Not to be the bearers of bad news, but the rumors you’ve heard are true — your baby’s arrival also heralds the end of sleep as you know it. While your forty winks are likely to take a dramatic nosedive, your best bet for getting some shut-eye may lie in your baby’s crib mattress. Keep in mind, though, that all mattresses are different. The best crib mattress is soft yet firm enough to support those sweet little growing bones and one that fits snugly into the crib’s frame. If waterproof isn’t at the top of your list, washable covers should be.
We’ve rounded up a list of some of the best baby mattresses for your consideration.
Top 10 crib mattresses
- Best overall: Graco Premium Foam Crib Mattress
- Best organic: Naturepedic Classic Organic Baby Crib Mattress
- Best budget: Safety 1st Heavenly Dreams
- Best splurge: Avocado Luxury Organic Crib Mattress
- Best mini: Moonlight Slumber Baby Bluebird Mini
- Best innerspring: Sealy FlexCool 2-Stage Crib and Toddler Mattress
- Best washable: Newton Baby Crib Mattress
- Best waterproof: Babyletto Pure Core Standard Dry
- Best mattress in a box: Sealy Butterfly Breathable Knit Crib and Toddler Mattress
- Best breathable: Halo DreamWeave Breathable Crib Mattress
How we chose
To curate our list of the best crib mattresses, we combed through product offerings from a host of manufacturers, researched product descriptions and safety standards, and compared the features and benefits of many. Once we narrowed down our top 10, we took a closer look at the details that matter for you and your baby, including materials, firmness, breathability, and waterproofness. And finally, we sifted through ratings and reviews to find the benefits and drawbacks of each and to determine how the mattresses performed in real-world settings.
You’ll notice each of our picks lists safety certifications. If you’re unfamiliar with the certifications and what they mean, we’ve broken down each at the end of the article.
Best overall: Graco Premium Foam Crib & Toddler Mattress
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Best budget: Safety 1st Heavenly Dreams
From
$60.99
to $71.99
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Pros
- Waterproof
- Lightweight
- Trusted brand
Cons
- Cover isn't removable
Safety 1st is one of the most well-known names in baby gear, and for a good reason: The company offers quality products at budget-friendly prices, so it shouldn’t be a stretch to see why the Heavenly Dreams mattress makes our list as the best budget crib mattress.
Made with a high-density thermo-bonded polyester fiber core that provides ultra-firm support for your baby, this highly-rated mattress is still lightweight and durable. It also features a 100% vinyl outer cover that wipes clean when you find yourself in a situation, shall we say. Plus it’s waterproof and stain resistant — check and check.
In keeping with the brand name, this mattress is Greenguard Gold-certified, so there’s no need to worry about VOC emissions around your baby.
Dimensions (LxWxH): 52 x 27.5 x 5 in.
Weight: 7.5 lbs.
Materials: Polyester, vinyl
Certifications: Greenguard Gold
Best splurge: Avocado Luxury Organic Crib Mattress
$1379
from
Avacado Green Mattress
Pros
- Dual-sided
- Good for toddlers up to 4 years old
- Organic
Cons
- Expensive (even for a splurge)
- Not waterproof
- Heavy
Like every other bit of your baby’s gear, crib mattresses come in budget options, splurge options, and everything in between. And at nearly $1,400, Avocado’s Luxury Organic Crib Mattress certainly qualifies as a splurge. And while this may seem incredibly spendy, rest assured this mattress offers a lot right out of the box.
First, it’s made with GOTS-certified organic cotton and wool, and it carries multiple certifications, including Greenguard Gold and MADE SAFE — ultimately equating to safe sleep for your baby and peace of mind for you.
Slicing the mattress down and middle, we find 170 organic cotton-wrapped coils arranged and cut by hand. The entire mattress is then wrapped in organic wool, which acts as a natural flame retardant (no chemicals), before being hand-finished with organic cotton ticking. The result is a firm yet plush mattress that expertly cradles your baby while they sleep.
Parents contemplating the investment might be interested to know that Avocado’s Luxury mattress is designed for use from year one up to year four. Babies start on the firm infant side, and parents can flip to the plush toddler side when the time is right — and in case you were wondering, each side is clearly labeled.
While this mattress has a lot to offer, it’s surprisingly not waterproof, which might be disappointing considering the high price tag.
Dimensions (LxWxH): 52 x 28 x 6 in.
Weight: 36 lbs.
Materials: Dunlop latex, 100% organic GOTS-certified wool/cotton
Certifications: Greenguard Gold, Formaldehyde-Free, GOTS Organic Certification, MADE SAFE
Best mini: Moonlight Slumber Baby Bluebird Mini
Pros
- Lightweight
- Affordable
- Dual-sided
Cons
- Polyurethane filling may not be optimal for some
A mini crib is probably your best bet if your baby’s nursery is short on real estate. A mini crib needs a mini mattress, of course, and according to our research, the Moonlight Slumber Baby Bluebird Mini comes out on top.
This lightweight, dual-sided crib mattress stays with your baby through toddlerhood. The firmer foam side is ideal for infants, and parents can switch to the temperature-controlling cool gel memory foam side in toddlerhood. The Baby Bluebird Mini crib mattress is water, stain, and odor-resistant and features a removable plush cotton cover.
Dimensions (LxWxH): 38 x 24 x 5 in.
Weight: 9.08 lbs.
Materials: Memory foam, cotton
Certifications: Greenguard Gold, CertiPUR-US
Best innerspring: Sealy FlexCool 2-Stage Crib and Toddler Mattress
Pros
- Firm support
- Waterproof lining
- Dual-sided
Cons
- Some reviews cited "bouncines"
For parents who prefer an innerspring mattress, Sealy’s FlexCool 2-Stage Crib and Toddler Mattress features a firmer infant side with durable steel coils and a softer toddler side with a lightweight, airy cushion that contours to your baby’s body. This mattress also features an EverEdge corner and side protector with heavy gauge steel border rods that offer plenty of edge support. That means that when you need to sit for tuck-ins and bedtime stories, you’re supported too.
On the outside, a waterproof barrier lining helps prevent liquids from seeping into the mattress (which can ultimately cause mold, mildew, and odor). Last but not least, the Sealy FlexCool features a breathable soft cotton cover that will feel comfy against your baby’s skin.
Dimensions (LxWxH): 51.63 x 27.25 x 5.75 in.
Weight: 14.9 lbs.
Materials: 100% polyester fiberfill, cotton
Certifications: Greenguard Gold
Best washable: Newton Baby Crib Mattress
Pros
- Fully washable
- Breathable
- Convertible from infant through toddler
Cons
- Expensive
The Newton Baby Crib Mattress is the only one on our list that’s washable from cover to core. Made of the brand’s specialty Wovenaire Core, no foam, glue, latex, or springs are present to get in the way. The 2-stage infant through toddler mattress provides just the right firmness for babies and comfort for toddlers, and unlike other brands, there’s no need to flip the mattress as your baby grows.
The soft quilted cover is made with the brand’s innovative Breathe-Thru technology that allows your baby to breathe right through, reducing the risk of suffocation. The only drawback is that these innovations pad a bit to the final price.
Dimensions (LxWxH): 52 x 28 x 5.5 in.
Weight: 14 lbs.
Materials: Food-grade polymer, polyester
Certifications: Greenguard Gold
Best waterproof: Babyletto Pure Core Standard Dry
Pros
- Waterproof cover
- 10-year warranty
- 2-stage, dual sided
Cons
- Reviewers noted some issues with quality
If there’s one thing that should top every list of nonnegotiables for crib mattresses, it’s waterproofing. Babies can be messy, and when life happens, you don’t want the mess soaking into the mattress your child is sleeping on. To that end, Babyletto’s Pure Core Standard Dry makes our list as the best waterproof crib mattress.
It features a soft, breathable cover with a waterproof backing that protects the mattress against accidents. So, not only does it effectively keep moisture out, but it’s also easy enough to wipe down when necessary.
Babyletto’s Pure Core crib mattress is a 2-stage dual-sided mattress with a firm, supportive side for infants and a softer side for toddlers. Parents concerned with the safety of their child’s sleeping environment will be happy to know that this mattress is Greenguard Gold-certified. Moreover, it's made with a 100% recyclable polyester core and is free of chemical flame retardants, allergens, polyurethane, vinyl (PVC), PFCs, synthetic latex, and dyes.
It’s worth noting that a few reviewers had issues with quality. They indicated that the mattress didn’t hold up as well as they hoped.
Dimensions (LxWxH): 52 x 27.88 x 5.5 in.
Weight: 14 lbs.
Materials: 100% polyester fiber, polyester, cotton
Certifications: Greenguard Gold
