A good crib mattress is the foundation of your baby’s restful sleep, offering both safety and comfort for those precious early years.
When it comes to your baby's sleep, safety should always come first. Choosing the right crib mattress is essential for ensuring your little one gets a restful and safe night's sleep. It's important to be selective in your choice, as the mattress you pick for your baby differs from the one you'd choose for yourself. While soft, plush mattresses are great for adults, babies need a firmer surface to reduce any risk of suffocation.
Crib mattress sizes are generally standardized, so you don't have to worry much about finding the right dimensions, except if you have a mini crib. However, quality and safety should always be the top priority when selecting a mattress.
Parents have legitimate concerns about the safety of their baby’s mattress, especially in light of the numerous product recalls in recent years. To address these concerns, I spoke with Nychelle Fleming, a representative from the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC), to learn about the latest updates in crib mattress safety standards. According to Fleming, the CPSC revised its crib mattress safety regulations in 2022, aligning them more closely with the ASTM crib standards. This has led to an increase in recalls, with nine occurring in just the last six months.
Fleming explained that the CPSC has a rigorous testing process in place. Manufacturers and importers must test and certify their crib mattresses before they can be sold or distributed. The CPSC works diligently to identify safety issues, determine the source of the problem, and assess the level of risk involved. If the issue is deemed hazardous enough, the agency issues a recall.
Given the increasing frequency of recalls for baby products, it's crucial for parents to register their baby items with the manufacturer using the registration card included with the product. Staying informed about product recalls will help ensure that your baby's sleep environment remains safe.
1. Organic Crib Mattress
A thoughtfully designed, organic option made with certified cotton, wool, and latex, tailored to support growing children. It stands out due to its natural, non-toxic materials, such as coconut fiber in the core, and the absence of petroleum-based foams, chemical adhesives, vinyl, and flame retardants. These eco-friendly materials not only ensure a healthier sleep environment but also keep the mattress surprisingly light and easy to handle. The mattress features dual-sided functionality, with a firmer surface for infants and a plusher side for toddlers, making it both versatile and long-lasting.
Made in Los Angeles with ethical labor practices, the Avocado crib mattress is Greenguard Gold and GOTS organic certified. While it does require a mattress pad or cover for protection, parents appreciate its comfort, durability, and the clear labeling of the toddler and infant sides. Despite its lack of a plastic cover, the mattress's high-quality materials and thoughtful design are praised for providing a safe and comfortable sleep environment. Additionally, Avocado offers various sales, allowing parents to explore other mattress options for their own needs.
2. Healthy Support Waterproof Crib Mattress
For parents looking for all of the convenience of a coated mattress, but are worried about the plasticizing chemicals used to make the mattress waterproof, Lullaby Earth is a fantastic compromise. It's made to have all the ease of an old-school baby mattress, but they waterproof their materials without the same process. Also, it is made without chemicals like formaldehyde, perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), pesticides, glues/adhesives, or common potential allergens and GMOs. There's also no polyurethane foam or vinyl/PVC.
Our editorial business manager, Bridget Hughes has this mattress and she says that it is immediately apparent that this mattress is built well, and designed to last. It's not smelly, it's soft, and generally just a great mattress.
I've had the good fortune to test this mattress myself, and I was really impressed at the density of the materials and the even split between the softer and firmer sides. I was super impressed that the whole thing only weighs 7 pounds because it looks and feels like a mattress that should weigh a lot more.
I will say that the packaging was a huge pain in my butt, but, that is such a minor quibble.
3. Honeycomb Orthopedic Standard Baby Crib Mattress
An affordable yet high-quality option for parents who want a great mattress without breaking the bank. Featuring a honeycomb-patterned orthopedic fiber design, it provides the right amount of support and comfort for babies. The mattress is designed to cradle your little one’s body, ensuring proper alignment as they sleep. It’s a practical and cost-effective choice, especially for those seeking durability and comfort on a budget.
In addition to its thoughtful design, the mattress comes with a waterproof cover, making it easy to maintain. Whether dealing with sick kids or everyday spills, a simple wipe with Lysol keeps it clean and hygienic. Weighing only eight pounds and with a depth of 5 inches, it’s lightweight and easy to move around, perfect for parents who frequently need to reposition or clean the mattress. Its manageable size and easy-care features make it an excellent choice for busy parents.
4. Twinkle Galaxy Dual Sided Crib
Delta Children, one of my go-to brands for affordable and high-quality children’s products, delivers again with this impressive dual-sided crib mattress. It features a firm side that provides support without being too hard, and a softer side that’s just plush enough to keep your child comfortable without feeling like they’ll sink in. The mattress is made with a sustainably sourced firm fiber core crafted from upcycled plastic bottles, offering an eco-friendly solution for parents looking for both comfort and sustainability.
This mattress is also designed for convenience, with a completely waterproof and easy-to-clean vinyl cover. Weighing in at under 10 pounds, it's lightweight and practical for parents to handle. It's Greenguard Gold certified for low chemical emissions, ensuring a safer sleep environment for your baby. Our tester’s feedback sums it up perfectly: "It's exactly what you need it to be," which is ultimately what every parent hopes for when choosing a crib mattress.
5. Baby Crib Mattress and Toddler Bed
Newton is really revolutionizing the crib mattress market. This mattress is completely and totally washable. There are no foam, latex, springs, glue, or allergens involved in the making of this crib mattress. It’s reversible, with infant firmness on one side and toddler (softer) on the other. The Newton crib mattress is also Greenguard-Gold-certified.
Not to mention, the model also boasts a 100% breathable design, which means babies can breathe right through this waterproof crib mattress: We’re not kidding. The other thing that blew our minds was that, unlike the case with so many other mattresses, when you open this one up, there’s no chemical smell. It smelled like the box, honestly. (And we got down in there to sniff it.)
It’s a pretty standard thickness at 5.5 inches and about 15 pounds, which is definitely on the heavier side. You’re really getting a lot of safe mattresses for the money, considering all that it can do.
It’s just extremely impressive — and if our kids are anything to go by, very, very comfy.
6. Premium Foam Crib and Toddler Mattress
Featuring a super lightweight foam core, this memory foam crib mattress promotes even airflow while your little angel sleeps, thanks to perforations all through the foam. The water-resistant and super soft cover makes accident cleanups easy and quick. But if the mess is too much for a speedy wipe-down, you can just pop it in the wash.
This mattress isn't just affordable, it's also a good choice for parents concerned about the environment. Greenguard Gold- and Certipur-certified, this mattress uses materials that are safer for the planet while being comfortable for your baby.
It’s polyurethane designed and manufactured in a way that doesn’t release gases into the air after it’s opened, according to Graco, and if you’ve ever smelled a “new” mattress, you know that smell well.
I used this mattress at my in-laws' house, and it's a really great mattress. It's super durable, and it really wipes off quickly. I can attest there really is no smell, and that it is the best size for sheets.
