Think you can buy any crib and mattress for your first baby? That’s a common misconception because of the variety of choices out there. However, the fact is the United States Federal law has baby crib standards to follow. The purpose behind the law is to ensure that infant deaths and injuries are minimal. It also helps ensure your baby remains comfortable. Following these laws is only the first half of finding a great crib and mattress. You’ll want the best crib mattress that caters to all your specific needs and demands.
Finding the best crib mattress is like buying diapers – you want comfort, safety, and convenience all in one product. Are you ready to learn what the best baby crib mattress is? Read on and find out more.
Top 10 Best Baby Crib Mattress Choices
So what is the best crib mattress? We’ve rounded up 10 great options for you all in one easy to browse place. Here are the top choices for the best crib mattress options on the market.
1. Lullaby Earth Healthy Support
Best Non Toxic Crib Mattress
This mattress’s primary selling feature is its lightweight build. The Lullaby Earth Healthy Support only weighs 7lbs, meaning you can take it anywhere without any problems. It isn’t bulky and unwieldy, which means you can lug it around comfortably.
The weight makes it possible for you to change the sheets with the least amount of trouble. It’s made for infant use, but if you want something that can grow with your kid, there’s a two-sided version. It weighs and costs a little more than the usual price, but it’s worth the value.
2. Newton Wovenaire Crib Mattress
Best Breathable Crib Mattress
Unlike the majority of others in the market, you can clean the entirety of this mattress. It has a removable cover that you can machine-wash. You can also spot-clean and rinse its web-like interior.
This crib mattress is lightweight since it has a lot of space for air. Its design enables it to become super lightweight. What this means is that you can carry it without struggling.
3. Delta Children Twinkle Stars
Best Crib Mattresses for the Cost
The Twinkle Stars mattress is one of the cheapest options in this list. Its $50 price tag doesn’t mean its manufacturer is cutting corners. Its quality is nothing to scoff at since it’s made from a firm polyester core.
This gives a lot of support for your baby, ensuring their breathing doesn’t get blocked off. Its waterproof cover makes it easier for you to wipe whatever mess gets on its surface. It’s a great mattress if you want to get a decent value without spending a lot.
4. zenBaby Hybrid with KulKote Technology
Best Baby Crib Mattress for Temperature
This two-sided mattress has a special finish on its infant part. This helps keep the baby enjoy cooler temperatures when it’s warm or the reverse when it’s colder. It’s a great way to ensure your baby doesn’t get sick from any temperature condition.
Once your infant becomes a toddler, you can flip the mattress over. This side has micro coils to give more relief from pressure.
5. Naturepedic Lightweight Ultra
Best Organic Crib Mattress
This is one of the more high-end mattresses around. However, you can count on its organic cotton material since it’s certified by the Global Organic Textile Standard. This is assuring since it means the product went through a strict, eco-standard production process.
Naturepedic has other less expensive choices if you’re not ready to spend a fortune. This one is the most popular among them since you can use it until your toddler becomes a full-on child.
6. Nook Pebble Pure
Best Crib Mattress for Cleaning
This Nook mattress is more expensive than Naturepedic, but its features make the price worth it. It has a stain-resistant cover that you can wash. You can use this cover as your crib sheet since it comes in different colors.
The crib mattress’s interior comes from natural materials like coconut coir and wool. Its popularity is such that some celebrities picked this product for their infants.
7. Serta Perfect Start Fiber Core Crib Mattress
Best Infant Crib Mattress for Fussy Babies
Another two-sided mattress, this Serta product uses steel coils. This design is like the traditional innerspring ones that give a lot of firmness. Its infant side is much firmer since your baby needs the support.
Once you flip it to the toddler side, you can expect your little one to have maximum comfort. After all, it’s topped by memory foam.
8. Sealy Soybean Foam-Core
Best Crib Mattress for Hot Weather
If you need an earth-friendly, non-toxic mattress, this Sealy option is one of the best. It doesn’t use flame-retardant chemicals, so your baby won’t suffer from health risks. It’s firm and breathable, so it’s great to use during summer months even without nursery humidifiers.
Its cover is resistant to stains and at the same time, waterproof. This makes it easier for you to wipe it down without the need for a pee pad. It’s light so you can change the sheets without too much effort.
9. Safety 1st Heavenly Dreams
Best Rated Crib Mattress
This mattress is another great pick if you’re on a budget. A lot of moms out there say that it’s the number one choice for the lower-priced mattresses in the market. Some even say that it offers a great deal. It’s comfortable but firm, covered with vinyl to make it smell, and stain-resistant. It’s also waterproof and comes with a zip. This makes it easier for you to change it out or wash it. The consumer reviews made it the best crib mattress 2017, and the best rated crib mattress of this year.
This crib mattress has foam that retains its shape well, even after using it for years. It’s light and it doesn’t have springs so you don’t have to worry about your kids jumping on it all the time. It’s lightweight too. Its only drawback is the fact that it’s made from polyurethane foam.
10. Moonlight Slumber Little Dreamer
Best Quality Crib Mattress
This product is one of the best crib mattress options since you can use it for either a crib or a toddler bed. The best thing about this product is it’s free from vinyl, polyurethane, and other artificial materials. It’s CentiPUR-certified, meaning its interior and foam are free from harmful chemicals like fire-retardants.
This crib mattress is comfortable since the foam is light but firm. It has a great design too since its stitching is on the side, preventing fluids from getting trapped around the edges. Lastly, Moonlight Slumber has an outstanding customer service. If you have trouble with their product, you can call them to help you fix it up.
3 Things to Look for When Buying the Best Crib Mattress
Newborn babies spend around 2/3’s of their day sleeping. What this means is that you need to make sure that you give the right amount of support for their spine and posture. Here are some of the things you need to know when choosing the right mattress:
1. Crib Size
It’s important for you to understand that the mattress should have a firm fit inside the crib. Adhering to the federal law means you need a mattress with the 27″ by 51″ dimensions at the very least. In addition to this, the mattress depth shouldn’t exceed 6″. Make sure that the gaps between the mattress and the crib are at 1.25″ max.
Going further might make the mattress move around too much. It might end up caving along the edges and pose a safety risk for your baby.
2. Firmness
Always look for mattresses that are both firm and flat. A mattress with too much cushioning might hinder your baby’s oxygen supply since it conforms around their head. This is important since there are cases where babies died due to suffocation. There are a lot of ways to check the mattress firmness. The best method of doing it is by pressing into it hard. If the mattress snaps right back up, it’s firm enough to ensure your infant’s safety.
3. Quality
The basic difference between the good and the bad types of mattresses is easy to spot. The latter will always have thin coverings as well as edgings. These cheap but low-quality mattresses will get worn faster as years go by. Something you need to stop worrying about is the warranty. Most of these are marketing strategies since it’s unlikely for you to use the crib mattress for a long time. Don’t ever let warranties dictate your buying options.
Benefits of a Crib Mattress
An important part of the quality of your baby’s sleep is your choice of mattress. Bad ones will always put your baby at risk and affect their health. Here are some benefits that you should be aware of:
Baby Mattresses are Great for Allergies
Traditional mattresses often collect dust mites. It irritates your baby’s skin and breathing since these pests find the warm environment hospitable. If your baby suffers from sneezing, itchy eyes, and general itches, it’s a symptom of dust mite allergy.
If your baby has allergies, they benefit a lot from organic mattresses. Most of these are waterproof, meaning dust mites can’t penetrate them.
Baby Mattresses are Chemical-Free
Getting the right type of mattress provides a toxin-free environment for your baby to rest in. Polyurethane mattresses are flammable so they need flame-retardant chemicals. In time, the chemicals leak out, affecting your baby and your entire family. The effects of chemical off-gassing are serious.
When you select organic crib mattresses, you can rest easy that they use materials like cotton. These are 100% natural and it won’t harm your little one in any way.