The arrival of your new baby brings excitement, joy, and exhaustion for the both of you. When it’s time to put your baby to sleep, you want to make sure they are comfortable and above everything else, safe. The right crib mattress is important and will allow you to have peace of mind. Here we’ll review some of the best crib mattresses.
Editor’s Picks: Top Crib Mattresses
Mattress | Quality | Rating |
|---|---|---|
A+ | 5/5 | |
A+ | 5/5 | |
B+ | 4/5 | |
B+ | 4/5 | |
B+ | 4/5 |
What Do I Need To Look For In A Crib Mattress?
It might seem like buying a crib mattress isn’t that big of a deal, but there are many factors that can go into choosing the best option. There are a few things that you need to consider for your baby’s comfort as well as their safety.
Firmness Of Mattress
You might be tempted to get an ultra soft or plush crib mattress so that your baby can sleep in the ultimate comfort. When it comes to crib mattresses, soft isn’t always better. In fact, a firm mattress is better for your baby’s safety.
A soft mattress can pose a risk of suffocation for your baby. Because babies can’t turn or roll over as easily as adults, a soft mattress can envelop them and possibly smother them. A firm mattress will keep them safer as well as prevent SIDS and other infant sleep-related deaths.
Mattress Covering
While this might not be a super important feature for your own mattress, the type of covering on a crib mattress will be a big deal. You want a mattress cover that can stand up to leaking diapers, spit up, and other baby messes.
A good crib mattress cover will help protect the core of the bed and keep the bed cleaner. Some covers are just a thin layer of fabric that do nothing to protect the mattress and will cause damage to it over a long period of time.
Try to find a cover that is waterproof and has a layer of nylon to help prevent tears or holes. A waterproof cover is going to make cleaning the mattress much easier and save you time and frustration.
Weight Of Mattress
This goes along with cleaning the mattress. If this is your first child, you might not realize how often you are going to be cleaning the mattress and sheets. Each time that you have to clean the mattress or change the sheets, you will have to lift up the mattress.
A heavy mattress can make this task difficult and even cause wrist injuries. A light mattress will make sheet changing and cleaning simple and safe.
Hypoallergenic And Ventilated
Find a mattress that is hypoallergenic. The same dust mites and other allergens that can get in your mattress and irritate you can do the same to your baby. In fact, allergens will affect your baby more because their immune systems aren’t as strong.
Rather than worry about irritating their allergies, get a hypoallergenic bed to help keep the mattress allergen free. Another important thing to look for is a ventilated mattress. Because a crib mattress will get wet more than a regular mattress you want to make sure it is well ventilated. This will help prevent the buildup of mold and mildew.
Flame Retardant
Find a mattress that is flame retardant. While this doesn’t ensure the mattress won’t burn, it does have to meet certain standards so it won’t go up in flames in an instant. This is a quality that you don’t want to skimp on or skip.
Also, make sure that the mattress isn’t made flame retardant with toxic chemicals. These could harm your baby if they come into contact with them.
What Kind Of Crib Mattresses Are Best?
The material that your crib mattress is made of is an important consideration. There are a variety of different options and each has their advantages and disadvantages.
Coil/Innerspring
These are made with spring coils and tend to be heavier than other types of mattresses. While many companies will advertise their coil count, pay attention to the gauge of coils. The gauge indicates how thick each coil is and will mean a more supportive sleep surface. A 15.5 gauge or lower is the best option.
These mattresses tend to be highly durable and supportive. They can be more expensive than other materials and if you choose one of poor quality, it can squeak all night long.
Regular Foam
This is the simplest of all mattress materials. These beds consist of a layer or two of foam with a cover over it. The foam could be made of bamboo, latex, or polyurethane. These types of mattresses are cheaper both in price and quality.
These mattresses aren’t a good long-term option for cribs. Some of them can be too soft and pose a safety risk. While they are a lightweight option, they aren’t as durable and won’t stand up to multiple washings.
Memory Foam
A fairly popular option for most mattresses, they are now available for cribs as well. Memory foam will mold to the shape of your baby when you lay them down and will slowly spring back when you lift them up.
It is important to make sure that if you do choose memory foam, you find one that isn’t too soft. It can be hard to move around in and could pose a suffocation risk. Most memory foam crib mattresses come with a base of coils to keep it supportive and not too soft.
Memory foam also tends to hold onto heat and might be too hot for your baby to sleep on in the summer time.
Natural And Organic
It is important that no matter what mattress you choose you find one that is made without harmful chemicals. These chemicals can be extremely irritating to your baby’s sensitive skin and fragile immune system.
Quick Reviews of a Few Good Mattresses
Mattress | Quality | Rating |
|---|---|---|
A+ | 5/5 | |
A+ | 5/5 | |
B+ | 4/5 | |
B+ | 4/5 | |
B+ | 4/5 |
My First Mattress Memory Foam Crib Mattress
This memory foam mattress is made of extra firm high-density memory foam so that it is firm enough for your infant’s use. It is certified CertiPUR-US so it is made without any harsh chemicals that could be harmful to your baby. The mattress is also hypoallergenic, mite-proof, phthalate/lead-free, and antimicrobial.
My First Mattress memory foam crib mattress comes with a waterproof cover that can be removed for easy washing. This mattress also meets the federal and CPSC flammability standards and comes with a 10-year limited warranty. It can also be transitioned into a toddler’s mattress once your baby outgrows their crib.
The mattress will come rolled up for easy transport, but will “inflate” to its normal size after it is opened up.
Milliard Hypoallergenic Baby Crib and Toddler Bed Mattress
The Milliard mattress is made of high-quality foam that is 5.5” thick. It is firm enough to support your baby while making sure that they can sleep comfortably. The foam is CertiPUR-US certified and it is also hypoallergenic, resistant to dust mites and other allergens.
It comes with a durable waterproof cover that is made with polyester. The mattress is also ventilated to keep the mattress cool and to help prevent the buildup of mold and mildew. The cover is also made with anti-flammable materials but no chemicals that will irritate or harm your baby. The whole cover and mattress is reinforced to ensure the bed stays sturdy and will last a long time.
Sealy Soybean Foam-Core Crib Mattress
This crib mattress is an extra firm foam mattress that is made with soybean oil from American farmers. The soy-based foam helps to prevent sagging and increases the durability. The whole mattress is encased in a pearl embossed waterproof and stain-resistant cover. It can’t be removed but the mattress is extremely lightweight and easily washed.
The mattress is Greenguard Gold certified which means that it is has been made with a low level of harmful emissions, as well as CertiPUR-US. It has also won the Women’s Choice Award three years in a row for most recommended crib mattress and bedding. This mattress comes with a lifetime warranty on the workmanship and the materials.
Moonlight Slumber Little Dreamer Dual Firmness All Foam Crib Mattress
The Moonlight Slumber Little Dreamer mattress is unique in that it has a dual firmness. The infant side is made with extra firm high-density foam so that you don’t have to worry about the bed being too soft. On the flipside of the mattress is the toddler side that is made with firm high-density foam that has a little more give.
There is a natural internal fire barrier that surrounds both sides of the foam and then a non-toxic medical grade nylon fabric cover. The whole mattress is made without any harsh chemicals, CertiPUR-US, hypoallergenic, and waterproof. There is a limited lifetime warranty on manufacturer's defects.
Naturepedic No Compromise Organic Cotton Classic 150 Seamless Dual Firmness Crib Mattress
This mattress is another dual firmness mattress that has an extra firm infant side as well as a softer, but still supportive toddler side. It has 150 coils to provide a stable surface and is then covered with cotton. The whole mattress, filling and cover, is made with 100% organic cotton so that you know that no harsh chemicals were used when making the bed.
The cover is waterproof and has an easy wipe clean surface that is pure enough to meet food contact standards. The waterproof seams help prevent the penetration of moisture and keep the mattress breathable. The whole mattress has reinforced sides to help make the bed last a long time.
