Babies, just like adults, need a good mattress to ensure healthy sleep. Luckily, the market for crib mattresses has become an industry in and of itself, with a seemingly limitless number of options out there. To help you sort them out and find the best crib mattress for your child, we’ve put together a list of some of our favorites.
The Best Crib Mattresses
- Editor’s Pick – Saatva Crib Mattress
- Best Flippable Mattress – Brentwood Home EcoAir Waterproof Baby Crib Mattress
- Best Cooling Mattress – Avocado Organic Crib Mattress
- Best Firm Mattress – Naturepedic Classic Organic Baby Crib Mattress
- Best Organic Mattress – Nest Stork Certified Organic Crib Mattress
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How to Choose the Best Crib Mattress for Your Baby
Despite being smaller in size than adult mattresses, crib mattresses have their own unique features, materials, and constructions. Here are some factors to consider when weighing all of the different options out there.
Materials
As with standard mattresses, crib mattresses can have a core made of foam, coils, or some mixture of different materials. Some, like the wavesupport in Naturepedic’s crib mattress, even have patented support systems designed with little ones in mind. While there’s no single right choice for everyone, you should consider what kind of materials you want to expose your child to. For instance, if your baby has allergies, you may want to consider a hypoallergenic or organic mattress made of latex.
Dual Siding
As your child grows from an infant into a toddler, they’ll need a slightly softer sleeping surface, which is why so many crib mattresses (including several on this list) have two different sides. While you certainly don’t have to opt for a flippable mattress, you should decide ahead of time whether or not you want to buy a new bed in a year or so, or just flip over the one you currently have.
Care
It’s no secret that babies and toddlers tend to be messy. That’s why most crib mattresses are going to have, at the very least, a removable and washable cover. But some products go the extra mile with both an inner and an outer cover, accident-proof surfaces, or even a core that can be removed and spot-cleaned. Decide how cleanable you want your crib mattress to be, then decide which product meets your criteria.
Certifications
Many crib mattresses will tout a laundry list of certifications. So what should you make of all these acronyms? Here’s a quick rundown of a few that you’ll see in this roundup.
- GREENGUARD and GREENGUARD Gold: Any mattress with this certification will have been made without harmful emissions, formaldehyde, and VOCs. GREENGUARD Gold has even stricter restrictions, and is often applied to products used in schools.
- GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard): This means that the materials and textiles of the mattress are made with at least 70% certified organic natural fibers. Beds made from over 95% certified organic natural fibers receive the official label grade of “organic.”
- MADE SAFE: Short for “Made With Safe Ingredients,” this means that the mattress hasn’t been made with any chemicals that are known to be harmful to human health, wildlife, or ecosystems.
- GOLS (Global Organic Latex Standard): This certification applies specifically to latex beds. If they’re GOLS certified, it means that they’re made with at least 95% latex, and all other materials have been manufactured with certain chemical restrictions.
Need a mattress for your older children, too? Check out our guide to the best mattresses for kids.
Recap: Best Crib Mattresses 2024
| Mattress | Best For | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Saatva Crib Mattress | Editor’s Pick | $345 |
| Brentwood Home EcoAir Waterproof Baby Crib Mattress | Flippable | $299 |
| Avocado Organic Crib Mattress | Cooling | $279 |
| Naturepedic Classic Organic Baby Crib Mattress | Firm | $269–$319 |
| Nest Stork Certified Organic Crib Mattress | Organic | $699 |
FAQ
How firm should your baby's mattress be?
While many adults prefer a soft mattress, a crib mattress for a baby should be very firm, as to give them the proper support their growing bodies need and prevent them from sinking into the sleep surface. You want to make sure they're on top of the mattress. To make sure the crib mattress is firm enough for your child, press down into the surface with your hand and see if the material quickly snaps back to its original shape. If so, you're good to go.
When should you change your baby's mattress?
Once your baby is a year old, you can switch out their crib mattress for something slightly softer. Or, in the case of many of the mattresses on this list, just flip it over to the toddler side.
Should you use a lot of bedding in your baby's crib?
Simply put, no. Placing excess bedding or blankets on a baby's crib mattress can lead to suffocation and other health issues. All you need is a firm mattress with a fitted sheet and nothing else. To keep your baby warm, consider a wearable blanket or sleep sack — anything that will provide security without getting tangled up.
What's the healthiest sleep position for your baby?
Common wisdom among pediatricians is that babies should sleep on their backs. Pro tip: Change their sleep direction every day to help prevent flat spots on the head. Keep the baby's head toward one end of the crib on one day as they back-sleep, and the next day, switch their head toward the other end of the crib.
