Ikea’s Sniglar Crib is a great budget crib option. Here’s why we love it, and a few things to consider before adding the Sniglar to your cart.
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Ikea Sniglar Crib
Highlights: Made with unfinished beechwood – no nasty toxic finishes or stains. One of the lightest cribs around at just 40 pounds 9 ounces. Great budget option, costing under $120!
At a glance:
Made in: Europe
Materials: Beech (unfinished) and nylon (in the base, to hold the slats together)
Certifications: ASTM international and U.S. CPSC safety standards / Not Greenguard Gold Certified (but made with solid wood and nothing else)
Price: $119
Fits crib mattress measuring: 27½” x 52”
If you’re considering a more expensive crib because it feels like a crib this cheap couldn’t be safe, my advice would be to follow the lead of thousands of parents before you and get the Sniglar.
That way, you can put your savings towards a fancy car seat, stroller, or really nice organic cotton bedding and a non-toxic crib mattress.
See also:
- When to Buy a Crib for Your Newborn
- DaVinci Kalani 4-in-1 Crib Review (our top pick for cribs!)
- Babyletto 3-in-1 Lolly Crib Review (a close runner-up)
Still on the fence about the Sniglar Crib? Check out all of our top choices for the 10 Best Eco-Friendly & Non-Toxic Cribs
What I like
The Sniglar is one of the cheapest and lightest cribs around, at just 40 lb. 9 oz. In comparison, the Pottery Barn Kids Kendall Crib weight 59 lb. and the DaVinci Kalani weighs 56 lb. So, while technically not portable, it is fairly easy to move this crib to vacuum or even from room to room if you need to (and if your doorways are wide enough). Just don’t try this with a baby in the crib!
Another thing I love about the Sniglar is that it has wooden slats instead of a metal mattress support. While it’s unlikely that good quality metal supports will sag, the wooden slats feel more solid and supportive to me.
If you wanted, you could finish the Sniglar yourself with a food-grade non-toxic linseed oil or other non-toxic natural paint. Just make sure this is kid-safe, otherwise you’re undoing all the work of finding a non-toxic crib. Personally, I’d leave the crib unfinished or use linseed oil (food-grade), so there’s little to worry about when toddler teeth start doing their damage.
If you’re worried that your baby might arrive before your fancier crib, consider getting a Sniglar when it’s in stock. Leave it in its packaging and take advantage of IKEA’s generous refund policy by returning it within a year if you don’t have cause to use it.
Materials and certifications
The Sniglar used to be made with a combination of beechwood and a pesky MDF mattress base. Thankfully, Ikea responded well to customer concerns and now makes the entire crib with unfinished beechwood – no nasty toxic finishes or stains and no fiberboard.
So, although the Sniglar doesn’t have Greenguard Gold Certification, like most of the unfinished hardwood cribs I’ve recommended, there’s little risk of anything toxic lurking in the solid wood components.
The Sniglar does comply with all ASTM and CPSC safety requirements, however, including the US standard 16 CFR 1219 for full-size cribs. This means the crib has been tested for lead and phthalates, as well as for structural safety.
Sustainability
It would be nice if the Ikea Sniglar had Fair Trade Certification™ like the Pottery Barn Kendall Crib, but Ikea has a decent track record for ethics, as noted with a top rating from Ethical Consumer. In particular, EC noted that Ikea already sourced at least half of the wood it uses from sustainable sources, with significant plans to increase this percentage.
Also, it’s nice to see that Ikea has a clear Chemicals Policy, including only adding chemicals if absolutely necessary and striving to “totally refrain from the use of chemical flame retardants […] and instead use techniques and materials with flame retardant properties e.g. wool.” Ikea also phased out all brominated flame retardants in 2000.
Downsides
One key downside to the Ikea Sniglar is that there’s no toddler rail system for when you ‘convert’ the crib to a toddler bed. There’s also no option to convert it into a full-size bed. So, if you have worries that your toddler will tumble out of bed, either put a really nice squishy cushion by the bed (believe me, this works pretty well), or choose a different crib.
Another major downside to the Sniglar, and the one that stopped me getting it, is that it only has two mattress level options. As such, it may not be ideal if you’re shorter than around 5’3” or have difficulty reaching down to lift out an infant.
That said, the entire crib stands just 33 1/8” tall, so it may actually be better for some people, such as wheelchair users, in some respects.
One other downside to this crib is that it’s so popular: it frequently goes out of stock at Ikea! So, don’t rely on this as a last minute option if your more expensive crib hasn’t shown up in time.
The Ikea Sundvik and Gulliver cribs are very similar to the Sniglar, but these are made with beech and fiberboard, so aren’t as eco-friendly or non-toxic.
Vs. the competition
The Sniglar is astonishingly inexpensive and arguably better than most eco-friendly and non-toxic softwood cribs. Most other hardwood cribs cost around nine times the price of a Sniglar, making this Ikea crib the best of the bunch in terms of freedom from toxic chemicals in:
- Stains
- Finishes
- Paints
- Glues
- Everything else you’ll often find in a crib.
Sure, you could shell out five or six times as much for the Greenguard Gold Certified Kendall Crib from Pottery Barn Kids, or three times as much for the DaVinci Kalani, but these cribs may still contain VOCs, lead, and other chemicals, even if only below permissible levels. The Sniglar is pure, solid, beech and some metal hardware.
The Ikea Sniglar also lacks a toddler rail, unlike the Babyletto Lolly (rail included), the DaVinci Kalani (an add-on), or the Pottery Barn Kids Kendall (also an add-on). The Babyletto and DaVinci can also be converted into full sized beds, but not the Ikea Sniglar, nor the Kendall.
The Sniglar also only has two adjustable mattress positions, compared to four for the Lolly and Kalani, and three for the Kendall, but it is lower overall than these other cribs. Realistically, you’re only likely to use two, maybe three, of the available mattress heights, however, so it’s worth considering if that extra in-between stage is worth several hundred dollars.
The Sniglar is very minimalist and modern. It’s slightly less chic than the Lolly, but similarly understated. Compared to the Kendall and the DaVinci Kalani, the Sniglar is a lot less imposing and dramatic.
So, if you’re looking to make the crib a statement piece in the nursery, you’ll need to dress up the Sniglar with some fun crib sheets or even a crib skirt. Just avoid any hazardous textiles or bumpers, as per safe sleep guidelines.
Final thoughts
Personally, I prefer the Sniglar’s natural beechwood look. I also love that the Ikea Sniglar is no-nonsense, low cost, and strong and sturdy enough to provide a safe sleeping environment without any toxic chemicals.
Sniglar not for you? Check out our top choices for safe and sustainable cribs:
Ikea Sniglar Crib
Highlights: Made with unfinished beechwood – no nasty toxic finishes or stains. One of the lightest cribs around at just 40 pounds 9 ounces. Great budget option, costing under $120!
Thank you for the review. Helpful and useful.
Just to clarify, beech is a hardwood. Any tree that is deciduous, such as beech, is considered a hardwood. Just thought you might want to update your information.
Thanks for spotting that, Kasey! I’ve updated the post accordingly. I guess I just couldn’t believe a hardwood crib could be so inexpensive!
All the best,
Leigh
I’m only 5’2”. Your review mentions that it would be good if you were taller, can you elaborate?
Hi Natalie,
The Sniglar only has two mattress level options, a low level and a mid-height setting, so it may not be ideal if you’re shorter than around 5’3” or have difficulty reaching down to lift out an infant. Many cribs have three mattress settings, giving you the additional option of a higher mattress level for the first few weeks or months when you may still be recovering after birth and when your baby is still small and can’t yet pull themselves up or sit up. That said, the crib overall is only 33 1/8” tall, so you may be just fine with the Sniglar as you don’t have to lean over a tall railing.
Hope that helps,
Leigh
Thanks for the review. Could you comment on the ikea mattresses ? I know one was recently recalled. Are the others safe to pair with the crib?
Thanks for the review! I appreciate the comparison and detail. We got this crib first my daughter snd are going to transition it to a toddler bed soon.
Just a note that bumpers and bed skirts aren’t safe for use with a crib.
Thanks for the review. What age would you say this crib could be used till?
Hi Tazz,
Typically this would work until your baby weighs about 20 kg or is able to pull themselves up and potentially climb out of the crib or tip it. When converted to a toddler bed, the Sniglar could work until they’re about 4 years old, depending on how big your child is.
Always best to check with the manufacturer directly though as products do change quickly.
Thanks,
Leigh
Have you experienced any issues with the long screws and barrel? Today we moved and when I reassembled the Sniglar one of the screws simply won’t thread through the barrel.
I’m furious because it fit fine before our move. I’ve tied different barrels etc…
How vexing, Ryan!
I haven’t had this issue, but I have had frustrations with not being able to find replacement hardware outside of Ikea (and I don’t live near one, so it’s irksome to have to request a single barrel nut sleeve to be mailed).
If you’re not in a position to call Ikea and ask for a replacement part, you could see if a little WD40 helps get the screw started. Alternatively, and I know this goes against keeping things non-toxic, something like Loctite would be a way to rethread the screw if the bolt hole is stripped.
Definitely best to try to get the original hardware replaced though, for safety’s sake.
Best of luck!
Leigh
How vexing, Ryan!
I haven’t had this issue, but I have had frustrations with not being able to find replacement hardware outside of Ikea (and I don’t live near one, so it’s irksome to have to request a single barrel nut sleeve to be mailed).
If you’re not in a position to call Ikea and ask for a replacement part, you could see if a little WD40 helps get the screw started. Alternatively, and I know this goes against keeping things non-toxic, something like Loctite would be a way to rethread the screw if the bolt hole is stripped.
Definitely best to try to get the original hardware replaced though, for safety’s sake.
Best of luck!
Leigh
Hi there, great review! Do you happen to know what the different heights of the two options are?
Two levels*
Can anyone tell me when Ikea changed the base away from MDF? Would a cot purchased in 2019 be ok?
I’m super interested in getting the snigler and splurging in a greenguard certified mattress. Do you know which mattresses work well with this crib? Specifically looking at Avocado.