure to hold on to the instruction manual and any spare parts or tools that come with your original crib, too—and follow directions for conversion exactly as outlined. 

Here are a few of the most common questions parents and parents-to-be ask about cribs. Keep these factors in mind as you stroll your local department store or scroll through baby gear online.

Is It Safe to Buy a Used or Secondhand Crib?
For safety’s sake, our experts recommend that you use a new crib. If for any reason you must buy (or borrow) a used crib, first check the crib model on SaferProducts.gov to see if any recalls exist for that specific product. Also make sure it’s a stationary-side crib manufactured after 2013, because drop-side cribs were banned in 2011 and federal safety standards for stationary-side cribs went into effect in 2013. Check the crib for a label that includes the model number and the manufacturing date or lot code, as well as contact info for the manufacturer. Typically, these codes appear in a discreet spot on the crib frame, or underneath the mattress support. If you can’t decipher the manufacturing date from the lot number or lot code, call the manufacturer and ask. If there’s no clear label, don’t use the crib.

“Sometimes a used crib may be passed on to you disassembled,” Muratore says. “I’d be very nervous about that because you won’t know if there’s missing hardware unless you have the assembly instructions.” The same goes for “open box” cribs that were previously bought and returned; they could be missing parts, so it’s best to avoid purchasing these. 

Do not use drop-side cribs, which allow for one side of the crib to temporarily lower to provide easier access to the baby. These are dangerous and have been banned since 2011.

Safety experts highly recommend filling out the product registration card that comes with all baby gear—not just cribs but also strollers, bassinets, car seats, swings, high chairs, and beyond. This is the best way to ensure that you’re notified if a product has any safety issues or requires any replacement parts down the road. Without product registration, it’s more difficult for a manufacturer to notify you of future safety updates or recalls. You can either mail in the included card or fill out a registration form on the manufacturer’s website.

Cribs that are too high off the ground make it difficult for shorter parents to comfortably access their child. “If a store has a floor model of the crib you’re considering, lean over the rail as if you’re picking a baby up from inside the crib to see whether the crib’s rail height is a good fit for your height,” Muratore says. If you’re shopping online, know that the cribs CR tested have front-rail heights ranging from 32 inches to 40 inches. Check the dimensions of the crib you’re looking at before buying to make sure it’s a comfortable height for you.

The crib mattress should fit snugly into the crib, without any gaps at the edges. If the mattress is too small for the crib’s frame, the baby could become trapped and suffocate. “If you can fit more than two fingers between the crib frame and the mattress, the mattress is too small,” Muratore says. If that’s the case, it’s time for a better-fitting mattress. See CR’s safest crib mattress picks.

If you’re choosing between a bassinet and crib, there are a few factors to consider:. 

Convenience: Bassinets offer more convenient bedside access than a crib, making late-night feeds a little easier. A bassinets is typically more portable than a crib, too, allowing you to move it from room to room or to a grandparent’s house.

Duration: Bassinets typically have a shorter lifespan because a baby must move to a crib when they show signs of rolling over or sitting up. By contrast, cribs can be used from birth through the toddler years or beyond, often converting into other sleeping spaces, like a toddler bed, a daybed, or even a full-size bed. This is why some families opt to skip the bassinet and just use a crib as their little one’s primary sleeping space, while others may use a bassinet first and then graduate to a crib.

Space: Bassinets have a smaller footprint than a crib, which is helpful if you’re looking to room-share with your little one for the early months. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends room-sharing for the first six months. 

When it comes to choosing between a crib and a mini crib, it really comes down to space. A mini crib, with its smaller footprint, tends to be a smart choice for a smaller living or sleeping area, as it takes up less room than a crib. For example, the Newton Galileo Mini Crib is 38 inches long by 25 inches wide, whereas the Newton Galileo Convertible Crib, a standard-sized crib, is 53 inches long by 29 inches wide. But keep in mind that you’ll need to purchase a full-sized crib mattress if you move from a mini crib to a bigger crib or if you’re looking for the ability to convert to a toddler bed down the line.

You should move your baby into their own crib when they reach the weight and height limit of their bassinet, start to show signs of rolling over, can push up on hands and knees, or can pull themselves up on the bassinet’s sides—whichever comes first. This means that compared with a bassinet, which your baby will likely outgrow within the first six months, your baby’s crib is the sleep environment they’ll spend the most time in during their first few years of life. A crib that converts to a toddler bed and then to a daybed or full-sized bed is a nursery essential that your family should be able to use for many years to come.

At CR, we hold baby gear to the highest standards—because nothing matters more than your child’s safety. Our testing is rigorous, independent, and free from outside influence. We buy everything we test, and we don’t accept advertising. Our nonprofit mission is to champion fairness, safety, and transparency, and to help every family make confident, informed decisions about the products they use. Support our efforts by becoming a member or donating to our mission today.