The Best Crib Mattress

A crib mattress might be the first place your newborn sleeps after coming home from the hospital, or it could be a step up from your baby’s bassinet or co-sleeper. Either way, finding the best crib mattress for your little one is something parents should and do take quite seriously.

Babies and even toddlers spend a great deal of time sleeping. Ensuring that their little beds are not only comfortable but also safe is a top priority. Little ones cannot tell you how their mattress feels. Determining whether it is the safest option must be done before placing the mattress into the crib as well. Performing sufficient research and testing prior to using the crib mattress will help you and your infant sleep safely and soundly.

“Since babies spend a lot of time sleeping, finding the right crib mattress is important,” Kate Desmond, an infant safe-sleep expert, says. “But unlike adult mattress shopping, selecting a crib mattress has a lot less to do with comfort and more to do with safety.”

Buying the crib and mattress at the same time are a good way to ensure you buy a mattress that fits into your baby’s crib as it should.

“To help prevent suffocation, a baby’s crib mattress should be firm and properly fitted for the crib it is being used in,” Desmond says. “While you might prefer a pillow top, remember a baby’s mattress is supposed to be hard.”

There are essentially two types of crib mattresses. Choosing between foam and innerspring mattresses is a personal decision that depends on multiple factors.

Foam mattresses can be made from a variety of materials. Foam crib mattresses are very lightweight and come in a variety of thicknesses, generally ranging from three to six inches. For greatest safety, it is wise to choose a foam crib mattress that is firm and a bit heavier than others, which snaps back into shape quickly when pressed down and released. A surface that is too soft could be a suffocation risk.

Also, memory foam crib mattresses or mattress toppers should be avoided for babies. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, memory foam is prone to indentation, which can increase a baby’s chance of suffocation. Choose a foam mattress that maintains its shape.  

Innerspring mattresses are a more traditional design. They consist of coils covered with padding, foam and fabric. These crib mattresses are heavy, especially when you choose one with thicker gauge coils and high quality cushioning. Although these might be more expensive, they tend to be firmer and more durable than lighter spring mattresses are.

The fabric that a crib mattress is made from could be an important factor for you. Natural and organic crib mattresses are considered gentle for babies and the planet. They can be made from a wide range of natural materials, such as cotton, food-grade polymers, wool and soybeans.

There are also crib mattresses that have multiple sleep surfaces. One side has an extra firm plant-based foam layer that is safe for an infant. The other side is plush and soft, which is appropriate only for a toddler.

“One more thing to keep in mind when purchasing your baby’s crib and mattress is that a fitted sheet is the only thing you need,” Desmond says. “Don’t be tempted by the bedding sets sold in stores. Extra bedding, like quilts and bumper pads, are actually quite dangerous for your baby.  And absolutely no other padding should be added to the mattress. Keep it simple: firm mattress, fitted sheet only.”

The size of a crib mattress is another aspect to consider. Although federal regulations mandate that all standard crib mattresses are a minimum size of 27 1/4” x 51 5/8” and no thicker than 6 inches. However, there is a “plus or minus” tolerance from the standard 28″ x 52 3/8″ rectangle for interior dimensions of a crib. For safety purposes, it is advisable to find a mattress that fits snugly inside the crib frame. Mini-cribs are generally 24″ x 38″ and will require special mattresses to fit securely as well.

The cost of a crib mattress can vary greatly. Of course, the price is not the primary factor that determines how well a crib mattress will work for your baby. Being aware of your budget and knowing what aspects of a mattress matter the most to you will ultimately help you choose the right one for your infant.

Safety standards established by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, as well as the American Society for Testing and Materials, ensure that crib mattresses sold in the United States are flame retardant and do not contain heavy metals that could be detrimental to your baby’s health.

• Always buy new. It might be tempting to accept a hand-me-down crib and mattress from your family or friends, but it is worth investing in your own. Cribs are subject to recalls and used crib mattresses could be less than sanitary.
• Some crib mattresses claim to be waterproof, but adding a waterproof, washable mattress cover is always a good idea. Babies might be tiny, but they can make big messes. You will likely appreciate having the ability to unzip a dirty cover and toss it into the washer rather than attempting to clean and dry a soiled mattress. Make sure the cover fits well and permits airflow so that your baby can breathe easily even after rolling over to stomach sleep.
• Check the fit. Try to insert two fingers into the gap between the mattress and the crib frame. If you can fit more than two fingers in that gap, the mattress is too small. Return the mattress and try another one that is a bit larger. Never try to fill the gap with blankets, pillows or foam, as this could also be dangerous to your little one.
• Soft sounds sweet, but firm is best for a baby. According to the CDC, there were about 1,400 deaths due to SIDS and about 900 deaths due to accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed in 2017. One study has shown that soft bedding is the top cause of suffocation death for sleeping babies.
• Avoid crib bumpers. Experts say there is no evidence that they prevent injuries. However, they can potentially interfere with a baby’s breathing.