Ok, here it is: the long-awaited crib post. First, we have to share how thrilled we are to be putting a mini-me mattress in the nursery. A little backstory: John and I started saving for an organic mattress last year because we were tired of sleeping on a hand-me-down. We actually kept a “mattress fund” until we could bring home our Organic Serenity Natural Dunlop Latex Mattress by Savvy Rest. Ever since then we dreamed of getting a smaller, fully organic mattress for our baby.
We wanted the same clean, chemical-free bedding for the beanette that we insist on for ourselves — a mattress made from natural materials and free of flame-retardant chemicals. So imagine our delight when the kind folks at Savvy Rest offered to send us an organic crib mattress for the nursery makeover. Their Savvy Baby organic crib mattress is made from five inches of firm, all-natural latex and is free of harmful chemicals. The top and bottom are wrapped in flame-retardant quilting crafted from organic wool and organic cotton fabric, which meets U.S. fire safety standards without chemical treatments. Wool also resists dust mites and helps regulate temperature, keeping baby cooler in summer and warmer in winter.
It honestly felt like the Ferrari of crib mattresses — we were over the moon and very grateful to Savvy Rest for such a generous gift. We’ve been happy with our own Savvy Rest mattress for nearly a year, so we felt confident in its comfort and durability. Another nice bonus: Savvy Rest is based in Virginia, so the mattress didn’t have to travel far to reach us.
That was the easy part. The harder task was finding a crib that fit our ideals and our budget. We wanted something greener and non-toxic to match our lifestyle — we compost, use non-toxic cleaners and try to minimize chemicals — but we also needed to stay within a modest budget. High-end eco cribs from makers like Oeuf or Argington were out of reach, so we set a realistic list of must-haves and nice-to-haves to guide our search.
- Solid wood construction (no pressed wood or MDF)
- Non-toxic finish — important because babies often chew on rails
- Under $400 if possible (our initial budget was closer to $200, but we had a little more wiggle room)
- Meets or exceeds U.S. safety standards
- Modern, clean-lined look in white to keep the room gender-neutral
- Stationary sides (we wanted to avoid drop-side cribs due to recalls)
Bonus features we’d like but didn’t require included under-crib storage, conversion to toddler bed, a touch of darker wood for contrast, and free shipping.
We explored several options. Building our own crib felt risky given safety requirements, and unfinished solid wood cribs were often expensive and more traditional looking than we wanted. Buying used was tempting and very eco-friendly, but safety standards and recalls pushed us toward a new crib that met current requirements. We reviewed a variety of modern and budget options, including several mid-range designs that seemed promising but didn’t always state if they avoided MDF or pressed wood.
We looked at a solid wood crib listed for $379 that almost fit our needs, but it wasn’t clear whether it contained pressed wood. Another chic option at $419 also didn’t explicitly confirm the absence of MDF. A well-priced DaVinci crib at $267 had classic styling, but marketing for that model was vague about materials. We also considered two Ikea cribs that were affordable and well-loved by many families, but neither clearly stated that their finishes were low-VOC or non-toxic despite solid wood construction. Price-wise they were great, but they didn’t fully meet our non-toxic finish criteria.
We also came across a high-end Argington crib made entirely of solid wood with 100% non-toxic finishes, but its price was too steep and the color options weren’t ideal for our nursery. The Stokke Sleepi was beautiful and eco-conscious, but again it was outside our budget and the rounded shape didn’t fit our mattress.
After a long search we finally found a winner in an affordable option that checked nearly every box. Described as made from New Zealand pine with a non-toxic finish, the crib didn’t use pressed wood or veneers associated with VOCs or formaldehyde. It met or exceeded U.S. safety standards, had excellent user ratings, and included a conversion rail and an under-crib storage drawer. It came in white with a darker wood accent, had a clean-lined look, and was priced at $299 — within our budget and matching most of our must-haves and bonus items. Clicking “buy” felt like a small victory after hours of hunting.
About a week later the crib arrived. We assembled it and added the Savvy Rest mattress. We even tested things out with our makeshift doll, “Burgette,” a mash-up of Burger + the Beanette, who gave the setup a thumbs-up.
Putting the crib together was straightforward, and for extra fun we captured the assembly on video. The result: a safe, comfortable sleeping setup that balances eco-conscious choices with budget realities.
In the end, we paired a locally made organic mattress with a well-priced, clean-lined wood crib that avoids pressed wood and uses a non-toxic finish. While it’s not the most eco-luxurious combination possible, it felt like the right compromise for our family — balancing safety, sustainability, and budget. We also added a thrifted nursery chair to the room to round out the mix. Parenthood is about balance, and this choice felt like a thoughtful start. Now we can focus on the many other decisions still ahead — one small victory at a time.
Psst — If you want to see our nursery progress, check our posts on painting and accessory hunting for more details.