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Non Toxic Cribs
The best solid wood cribs and non toxic cribs, ranked from healthiest to least healthy. Click the rating symbols below each crib for more information about its material health.
Kalon’s Caravan crib is made with solid ash wood, and finished with a hand-rubbed organic plant-based oil. You can also choose its unfinished form, if you prefer raw wood. Converts to a 3-walled divan, and then to a toddler bed, as your child grows. Kalon uses water-based, non-toxic glues on all of their furniture.
Green Cradle makes several styles of organic solid wood cribs, including the 7-in-1 convertible Childspose crib that converts from a bassinet to a changing table to a crib to a toddler bed. They use flaxseed oil as a finish, and a small amount of non-toxic water based wood glue. Can choose an unfinished version. Super healthy.
Are Oeuf cribs non-toxic? These have a solid wood frame, but plywood or MDF mattress supports. They state via email that their manufacturer uses proprietary paints and finishes, and water-based adhesives that allow the finished crib to meet GreenGuard GOLD standards. I recommend a bumper pad to protect from any chewing on the rails. Definitely better from a health perspective than a crib made entirely of MDF or plastic.
The Colby 4-in-1 crib has a solid wood frame, but engineered wood for mattress support. The finished crib meets GreenGuard GOLD standards. I include it here because its material health matches that of the three prior ones listed here, but has a very affordable price point.
How to Choose a Non-Toxic Crib
Why isn’t GreenGuard GOLD and non-toxic paint healthy enough?
I don’t think this combination is a high enough standard for cribs. GreenGuard GOLD means the crib will off-gas under a certain level, but there are many chemicals in paint, engineered wood, and glues that don’t off-gas. And, the term “non-toxic paint” is too vague; I would much rather know what is in it instead of letting a company decide it’s non-toxic by whatever their standards are.
There are three parts of a crib to consider for health.
Wood: many cribs are made with faux woods like MDF, engineered wood, or particleboard that contains formaldehyde, a known carcinogen. TSCA compliant is nice, but I like zero formaldehyde, not just the minimum legal amount. Be sure to look at both what the frame and the mattress support base are made of— I often see a solid wood frame surrounding an engineered wood base. However, it can be a less expensive option. If you go with a crib made of engineered wood, you can buy it early and let it off-gas completely before your baby arrives.
Paints, finishes, and stains: it’s also important to consider what kind of paints, finishes, or stains are used on the wood, since babies and growing kids spend time touching and gnawing on the spindles quite a bit. While GreenGuard GOLD paint and finishes are a step in the right direction, it simply means that they are low-VOC and good for air quality. It doesn’t take into account the other, non-smelly, harmful aspects of paints. Using bumper pads can always mitigate this problem, if you choose a crib with less-than-ideal paint. Or, an unfinished crib will give you total control over what finish to use.
Adhesives and wood glues: these are used to hold most cribs together. These are somewhat less of an issue because once off-gassed, they don’t come into direct hand or mouth contact with your baby. Still, look for water-based, low-VOC options whenever possible, and favor companies that disclose what brand they use.
Mattress: some cribs are sold with an included mattress. I recommend choosing a crib that either comes with or will fit an organic crib mattress instead of one that includes a polyurethane foam option.
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