7 Best Crib Mattresses That Will Cradle Your Little One Into a Safe and Restful Slumber

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Your baby deserves nothing but the best when it comes to safe sleeping, which is why it's important to be picky when choosing the best crib mattress that they'll (hopefully) sleep on every night. Aside from a mattress that meets your quality standards, it's important to note that picking the right crib mattress is not the same as choosing the best mattress for yourself.

Instead of opting for plush, pillowy-soft surfaces, it is recommended that you opt for a firmer mattress to prevent a suffocation hazard. Since crib mattress sizes are standardized, you don't have to worry too much about finding the right dimensions (unless you're using a mini crib).

I know that parents have a lot of concerns when it comes to their baby's mattress and bedding — specifically because there have been so many recalls of baby products in the past few years, so I spoke with a representative from the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC), Nychelle Fleming, to find out how the CPSC is working to keep us safe. She says that the CPSC has recently (2022) updated their crib mattress safety standards to be more stringent and adhere to the ASTM crib standards rule.

This has led to an uptick in recalls — there have been nine in the last 6 months. The CPSC has a rigorous testing program according to Fleming. She says: "Before importing for consumption or warehousing or distributing crib mattresses in commerce, manufacturers and importers of crib mattresses subject to the rule are required to test and certify their products."

There are a lot of factors that go into a recall. For instance, they have to identify the issues, the mattress, where it was imported from, and more. She says that "if the violations identified result in a level of hazard that warrants a recall," they determine when and how to go about it. But given the high number of recalls recently, and in general for baby equipment, it's best to register all of your products with the manufacturer's registration card that comes with the product and keep your eye out for recalls.

As for Best Products, we continually monitor CPSC recalls and manufacturer-issued voluntary recalls to ensure our lists are the safest they can be and up to date.

The Best Baby Crib Mattresses

• Best Overall: Avocado Green Crib Mattress

• Best Budget: Graco Premium Crib Mattress

• Best Mid-Range Eco-Friendly: Lullaby Earth Crib Mattress

• Best Shallow Mattress: Dream on Me Honeycomb Crib Mattress

• Best Dual-Sided: Moonlight Slumber Little Dreamer Crib Mattress

What to Consider

When you’re shopping for the best crib mattress for your baby, there’s a lot to think about, including materials, cleanability, price, and design. And while the sizing is standard, elements like the type of mattress, quality of materials, and external fabrics are not. You want something that’s going to be durable and safe, as well as fit your budget.

Type of Mattress and Materials

There are a few main types of crib mattresses — innerspring, foam, and wool or cotton fill. They're all really good options, and it's mostly a matter of cost and choice, but I will note that foam and wool-filled crib mattresses like the Avocado model we listed are soon to be the bulk of the market. Natural rubber crib mattresses are becoming popular as well.

Babies should sleep on a firm, flat surface for the first year of their life, so you’ll want a mattress that won’t form to their body while sleeping. If this means you opt for a coiled mattress, the more coils, the better.

Lastly, most mattresses are dual-sided like the Delta Children mattress. One side is ultra-firm for newborns and infants when they're at the greatest risk of suffocation, and the other side is a bit more plush and comfy for toddlers whose real nighttime issue is just getting them in the bed at all.

Cleanability

How cleanable it is depends on the cover. Vinyl is the least expensive material available for crib mattress covers, and it's also the easiest to clean. However, it can be prone to puncturing and tearing. There are also woven covers that are more durable and aren’t as likely to have metal emerge through the surface. Covers made from cotton and other natural fibers are the most durable and breathable options, but they also tend to be the most expensive. And note that you're going to need a mattress protector with a woven cover.

Cost

There is a great crib mattress at every price point, from less than $50 to more than $600. There will be a significant difference in the materials used, but note that these mattresses aren't expected to last for 20 years like adult mattresses are. You can definitely pick something less expensive if you want or need to.

How We Chose

All of the crib mattresses on the list were chosen through a thorough evaluation process involving hands-on testing by real-life parents. Three of the crib mattresses were tested exclusively by members of our team, and other mattresses were sent to our families for testing. The Newton mattress, however, made the list because one of our testing families had purchased it for their other child, and I got to experience it firsthand as well as get a detailed review.

We also evaluated the safety standards set forth by the CPSC and made sure all our picks met their criteria. So, you can feel confident that our best crib mattress picks will be safe for your baby.

Organic Crib Mattress

The Avocado crib mattress isn’t just a smaller version of their bestselling mattress. It’s designed specifically with growing littles in mind and is handmade with certified organic cotton, wool, and latex.

There are no petroleum-based polyurethane foams, no chemical adhesives, no vinyl waterproofing, polyethylene, or flame-retardant chemicals. The core is actually made of coconut fiber. Isn’t that wild?

While these materials would make you think that this mattress is going to be prohibitively heavy, it's not. It's on par with the lighter dual-sided mattresses on this list, and the shape of the edges makes it easy to flip and lift. Parents love that the toddler and infant sides are clearly labeled and embroidered into the cover of the mattress.

As I noted, this mattress is dual-sided, with one side plusher for toddlers and the other a firm surface for infants, giving it additional longevity and value. When I was examining the crib mattress with our tester, we did see that there is a pretty significant difference in firmness, and the toddler side seems positively dreamy.

The mattress itself is Greenguard Gold- and GOTS organic-certified and handmade right in Los Angeles, California, using ethical labor practices many other companies can't guarantee.

One thing our testers note is that it does need a mattress pad or cover, as it has no plastic cover and is spot-clean only. However, the tester parents also told me that the quality and comfort more than make up for it.

If you'd like to get a new mattress for yourself as well, Avocado is having a summer sale on a few different options.

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.

More: 30 Eco-Friendly Baby Products New Parents Need

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.

Honeycomb Orthopedic Standard Baby Crib Mattress

I wasn't kidding when I said that you don't have to spend a fortune to get a great mattress. The Dream on Me mattress features a honeycomb-patterned orthopedic fiber design that cradles a baby exactly how it needs to.

The whole exterior has a waterproof cover, which means that even if you enter the dreaded cycle of one kid getting sick and giving it to your other kid, lather, rinse, repeat — you never have to worry about staining or germs because you just Lysol wipe that thing.

It's also a great size at 5 inches deep and just eight pounds. You could practically hurl this mattress across the room to change the bedding if you want to. Having the ability to completely move the mattress around when you want to move it or clean it is great.

Our Deputy Editor, Joana Mascioli, uses this mattress with her lil' baby, and she's been a big fan — especially of the easy cleanup. She says, "I have three of these mattresses, and no matter where my little one is sleeping, she falls asleep peacefully and comfortably on this mattress. Even after over a year of use, it still has not lost its shape whatsoever. The price can't be beaten, and I'm super happy with the quality."

Dual-Sided Baby Crib Mattress

This baby crib mattress features a firm, dual-sided sleeping surface. The extra firm high-density side is for infants, and the firm high-density side is for toddlers. This simple mattress with straight and cornered edges also looks sleek as it cradles your baby.

At just around 9 pounds, it's one of the lightest dual-sided mattresses available on the market today. The cover is waterproof and fire-retardant — not because of any chemical additives, but because of how the fabric is woven and the seams are reinforced.

It doesn't require a mattress pad, and if you do find it becoming a bit soiled, use water and gentle detergents to clean it, as Moonlight Slumber suggests. I definitely noted some staining on the mattress after about a year of use, so while it doesn't require a mattress pad, I don't think it would be a bad idea.

Our testers love the seams on this because there's nowhere your baby will feel or pick at them. The edges are wrapped more like a gift than like a sleeve. There are no harsh lines on this mattress.

Twinkle Galaxy Dual Sided Crib

Hilariously, when I asked our senior SEO manager, Sean Abrams for his thoughts on this crib mattress, his baby girl was sleeping on it, so it had to wait a few hours.

Delta Children is one of my favorite brands. They're dedicated to making high-quality children's items at affordable prices. This mattress is a great dual-sided mattress that somehow has a firm side that isn't hard and a softer side that doesn't feel like your child may sink into it at any time.

It is completely waterproof and made of a sustainably sourced firm fiber core that's made from upcycled plastic bottles. It's Greenguard-gold certified with a vinyl, easy-to-clean cover, and the whole thing weighs under 10 pounds. Once again, this is a mattress where you can simply take a wipe to it and call it good.

The biggest compliment that our tester has given it is that "it's exactly what you need it to be." And honestly, that's mostly what you want when it comes to a crib mattress.

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. At $350, 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.

Safe Sleeping Tips

The CPSC and the AAP have issued safe sleep recommendations and they have saved so many lives. They include:

• Keeping your baby on their backs at all time

• Moving baby to the bassinet or crib if they fall asleep elsewhere

• Babies may roll to their stomachs, if they cannot roll front to back and back to front, move them back to their back

• Babies need firm sleeping spaces

• The crib should be bare of anything safe for the mattress and the sheet (and of course the baby)

• No weighted sleep sacks

• No loose blankets

• No pillows

• Do not cosleep

• Use only cribs, bassinets, and mattresses that are CPSC-certified and align with current guidelines.

And a regulation that neither of them included, but I think is critical, is to sniff your newborn's head every twenty seconds when you're holding them. They're positively intoxicating.

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