DaVinci Kalani Convertible Crib in Espresso

Most helpful customer reviews

133 of 134 people found the following review helpful.
all the features in one crib
By M Campos Barker
I was on the fence about spending $600 on a solid crib or this one. I finally decided on this one because as it turned out, the expensive Sorelle also used cam-locks on most of their cribs. So that was the deal breaker. The Kalani is sturdy despite the few cam-locks. Grandpa had no problem with the assembly and finished within an hour. This is for my 3rd child as I converted the old one already. Features that were hard to find in one crib but offered in this one:

1. rich cherry finish that complements other cherry furniture in the baby's room.

2. heavy and sturdy

3. 4 height settings. Perfect for a shorty like me to easily set down a sleepy baby. most cribs only offer 3 settings that are either too far apart or does not make much of a difference.

4. mattress springs. i don't like slats or MDF panel to support my bouncing baby boy. slats are a pain to adjust and MDP could slip and slide around.

5. toddler rail is included, which saves a hundred bucks.

6. converts to a head and footboard sleigh bed.

Cons:
Nothing for the crib. But I would not spend $$ on the furniture accessories from DaVinci. $400 bucks for baby size dressers? MDF and cheaply made? I would recommend going to a furniture store and purchase a real dresser for less or at least comparable that will outlast the crib stage. I have Broyhill dresser, chest, and nightstand for his room that matches the crib and I know will last after he's done with the crib (off to college and converted back to a guest room).

Another recommendation:
corner changing table in cherry. I don't recall the brand but the color match is great and can be used as a credenza once potty trained. fits nicely in a corner, does not take up much space. I don't like the DaVinci changing table as it looks silly to use it as anything else with that immovable side rail.

Crib bumper: PBkids- super thick and 'cushiony' or RHbabyandchild- cover removes for easy washing.

I'll post a photo once all the decor is up. So, good luck and congrats on the new baby!

68 of 68 people found the following review helpful.
absolutely beautiful and no problem with scratching
By J. Lorenz
I scoured reviews to find the best crib for our baby. The Da Vinci Emily was top-rated by Consumer Reports, but this one wasn't rated at all. The Emily and the Kalani seem very similar, and this one was rated just as well by all the online reviews, so we bought this one in espresso after months of charting out the positives and negatives of all the espresso cribs I could find.

First, the positives. It took my husband and I about two hours to assemble this crib. We weren't in a hurry, and the directions were straightforward, but it just took some time to make sure it was all put together correctly. The wood is gorgeous! It's an absolutely beautiful espresso and matches our other espresso furniture perfectly. Everyone is stunned by how lovely this crib is!

We've moved once with it already - had to unassemble and reassemble - which was no problem. Our daughter is not quite four months old, so I can't vouch as to long-term wear and tear, but I lean on it often and it is totally sturdy, like you'd expect a regular bed to be. Maybe even more sturdy than a regular bed. In fact, it seems so amazingly sturdy that I've been tempted to climb in there with her!

Now for the negatives: Oh wait, there aren't any. I expected this crib to scratch easily because of other reviews, and so we were careful with it while putting it together, but it really hasn't been a problem. I think there are a few small marks where the button of my pants has leaned against it, but you'd have to look close to notice and they are still the espresso color. More like indentations than scratches. This crib is most certainly heirloom quality and far exceeded our expectations. It's one of the most beautiful pieces of furniture we own, and certainly nicer than any other cribs I've ever seen.

Update after one year: There are still only a few small marks from jean buttons, but our little darling has left some rather visible teeth marks along the rail. We don't mind them, but you may want to consider a protective cover when your child nears the biting age. Our daughter has probably only scraped her teeth on the thing less than ten times, but each time has left a visible mark. The crib is still incredibly sturdy, though, and we know parents who have converted theirs into a toddler bed now and said they could both sit on it with their child! Still a five-star crib in my book, despite a few teeth marks.

80 of 88 people found the following review helpful.
Solid crib with horrible finish.
By Strolen
First the good. The crib is beautiful and it's very sturdy. The wood is great and I do love it. It is a little difficult for me because I'm short and the front doesn't go down, but I also like it for the same reason. There are no moveable parts to pinch little fingers. I like how the whole crib doesn't move when my daughter jumps up and down.

But, the finish is terrible. It scratches extreamly easily and there are teeth marks all up and down the rails. I scratched it on accident with just my fingernail. We are going to have to refinish it when my daughter is older.