We used to recommend the Pottery Barn Kendall Crib as a more sustainable choice but the cons now outweigh the pros. Here’s why we bumped it.
Pottery Barn Kendall Convertible Crib
Highlights: Craftsman-style crib made with mortise and tenon joinery and more robust solid poplar wood. Greenguard Gold and Fair Trade Certified™. With three mattress positions and potential for conversion to toddler bed. Difficult to replace hardware.
At a glance:
Made in: Unclear (but in a Fair Trade Certified factory
Materials: Poplar, metal mattress support, plastic teething rails
Certifications: Greenguard Gold, Fair Trade Certified™, ASTM international and U.S. CPSC safety standards
Price: c$600 for crib only / c$800 for crib with toddler bed conversion rail
Pottery Barn also makes a Low Profile version of the Kendall Crib that is four inches shorter. This makes it much easier for shorter folks like me to pick up an infant from the crib. From the floor to the teething rail, the low profile Kendall measures just 35 inches (the same as the Babyletto Lolly).
The three adjustable mattress settings are at 21-, 16-, and 11-inches from the floor, meaning less than a 14-inch dip to retrieve your infant on the highest setting.
What I like
The Kendall is made with poplar, which is a heavier and stronger softwood than pine. That means it both looks and feels more robust and durable than the DaVinci Kalani and the Bayletto Lolly, as well as many other softwood cribs. It is also handsome and a real statement piece, if that’s what you’re looking for.
The Kendall collection also features a dresser, extra-wide dresser, nightstand, desk and hutch, and toppers for the dressers to fit change pads. You can also match the crib with bunk beds that convert to twin size beds.
The rounded mattress supports are also easier to level than on the Lolly or Kalani, and pretty much invisible underneath a mattress (with other cribs it’s common to be able to see the mattress supports).
I love that the Kendall is made with mortise and tenon joinery as this reduces the need for glues or other potentially toxic adhesives. The trouble is, PB uses bespoke hardware for this crib.
What I don’t like
This crib is extremely expensive. For this price, I’d seriously consider buying a more sustainable, plastic-free hardwood crib. Especially given that with the conversion rail the price goes up to $800. You could buy six Ikea Sniglar crib for that amount of money!
As with the Kalani and the Lolly, the Kendal is made with a metal mattress support, rather than wooden slats. This could pose some problems for sagging if your child is especially heavy, likes to bounce, or if you reuse the crib for several babies. However, reviews suggest this crib is well made, so sagging may not be an issue.
Aside from the cost of this crib, one of the biggest downsides to the Kendall is that, unlike most other cribs on the market, this crib has built-in plastic teeth guards. Pottery Barn doesn’t list plastic in its materials, however, so don’t be caught out by this greenwashing. Unfortunately, you can’t remove the teething rails and replace them with a non-toxic padded guard.
Other drawbacks
Because Pottery Barn Kids only sells through its own store and select retailers, these cribs can be hard to track down sometimes. If ordering online, you’ll have to stump up an extra $50 or so for shipping.
Pottery Barn Kids also offers a white glove service for home delivery and assembly for around $99. The online scuttlebutt says that the PB pros take around 30 minutes to assemble this crib. The Wirecutter team put it together in just 23 minutes, which is impressive! I’d love to give it a shot, but there’s no way I’m spending $800 on something that isn’t non-toxic and could easily become unsafe and useless if I misplace a piece of hardware.
Additional specs
The Kendall Crib:
- Comes in white, gray, or chocolate brown
- Has three adjustable mattress positions
- Can be converted into a toddler bed (you’ll have to buy a separate conversion kit)
- Has a mattress platform 52.75-inches wide x 28-inches deep (buy your crib mattress accordingly for a snug, safe fit)
- Has big sturdy feet
- Is quite heavy at 59 pounds.
This is still lighter than any hardwood crib, though, which can easily be three times the weight of a softwood crib
Warranty and returns
The Pottery Barn Kids Kendall Crib only comes with a rather stingy 30-day warranty, so it’s best to set this one up as soon as it arrives and make sure all the pieces are present and correct.
Vs. the competition
| Babyletto Lolly | DaVinci Kalani | Pottery Barn Kendall | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leaf Score | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| Main material | Pine | Pine | Poplar |
| Certifications | Greenguard Gold | Greenguard Gold | Greenguard Gold, Fair Trade |
| Teething rails | Add-on | Add-on | Plastic, can’t be removed |
| Conversions | Crib, toddler bed, day bed | Crib, toddler bed, day bed, full size bed | Crib, toddler bed |
| Mattress positions | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| Weight | 50 lb. | 56 lb. | 59 lb. |
| Dip to pick up baby from top mattress setting | c20 inches | c20 inches | c14 inches |
| Cost | $$$ | $$ | $$$$ |
| View on | Amazon | Amazon / Walmart | Pottery Barn |
Even when on sale, the basic Kendall Crib costs almost twice as much as the DaVinci Kalani and five times as much as the Ikea Sniglar (my top budget pick). Poplar is a more expensive softwood, however, and is both heavier and more robust than the pine used to make the Babyletto Lolly and Kalani.
If you’re particularly petite or have difficulty reaching low into a crib, the Kendall low profile crib may prove a better choice than the Lolly, Kalani, and Sniglar. These all require you to reach farther from the top rail to the mattress on the highest crib setting.
In terms of design, the Kendall is an imposing piece of nursery furniture. I’m a big fan of the more minimalist Lolly aesthetic, and even the DaVinci Kalani feels less intimidating. So, if you’re going for a big impact, heavier, more robust crib and want both Greenguard Gold Certification and a crib made in a Fair Trade Certified™ facility, the Pottery Barn Kids Kendall might be the one for you.
Plastic teething problems
If you’re drawn to the Kendal because of the teething rails, consider alternatives to plastic guards.
These include using a fabric rail cover to deter chewing. Or, better yet, get an unfinished hardwood crib that’s more resistant to tiny teeth.
Further reading
Looking for more information on the best sustainable and eco-friendly cribs? We’ve got you covered with the following posts:
- The Best Eco-Friendly & Non-Toxic Crib Mattresses
- The 10 Best Eco-Friendly & Non-Toxic Cribs for Your Little One
- When to Buy a Crib for Your Newborn
- DaVinci Kalani 4-in-1 Crib Review
- Babyletto 3-in-1 Lolly Crib Review
- Ikea Sniglar Crib Review
Pottery Barn Kendall Convertible Crib
Highlights: Craftsman-style crib made with mortise and tenon joinery and more robust solid poplar wood. Greenguard Gold and Fair Trade Certified™. With three mattress positions and potential for conversion to toddler bed. Difficult to replace hardware.
Recently, I learned that Pottery Barn Kids will not issue or sell replacement hardware for this crib. Defective hardware may be replaced up to 1 year after purchase. The hardware type and size are not sold at local US hardware stores. Quite difficult to find suitable replacement hardware. If a bolt is lost or damaged, Pottery Barn Kids will likely not offer support.