Choosing a Mini Crib

Are you expecting a baby, but living in a small home or apartment? Join the club!

Moving is not an option for us at the moment, as we can’t afford to move within the area right now and don’t want The Hubster to be commuting a long way to work. So for the moment, we’ve decided to stay put in our one and a half bedroom apartment! With a new baby on the way we’ve been starting to look at how to make the best use of space, including looking at buying a mini crib instead of a full size crib.

Are you about to have a baby in a small home? Why not consider a mini crib?

In the future I’ll be writing more about how to create space in a small home and which baby things you can skip when space is short – but for now I wanted to share some of the mini crib ideas that I have been researching. These mini cribs are all great ways of saving space, as well as being adorable! Some have extra handy features, like wheels. They all come in a range of colours – so you can find one just right for your tiny nursery or nursery corner! Now to choose one…

1. Davinci Annabelle Mini Crib

I love the look of this gorgeous mini crib from DaVinci. It’s just like a full size crib, but with a smaller footprint. At around 27 inches wide the crib will fit through standard doorways, whilst leaving plenty of space for baby to be comfortable. This crib will last baby a good while too, up to 35 inches tall. This crib can also convert to a twin bed, which is an added bonus. It takes a standard mini crib mattress (24 by 38 inches) and there are two mattress levels. This crib is high up on our pick list!

2. Graco Pack ‘N Play Playard with Reversible Napper and Changer

This pack ‘n play from Graco is a great alternative to a more traditional crib, especially if you are looking for a crib that can fulfill more than one function – useful when space is short. This pack ‘n play comes with a reversible napper and changer – a real space saver. There is also a removable bassinet. Of course being a pack ‘n play, you can also fold it up and take it on your travels with you. I would personally recommend buying a new mattress if you are going to use this as a main crib – the ones that come with most pack ‘n plays are usually much thinner than a regular crib mattress. This should last until baby is around 35 inches.

3. Bloom Alma Mini Urban Crib

If space is super tight, but money is less of an issue, you might decide to splash out on the Bloom Alma Mini Crib. This crib is pricey, but is popular with many New Yorkers in tiny apartments, due to it’s small size, portability (has locking wheels) and ability to fold. It has two mattress levels and is super stylish!

This crib is narrower and shorter than all the others on this list, (19.5 inches wide, around 37 inches long) making it great for tiny spaces – but bear in mind it’s only suitable for babies 0-12 months, depending on their size. (You’ll need a Bloom mini mattress for this one). It therefore won’t last baby as long as the other cribs here. If you are desperate for one of these, but can’t afford new, you could always check out craigslist for a second hand one – I quite often see them popping up there.

4. Babyletto Origami Mini Crib

This crib from Babyletto is a more affordable alternative to the Bloom Alma, with much the same features. It folds, it wheels through doorways – and although it has a small footprint it’s a little more spacious than the Bloom Alma, at just over 39 inches long and around 25 inches wide. It takes a standard mini crib mattress and has two mattress levels. This looks like a sleek option for small spaces and not overly expensive. I’m veering towards this one, as one that ticks all of the boxes – cute too!

5. DaVinci Kalani Mini Crib

So far I love the look of all of the DaVinci mini cribs. They are small, stylish and guess what – affordable! This Kalani mini is no exception. I love that it has the style and look of a full size crib, just in a smaller package. It’s a nice compromise size wise, it’s that bit smaller than a full size crib to save on space, but large enough to last baby a good while. It takes a standard mini crib mattress and has four mattress levels. This one also converts to a twin bed (does not include conversion rails).

6. DaVinci Alpha Mini Rocking Crib

This is a beautiful and affordable mini crib from DaVinci – it has removable wheels for portability and a rocking feature! It takes a standard mini crib mattress and has four mattress levels. The Alpha Mini is the slimmest of the DaVinci mini cribs and will easily fit through standard doorways. It’s also a much cheaper wheeled alternative to the Bloom Alma or the Babyletto Origami – though doesn’t fold for storage.

It’s worth mentioning, most of these mini cribs will take a standard mini crib mattress (24 by 38 inches), but please check individual dimensions for each one – the Bloom Alma Mini takes a smaller size mattress for example. Some cribs come with a mattress, but I would personally buy a new thicker mattress to replace the thin ones that usually come with mini cribs and pack ‘n plays.

I hope this guide to choosing a mini crib has helped you pick out a mini crib for your little one. I’m having a hard time choosing, but love the combination of small size and affordability that all the DaVinci mini cribs offer. If we can stretch our budget a little bit more I’d also be very tempted by the Babyletto, as I love the minimalist look, wheels and folding feature.

What about you? Are you thinking of buying a mini crib? Which do you like the best?