When considering versatility, we also took into account special features, like wheels or a plastic teething guard. We also ideally wanted a crib with at least three levels for the crib mattress height-one high up for a non-mobile infant one close to the ground for an older infant or toddler who can stand up and try to climb out and a third option somewhere in between for when an infant can start to pull up to standing, but not really get around. Versatile and adjustable: We wanted a crib that converts to a toddler bed, and gave bonus points for cribs that come with a toddler rail, which we found can cost anywhere from $12 to $140 when purchased separately.

All this work is going to be done by tired and busy parents, after all. We also wanted a crib with a straightforward process for changing the mattress height, and one that is easy to convert to a toddler bed.

Easy to assemble and convert: We ideally wanted a crib that has clear assembly instructions and is easy to put together.

We considered the base, real-world price for the crib, looked at the extra cost of buying a toddler rail (if it wasn’t included), and calculated any shipping fees to determine the total spent. We found that many people who spent over that amount-myself included when I bought my first crib-ended up feeling like the value wasn’t there, and that they didn’t get more for that extra money.

Affordable: Most parents we polled seemed okay with spending up to $200 for a crib.

We don’t know what impact, if any, VOCs have on kids’ health, and there’s no health data to back up the need for this certification on cribs, but some parents may find it offers peace of mind. VOCs are emitted from products like the pressed wood in some cribs and dresser drawers, crib mattresses, laminate vinyl flooring, and plastic toys. This means that an independent third-party organization has tested a product used around children or the elderly and guaranteed that it emits a low level of volatile organic compounds, or VOCs. While it wasn’t part of our selection criteria, we also noted when a crib was Greenguard Gold certified (formerly called Children and Schools certification). In considering sturdiness, we looked at what type of wood and/or industrial wood products (like fiberboard) were used when constructing the individual parts.

Made of quality materials: We wanted a crib that would last a minimum of four years for one child, and possibly much longer as a crib may be passed down to other family members or converted to a full-size bed.

Safe: To be safe for an infant or toddler to sleep in, a crib should comply with Consumer Product Safety Commission requirements, which all cribs sold in the United States do.

Readers should know that even though we are recommending these four cribs, many of the six competitors we tested for this guide were not terribly flawed-they usually just weren’t as affordable, as versatile, or as sturdy as our picks. Our other recommendations are a better value, but if you like the looks of the Kendall and budget is less of a concern, it’s a solid option.

But it usually costs about twice as much as our main and also great picks, even though it doesn’t come with a toddler bar (you can buy one separately), and doesn’t convert to a full-size bed like our top pick does. Like our top pick and also great pick, it is Greenguard Gold certified for low emissions. If you’re someone who cares a lot that your furniture, including a crib, remains pristine-looking, the Kendall, which comes in white, gray, or a chocolate brown, may be the crib for you. The handsome, classic-looking crib is relatively easy to assemble and is the only crib we tested that comes with teething bars-strips of plastic covering the top rails on both sides of the bed that prevent the gnaw marks that are common on cribs used by teething toddlers. The Pottery Barn Kendall Convertible Crib is made of solid poplar, a hardwood that is much less likely to get nicked and dinged than the softer pine used in both our top and also great picks.

Side bed rails for toddlers