As a new parent, you may be overwhelmed with the number of decisions to make when it comes to your baby’s nursery. A theme, paint color, and so on… it’s endless! But what’s most important is that you get a non-toxic crib.
From cribs and mattresses to clothes and toys, there are so many potential toxic chemicals that could affect your child (because let’s be real, there’s no such thing as “chemical free” baby furniture).
But don’t worry, I’m here to help! I’m using my PhD in environmental chemistry to break down all you need to know about choosing the safest nursery furniture available.
Brand / Model | Materials | Greenguard GOLD | Converts to toddler bed? | Converts to full bed? | Price point |
 | Solid hardwood | $$$ | |||
 | Solid hardwood | $$$ | |||
 | Solid hardwood | $$$ | |||
 | Solid pine/ spruce | $$ | |||
 | Solid birch | $ | |||
 | Solid pine | $ | |||
 | Solid pine | $ | |||
 | Steel w/ powder coated finish | $ | |||
 | Solid pine and engineered wood | $ | |||
 | Poplar, walnut veneer and MDF | $$ | |||
 | Solid birch and baltic birch plywood | $$ |
Keep reading below to get all the details on the best non toxic cribs out there, or check out the table above if you prefer.
How to know if it’s really non-toxic baby furniture
With pretty, natural colored backgrounds and soothing images, marketers are great at making their products look like safe baby furniture. But often, there can be many toxic chemicals added to the cribs and dressers in the “natural nursery” they portray (and we’re not even talking about crib mattresses yet!).
RELATED: The best organic crib mattresses
Here’s the bottom line facts that will help you choose the best eco friendly nursery furniture, from non-toxic cribs to natural baby dressers, out there.
Very best: Solid wood cribs with non-toxic finish
If you can swing it, a solid wood crib is the best non-toxic baby furniture out there. However, these are pricier and harder to find.
Most furniture is made with plywood or MDF (medium density fiberboard). MDF is made by breaking down leftover wood into fine particles and then mixing it with wax and resin. The material is then bonded into sheets. The cheapest and most popular resin for MDF contains formaldehyde, a chemical linked to asthma and certain cancers.
But with solid wood cribs, you sidestep the risk of high formaldehyde risk. That’s because no resins or adhesives are needed to put it together.
If you do choose a solid wood crib, just make sure it has a low VOC (volatile organic chemical) paint or stain finish. If you prefer, you can order the crib unstained and then treat it yourself so you know exactly what goes on it (although all the brands recommended in this post use low VOC finishes on their cribs).
Still very good: Greenguard GOLD cribs
Even if a crib is made with MDF, it may still be a fantastic piece of nursery furniture. It all depends on what’s in the resin used to bind the wood together.
Greenguard GOLD is a great certification for wooden furniture, because it tells you that the crib is free of added formaldehyde, as well as thousands of other VOCs.
The best non-toxic baby cribs
Just a note on these categories: Some of the solid wood cribs are also Greenguard GOLD certified (I’ll be sure to let you know which ones). Any of these products would be a beautiful choice for your little one; it’s just up to you what you think looks best and fits your budget.
Non-toxic solid wood cribs
I am listing solid wood cribs first because if a piece of nursery furniture is made of solid wood, it is also no added formaldehyde. These are the best of the best.
Green Cradle
Green Cradle makes cribs in the USA. They build all their furniture from 100% solid wood from sustainably grown trees including maple, oak, cherry, and walnut. They use a cold pressed linseed oil finish to bring out the natural beauty of the wood (and keep VOCs ultra-low).
Plus, you can add conversion rails for a toddler bed or a full bed, so this investment can last as long as your child lives at home.
I love the Footprint Panel crib, which has a solid backboard.
If you prefer a backboard with slats, the Gratitude Slat crib is also beautiful.
Green Cradle also makes changing tables to match (that double as dressers). If you prefer, you can order the dressers without the changing table component.
Note: Green Cradle makes their furniture to order, so it often takes over 12 weeks to ship. If you want this crib, order it while you’re in the second trimester.
You can learn more about Green Cradle here.
Newport Cottages
Newport Cottages designs unique, stylish cribs (such as the Uptown) in solid hardwood. You can get Newport Cottage cribs in more natural colored stains, or you can choose from a variety of colors for your crib, from neutral ivory to bold colors like raspberry.
Plus, many of the designs can be bought with a matching dresser.
While the Uptown can be converted to a toddler bed, it doesn’t seem to have an option to convert to a full bed.
Like many other high-end cribs, these pieces of nursery furniture are made to order, so you’ll need to order at least a few months in advance.
You can check out Newport Cottages nursery furniture here.
Dolce Babi
Dolce Babi makes gorgeous, soft colored cribs, like the 4-in-1 Florenza. I love that this crib can be converted to a toddler bed, a daybed, or a full sized bed, so it grows with your little one.
I checked in with Dolce Babi directly, and they let me know that their cribs are made with solid spruce and pine and finished with non-toxic paints. Their cribs are free of added formaldehyde, lead, and VOCs.
You can also get a matching dresser with the Florenza crib (which I love).
While it may not always be the case, it looks like the Dolce Babi cribs can ship out sooner than some of the other solid wood options (within a few weeks), so if you waited til closer to baby time to pick furniture, this one is still an option for you.
Check out Dolce Babi here.
Dadada
The Soho 3-in-1 crib from Dadada has an understated but classic design. It is made with solid beech wood and comes in several non-toxic, baby-safe finishes.
As well as being made with solid wood, the Soho is also Greenguard GOLD certified, so you can be doubly sure that it is safe for your baby.
It goes great with Dadada’s Boston Dresser.
You can check out the Soho 3-in-1 and more Dadada cribs here.
Million Dollar Baby/Namesake
The Ashbury 4-in-1 convertible crib from MDB is a sweet, classic piece with solid pine construction. It converts from a crib to a toddler bed, a day bed, and even a full sized bed.
Million Dollar Baby cribs are Greenguard GOLD certified, meaning they are low VOC and formaldehyde.
While Namesake doesn’t have a dresser that specifically matches the Ashbury crib, there is a drawer under the crib that is perfect for holding onesies, tiny socks, and all your other adorable baby clothes.
Check out Million Dollar Baby cribs here.
Best Greenguard GOLD certified cribs
While none of these cribs are completely solid wood, they are all safe bets. The Greenguard GOLD standard certifies extremely low concentrations of formaldehyde and over 10,000 more airborne chemicals.
Namesake
Several cribs from Namesake aren’t solid wood because… they’re not wooden at all.
The Camellia, a beautiful, unique crib, is made of premium steel with a powder-coated finish for a vintage look and feel. They are tested to be not only Greenguard GOLD certified, but also lead safe (even more important with a metal crib).
While there’s not a full size bed conversion, you can get a conversion kit to make a toddler bed or a day bed with this crib. Overall, the Camellia from Namesake is an elegant heirloom piece.
You can check out Namesake cribs here.
Babyletto
Babyletto uses solid New Zealand pine wood to make the Sprout 4-in-1 convertible crib. While some other Babyletto products contain MDF, they only use CARB II compliant types (which have no added formaldehyde).
Like other 4-in-1 cribs, this one converts to a toddler bed, a day bed, and a full sized bed. The crib comes with the toddler bed conversion, but you’ll need to buy the full size bed rails seperately.
Babyletto makes a matching Sprout dresser with removable changing table to go with this crib. Full disclosure, the dresser contains MDF, but the material is CARB II compliant (meaning it has no added formaldehyde). Together, this crib and dresser make an adorable nursery.
You can check out the Sprout crib and dresser here.
Ubabub
The Nifty Timber 3-in-1 crib comes in both an understated walnut and a natural birch veneer. It is made of a combination of hardwood and TSCA compliant engineered wood with a non-toxic finish.
While the Nifty Timber can’t convert to a full sized bed, it works nicely as a toddler bed or day bed when your little one outgrows their crib.
Ubabub also sells a matching 3 drawer dresser.
You can check out more from Ubabub here.
Oeuf
The Sparrow crib from Oeuf is made of solid birch and Baltic birch plywood. It has a sweet, simple profile.
One major con of the Sparrow is that it is not convertible. But if you expect to have multiple babies over the next several years, or if you know someone you could hand your crib down to later on, Oeuf may be a good choice for you.
Learn more about the Sparrow crib here.
Davinci
The Colby is another 4-in-1 crib with a trundle drawer (perfect for hiding away the next size up of baby clothes or extra crib sheets). Plus, it converts to a toddler bed, a day bed, and a full size bed, making it a great choice for your child for years to come.
The Colby, made with pinewood and TSCA compliant engineered wood, is one of the most affordable cribs on this list, making it a great choice if you need cheap nursery furniture that’s still non toxic.
You can check out the Colby here.
Conclusions on finding non-toxic cribs and dressers
A non-toxic crib is an important part of creating a safe and healthy environment for your baby. There are many great choices available, and I hope this list has helped you narrow down your decision.
When it comes to choosing furniture for your baby, safety should be your number one priority. Choose one of these natural and non-toxic baby furniture options to give your little one the best start in life (and be sure to grab your downloadable non-toxic baby registry checklist).