The Best Crib Mattress - 2022
We looked at the top 17 and dug through the reviews from 62 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best .
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Our Picks For The Top
- The Best
- 1. Safety 1st Heavenly Dreams Hypoallergenic Crib Mattress
- 2. Newton Breathable & Hypoallergenic Baby Crib Mattress
- 3. Graco Premium Foam Crib Mattress
- 4. Delta Children Twinkle Stars Fiber Core Crib Mattress
- 5. Sealy Baby Firm Rest Antibacterial Crib Mattress
- 6. Dream On Me Twilight Spring Crib Mattress
- 7. Milliard Waterproof Hypoallergenic Baby Crib Mattress
- 8. Milliard Premium Memory Foam Hypoallergenic Crib Mattress
- 9. Dream On Me Sunset Extra Firm Portable/Mini Crib Mattress
- 10. Kolcraft Pure Sleep Therapeutic 150 Waterproof Crib Mattress
- 11. My First Crib Mattress
- 12. Moonlight Slumber Little Dreamer Crib Mattress
- 13. Sealy Soybean Foam Crib Mattress
- 14. Naturepedic No Compromise Organic Crib Mattress
- 15. American Baby Company Crib Mattress
- 16. Serta Tranquility Eco Firm Innerspring Crib Mattress
- 17. Milliard Crib Mattress
Affordable QualityThis crib mattress may be affordable, but that doesn't mean it skimps on quality.
Eco-Friendly ModelYou'll find this crib mattress comes in a choice of pink, white or gray.
Ensures Proper Air FlowBabies have accidents, which is why this crib mattress is made with a water-resistant outer cover that is also removable and washable.
Grows With Your BabyThis crib mattress is designed to grow with your baby, as it can also be used as a toddler bed later on.
Why we recommend these ?
Products Considered
Products Analyzed
Expert Reviews Included
User Opinions Analyzed
Our experts reviewed the top 17 and also dug through the reviews from 62 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best of the best .
DWYM is your trusted roduct review source. Our team reviews thousands of product reviews from the trusted top experts and combines them into one easy-to-understand score. Learn more.
The Best Overall
Safety 1st Heavenly Dreams Hypoallergenic Crib Mattress
Our Take
For parents seeking a firm yet lightweight option, this crib mattress weighs just over seven pounds. The mattress contains no PVC or other dangerous substances. Though affordable, this option boasts many features of its more expensive counterparts.
What other experts liked
What other experts didn't like
The Best Bang For Your Buck
Delta Children Twinkle Stars Fiber Core Crib Mattress
Our Take
Free of toxic fire retardants and other harmful chemicals, this crib mattress is a safe choice for baby. Both sides of the mattress are waterproof, so you can flip the mattress when needed. Since the mattress also meets standard toddler bed sizes, you can continue to use it as your baby grows.
What other experts liked
What other experts didn't like
Overall Product Rankings
10. Kolcraft Pure Sleep Therapeutic 150 Waterproof Crib Mattress
Our Findings
Safety 1st Heavenly Dreams Hypoallergenic Crib Mattress
What We Liked: For parents seeking a firm yet lightweight option, this crib mattress weighs just over seven pounds. The mattress contains no PVC or other dangerous substances. Though affordable, this option boasts many features of its more expensive counterparts.
Newton Breathable & Hypoallergenic Baby Crib Mattress
What We Liked: Constructed from a food-grade polymer, this crib mattress is filled with air and much more breathable than other models on the market. The mattress includes a cover that’s machine washable for ease of care. It’s also hypoallergenic, so it’s perfect for a newborn’s sensitive skin.
Graco Premium Foam Crib Mattress
What We Liked: Your baby is sure to sleep soundly on this crib mattress, as it’s made using a breathable foam that promotes proper air flow. The mattress is encased in a water-resistant cover to protect it from any diaper mishaps. Parents will especially appreciate that the mattress is free of lead and mercury.
Delta Children Twinkle Stars Fiber Core Crib Mattress
What We Liked: Free of toxic fire retardants and other harmful chemicals, this crib mattress is a safe choice for baby. Both sides of the mattress are waterproof, so you can flip the mattress when needed. Since the mattress also meets standard toddler bed sizes, you can continue to use it as your baby grows.
Sealy Baby Firm Rest Antibacterial Crib Mattress
What We Liked: With a 204 steel coil system, this crib mattress is able to provide proper posture support. The mattress is also waterproof with an antibacterial surface that is able to eliminate bacteria. Parents will also appreciate that the mattress is soft and made with an anti-sag weight distribution system.
Our Expert Consultant
Parenting Pro and Safe-Sleep Expert
Kate Desmond is a writer and infant safe-sleep expert. She has spent the last eight years working as the marketing director for Charlie’s Kids Foundation, a nonprofit that aims to educate families about SIDS and safe sleep. In that role, she travels around the country learning and educating caregivers and providers on the latest and greatest safe-sleep information to prevent infant death.
As mom to two elementary-aged daughters, she spends hours researching the best and safest products for her own kids. She is quick to get in the weeds with other mamas, and uses humor to cope with parenting woes from potty-training to teaching kids to read. She writes about the ups and downs of parenting on her blog.
Our Buying Guide
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 is 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 the 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, is 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-inches by 51 5/8-inches and no thicker than 6 inches. However, there is a “plus or minus” tolerance from the standard 28-inches by 52 3/8-inches 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-inches by 38-inches 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.
DWYM Fun Fact
Our idea of a suitable baby bed has certainly changed throughout the centuries. Rocker-mounted cradles were popular from medieval times through the 17th century. Over the next 200 years, wicker cradles raised on end supports gained popularity.
During the 1920s and 1930s, some mothers put their babies to bed in metal cages that were mounted on the outside of windows. These chicken coop-like pens were intended to provide fresh air for little ones, primarily in crowded cities with little yard space.
Finnish babies have slept in boxes since the 1940s. The government provides equips expectant parents with cardboard boxes that contain necessities such as diapers, clothing and a mattress that turns the box into a bed. Interestingly, Finland has one of the world’s lowest infant mortality rates.
The Tips and Advice
- 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.
About The Author
Alicia Bodine is a New Jersey-based writer and mother of two. As an aunt to countless nieces and nephews, Alicia spends her free time researching the latest toys and educational products to purchase the best gifts for her favorite little ones. With more than 15 years of experience, her work has appeared in leading baby and parenting publications. When she's not writing, you'll find her gardening, spending time with her kids, cooking in the kitchen or playing with her two kitties, Flitter and Otter. Alicia loves researching the latest and greatest gadgets, products and items that help her save time, energy and money.
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