What is the Best Crib Mattress: The Complete Guide

While searching for the safest crib mattress, and I’ve found more than one mattress. This guide will help pick the best mattress for your baby.

The best crib mattress is the Colgate Eco Classica III. Besides being comfortable and waterproof, this Green guard Gold certified mattress is free of harmful toxic chemicals. If you are looking for a different type of crib mattress, check out the list below.

This guide will cover:

• Best crib mattress overall
• Best breathable crib mattress
• Best waterproof crib mattress
• Best organic crib mattress
• Best non-toxic crib mattress
• Best two-sided crib mattress
• Best innerspring crib mattress
• Best crib mattress-in-a-box
• Best mini crib mattress

After reading the following guide, you will know exactly which crib mattress is the best for your baby.

Help to choose a crib mattress:

• How do I choose a baby crib mattress?
• Are crib mattresses all the same?
• What kind of mattress is best for a baby crib?
• Takeaway

All parents have been there, especially first-time parents. The preparation for your precious first-born can be quite a taxing endeavor. Knowing the infant’s vulnerability and their requirement for a totally harmless environment could add even more pressure.

You know the importance of having the best crib and mattress for your child’s well-being; it’s just that you need help in narrowing your choices down.

It’s totally reasonable. So, to help you decide which mattress design and model out of all the possible choices in the market are best for your baby, I wrote you this guide.

Seeking for the perfect baby crib, but you’re unsure where to start? Check out this list I created of the best baby cribs to buy.

Best crib mattresses

I surveyed online reviews about people’s most preferred products. After tallying the results, I came up with the top brands for each category below. Besides, I researched each ‘winning’ brand to provide insight into each of them. 

Here is my complete list:

Best crib mattress overall: 

Colgate Eco Classica III Dual Firmness Eco-Friendlier Crib Mattress

Dimensions: 51.6 x 27.25 x 6 in
Weight: 9.6 lbs

The Colgate Eco Classica III is the best crib mattress, according to users. You’ll love it because it has two sides: firm, which is best for newborn and younger babies, while the other is softer, perfect for toddlers. The fact that you won’t have to wrestle with it when changing sheets because of its lightweight is a bonus.

Its Green guard Gold certified, assuring you that your kid is safe from any harmful toxic chemical emissions since its waterproof cover is made from organic cotton.

For all the details, check the Colgate Eco Classica III on Amazon here.

Best breathable crib mattress

Newton Baby Breathable 2-Stage Crib Mattress

Dimensions: 28 x 52 x 5.5 in
Weight: 11 lbs

New parents will find the Newton Baby Breathable 2-Stage mattress worth their money. It contains no spring or foam. Instead, it has a core that is 90% air and 10% food-grade polymer making it highly breathable. You can rest easy knowing that your baby is away from any risk of suffocation, no matter his sleeping position. This is so comfortable you’d wish you’re the baby. Not to forget that it is Green guard gold certified.

For all the details, check the Newton Baby Breathable 2-Stage on Amazon here.

Best waterproof crib mattress

Newton Waterproof Crib Mattress

Dimensions: 52 x 28 x 5.5 in
Weight: 11 lbs

Another winner from Newton Baby, this time, in addition to its excellent breathability, it’s also utterly washable from the cover to the core. No need to worry about molds and bacteria.

For all the details, check the Newton Waterproof on Amazon here.

Is the Newton crib mattress worth it?

Newton crib mattresses are more costly than others, but it’s a significant investment. Your kid will sleep soundly on it for many years to come since it can transition from the crib to the toddler bed.

Best organic crib mattress

Naturepedic Organic Classic Lightweight 2-Stage Baby Crib & Toddler Mattress

Dimensions: 27.5 x 52 x 6 in
Weight: 10 lbs

Green guard certified the Naturepedic Organic Classic mattress uses organic cotton as filling. It is a better alternative to synthetic foams and fabrics. Its waterproof surface made of food-grade polyethylene is stain-resistant and easy to clean. 

Rest assured that your kid will be sleeping on safe materials. The materials are likewise safe from any kind of fluid spills and leaks. Note, though, that while the mattress’s toddler side has an organic cotton filling, it contains metal springs on the infant side.

Nevertheless, this mattress is a perfect organic choice that is durable, comfortable, lightweight, and certainly worth the money.

For all the details, check the Naturepedic Organic Classic on Amazon here.

Best non-toxic crib mattress

Babyletto Pure Core Non-Toxic Mattress with Hybrid Waterproof Cover

Dimensions: 52.5 x 28.3 x 6 in
Weight: 9 lbs

Features everything you need for a healthy and comfortable sleeping environment for your little one. The Babyletto Pure Core Non-Toxic mattress Hybrid cover is soft quilted cotton on the surface. At the same time, a non-toxic waterproof backing protects the mattress from spills. For easy cleaning, its cover is removable and machine washable.

This is certified as free of any harmful materials such as dye, PVS, synthetic latex, vinyl, and polyurethane foam found in some conventional mattresses. For a non-toxic bed, this Babyletto mattress trumps them all.

For all the details, check the Babyletto Pure Core Non-Toxic on Amazon here.

Best two-sided crib mattress

Moonlight Slumber Little Dreamer Crib Mattress

Dimensions: 52 x 27.5 x 5 in
Weight: 8.2 lbs

The Moonlight Slumber Little Dreamer is made of two kinds of foam. Its firmness on one side is perfect while your little one is still a tender potato. Flip it over on the other side, and it becomes a beautiful and soft mattress once your bundle of joy turns to a zestful toddler.

In case of leakage, you can simply unzip the cover, which is fully machined washable.

Its breathable cover means better comfort for your newborn. It’s also waterproof and antimicrobial. And no matter which side is up, you can easily rest because both are resistant to bedbugs and dust mites.

Weighing only around 8 pounds, it’s lighter than any other mattress of its kind.

For all the details, check the Moonlight Slumber Little Dreamer on Amazon here.

Best innerspring crib mattress

Sealy Flex Cool 2-Stage Crib Mattress

Dimensions: 27.25 x 5.75 x 51.63 in
Weight: 14.9 lbs

The Sealy Flex Cool dual-sided mattress is the best pick if you prefer the traditional bed for your kid. Providing its firmness are 204 spring coils on the side for your newborn. In contrast, the opposite side has softer cushion support for your toddler.

This brand comes to the top for this category, although a few reviews tell us that it’s not that easy to clean than other models.

For all the details, check the Sealy Flex Cool on Amazon here.

Best crib mattress-in-a-box

Graco Foam Crib Mattress

Dimensions: 27.62 x 52 x 5 in
Weight: 10.7 lbs

Carefully unpack and unroll, and wait for the Graco Foam mattress to fully expand within two weeks. It’s also non-toxic with high-quality breathable foam and fits any standard-sized crib. It’s waterproof, and the removable cover is washable by hand. If you prefer this mattress model, you will not be mistaken for this best-seller garnered positive reviews from Amazon. 

For all the details, check the Graco Foam mattress on Amazon here.

Best mini crib mattress

Moonlight Slumber Little Dreamer Mini Crib Mattress

Dimensions: 24 x 38 x 5 in
Weight: 7.17 lbs

If you’re saving space, the Moonlight Slumber Little Dreamer Mini is your best pick. It might be small, but it delivers all the best features the best regular-sized mattresses offer. It’s dual-sided that accommodates your baby’s growth. It is Extra-firm on the infant side and more cushiony on the toddler side. It is Hypoallergenic, resistant to water, stains, and odor. It’s easy to clean to protect your child from germs and dust.

Its Green guard Gold and CertiPUR-US certification ensure that it’s safe to use.

For all the details, check the Moonlight Slumber Little Dreamer Mini on Amazon here.

How do I choose a baby crib mattress?

Finding the right crib for your baby is just the first step. The next and also as important is choosing the perfect mattress. Here are the 11 things you must carefully consider before you buy a bed for your little one.

1- Quality

You don’t want to compromise your baby’s safety and quality of sleep. If you can afford the best mattress there is, even if it costs more, buy it. The cheap ones won’t be worth it anyway. A more expensive mattress means its more durable materials and better features.

Your kid is going to spend a whole lot of time on that mattress. From infancy to toddlerhood, it’s going to be his place of comfort and rest. Make sure his bed will be able to make him sleep soundly until he’s ready for a more giant bed.  

2- Firmness

Newborn babies are delicate creatures, and an inappropriate sleeping environment can severely endanger them.

The safest place and position for a sleeping baby are on his back, crib, and not too soft surface. A firmer mattress significantly reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome, so it’s a featured parent should never take lightly.

3- Materials

The quality of a mattress depends on its materials. Consider a variety of things regarding the design of the product before making a purchase. Ask yourself if you’d prefer one with innerspring or pure foam for the inside of the mattress. If the latter, there’s a popular alternative to synthetic and potentially toxic materials, natural and organic.

4- Breathability

Breathability is another factor that parents nowadays are putting into serious thoughts. This feature reduces the build-up of heat in the bed and reduces sweating. But having breathable materials doesn’t mean you can stop putting your baby to sleep on his back.

Is a breathable mattress necessary?

Breathability is an essential feature for mattresses. It adds comfort by helping reduce heat and consequently adds more hours to your baby’s sleep.

Although there are other ways to avoid sweating or overheating, such as dressing your child in breathable clothing, using fans (the appliance) for better air circulation, or adding a breathable mattress pad to a water-resistant mattress. But is the convenience of having this feature into a single product not worth it? It’s up to you to decide.

5- Certifications

Gone are the days of babies dying from poisoning due to the toxic materials used in baby products. Or at least it doesn’t happen as frequently as it used to some decades back, thanks to the regulatory organizations that develop and ensure adherence to safety standards.

As you may have noticed, there are at least two certifications mentioned in the list above. 

Here are more details about them.

Green guard certification

Greenguard Environmental Institute (GEI) is the organization that offers this certification. According to this independent, third-party regulatory body, the air inside buildings, including our homes, is more polluted than the air outside. This is due to the airborne chemical emissions from furniture and building materials, exacerbated by poor ventilation.

Greenguard certification means that the product manufacturer adheres to the strict limits of chemical emissions. It tells the consumer that after testing for more than 10,000 volatile organic compounds (VOC), the product they’re buying is safe to use indoor.

CertiPUR-US

The Alliance for Flexible Polyurethane Foam is the non-profit organization that runs the CertiPUR-US certification program.

This certification means that the foam used in beddings has been analyzed in accredited third-party facilities. It ensures that the product is durable and made without harmful content, including but not limited to ozone depletes, flame retardants, formaldehyde, and heavy metals such as lead and mercury.

If the mattress you’re checking out has this certification, rest assured that it has met the program’s standards.

6- Waterproof

There are different layers in a mattress. The core is usually foam layered with some type of barrier to prevent water or other fluids from sipping in. A cover is usually cotton or polyester, or both. This outer layer can be waterproof and antiallergenic. This feature may or may not be essential for you. You decide what suits you the best.

7- Support

The firmness of the mattress depends on the type of support it has. A bed with strictly coil-based support tends to be firmer and bouncier. The opposite is valid for a mattress with a foam core. Depending on the quality and material of the foam, the bed can display a range of softness.

There is a middle ground which is a hybrid of foam and coil-based support. As expected, the hybrid support has the best of both worlds and has an added value of lower heat retention for a relaxed and comfy sleep.

No matter your decision, choose the one that fits the requirement of your baby’s comfort and safety.

8- Safety

The mattress and the crib should be a perfect fit to prevent your baby’s head from getting trapped in a space between the side of the mattress and the crib, which can cause suffocation. A gap in between should not be more than two fingers.

To ensure that this is observed, standardized dimensions of mattresses and full-sized cribs have been set under federal regulations, making separate purchases of these products easy. However, this doesn’t apply to mini cribs, so another law requires both to be sold together.

As much as possible, avoid getting second-hand mattresses. The build-up of bacteria and molds poses a danger to your child’s health, while any tear or loss of fabric can be hazardous.

9- Recall Notice

Other regulatory agencies that ensure the safety of products in the market are the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA). While the CPSC regulates a vast array of products from kitchen appliances, toys, and gardening equipment, the JPMA focuses on children’s products, including mattresses.

The CPSC obtains their recall for items that failed to meet the safety standards developed by both organizations. Recalled products for any reason should not be used.

Always check if the mattress you are purchasing is not on the CPSC recall list. If you find out that the product you’ve bought is on the list, discontinue its use right away to avoid possible harm to your child.

If injuries occur due to a recalled item, you can seek compensation from the manufacturer. However, it will be difficult to claim compensation if proven that you have knowingly used the recalled product.

10- Price

Don’t hesitate to spend on a pricier mattress because the product’s higher price only means higher quality materials. Expensive mattresses are safer, comfier, and more durable compared to cheap ones.

Be willing to spend from around $80 to $200 for a mattress to get the most value.

11- Size

According to federal law, a standard-sized baby mattress should be 51 5/8 inches by 17 1/4 inches at least and not anymore thicker than 6 inches. Falling within the acceptable allowance, the beds included on this list follows the given standardized measurements.

Are crib mattresses all the same?

Although there is a small room for allowances in dimensions, all full-sized mattresses sold in North America must meet the standard sizes. There is also a standard dimension measurement for mattresses designed for non-full-sized cribs such as round or mini cribs. Also, non-full-sized cribs must be sold with non-full-sized mattresses.

What kind of mattress is best for a baby crib?

Other than the safety considerations already mentioned, a few different factors may come to mind when you’re shopping for a mattress for your baby. These will all depend on your preferences. 

Here’s a short list of additional options:

1- Innerspring crib mattress

Sometimes, when in doubt, it’s better to stick with the tried and tested design. Traditional mattresses have spring coils inside that make them firm. To add comfort, innerspring mattresses have cushioning layers made of different materials. Depending on the brand and design, it can have foam, cotton, or polyester at its top.

Innerspring models are defined by the thickness of each coil and their total count present inside the mattress. For added stability, some models have border rods made of metal.

2- Foam crib mattress

For lightweight, durable, but inexpensive purchases, a foam mattress is your best pick.

Choose foam that can retain its original shape. The faster the material regains its shape after pressing on it, the better.

Also, check for firmness and density, although these qualities can sacrifice the lightness of the mattress. It’s your call.

Are memory foam mattresses safe for babies?

Experts strongly advise putting your baby on his back on a firm mattress when sleeping to minimize the risk of suffocation. It’s better to stay on the safe side. Avoid memory foam for your child.

Is foam or coil mattress better for a baby?

Compared to a foam crib mattress, a coil crib mattress has more advantages. Its innerspring support means a firmer surface with better weight distribution. The edge support also helps your baby stay on top of the bed. Overall, coil mattresses are more water-resistant and have better heat regulation.

3- Dual-sided crib mattresses

If you’re looking for a mattress that your kid will use for more than his infant year, opt for a dual-sided model. Flip it to one side for a firmer surface that is most appropriate for newborns. Flip it the other way, and it’s a comfier mattress for your toddler. It’s more expensive, but the mileage you’ll get from it is worth the price.

Takeaway

These are the best cribs for existing models in the market. It’s all up to you as a parent; you know better about your baby’s safety. Make a wise decision on which model and design will be the perfect choice for your little one.

I’m sure you’ll make the right decision!