Buying a new mattress for your little one is a precious process. However, since your baby’s comfort and safety are likely at the forefront of your mind, this experience may cause some stress, especially if you are contending with budget or space constraints. Also, with so many options, you might feel overwhelmed when shopping for the best crib mattress.
Thankfully, we’re here to help. Below, we’ve outlined our top picks. All of these mattresses are reviewed in person by our expert testers, many of whom are parents themselves. Rest assured that you’ll find the right mattress that’ll have your baby sleeping soundly through the night.
Clarity’s Clear Winner
According to our testers, the best crib mattress is the Saatva Crib mattress, because of its high-quality, firm, and supportive construction that should keep baby comfortably aloft—regardless of which side of this flippable bed you choose. It’s outfitted with a waterproof, antibacterial cover, and its construction uses a variety of organic, natural, and recycled materials. It even comes with a generous lifetime warranty. And, the 45-night sleep trial gives you plenty of time to decide if it’s the right fit for your little one.
The Best Crib Mattresses
- Saatva Crib Mattress – Best Crib Mattress Overall
- Avocado Eco Organic Crib Mattress – Best Organic Crib Mattress
- Newton Waterproof Crib Mattress – Best Waterproof Crib Mattress
- Moonlight Slumber Little Dreamer – Best Affordable Crib Mattress
- Naturepedic Breathable Organic 2-Stage Baby Crib Mattress – Best Crib Mattress for Babies and Toddlers
How We Tested and Selected the Mattresses
The best crib mattresses are made from high-quality, non-toxic materials that prioritize comfort, safety, and longevity. When evaluating a crib’s construction, we look not only at the feel and durability of its materials but also at any safety certifications and third-party testing. These ensure the wellbeing of your child, who may be more sensitive to chemicals or synthetics often found in traditional mattresses for adults.
Each of these crib mattresses earned a rating out of 5 for its materials, taking into account the areas I mentioned above. On this list, every crib mattress earned at least a 4.5/5, a sign of quality construction.

Firmer sleep surfaces are recommended as the safest and most comfortable for infants, as this will properly support their bodies. A too-soft crib mattress may cause breathing problems if the baby sinks too deeply into the mattress. We kept this in mind when evaluating the feel and firmness of each crib mattress.
In the absence of a little one to test the bed themselves, we press down on the mattress surface to see how soft it feels. If a crib mattress feels properly firm and supportive, we give it a high rating in this category. All the crib beds on this list earned at least a 4/5 for firmness, with many scoring perfectly in this category.

Any new mattress is an investment, even a tiny one for a crib. You’re likely looking for a great deal on a quality product for your baby, even with the small window of use. After receiving and testing each crib bed, our testers assigned a price score out of 5 to each. This reflects whether they felt the experience they had was worth the price.
There are many budget-friendly crib mattresses out there, but parents and guardians may be concerned about low-quality materials, fiberglass, or other drawbacks of cheap beds. All of the crib mattresses on this list are thoughtfully constructed with safe materials and come with a laundry list of certifications. Of course, some may come at a higher price for premium-quality organic components, which may benefit shoppers with extra budget wiggle room.

Our team of Certified Sleep Science Coaches selected the best crib beds by looking for top performers in the categories above: materials, support, and value.
But our full process involves testing several aspects of a bed’s performance, including fit, customer service, and more. We evaluate and score these factors using specialized technology as well as firsthand accounts of how a bed feels.
Once we have all those scores, we calculate the crib mattress’s overall score using a weighted formula. This overall score is a good indicator of a mattress’s general quality, and is always a number out of 5.
As we decide which mattresses to feature on any roundup, we only include beds with an overall score of 3.5 out of 5 or higher. Even if a mattress does certain things well, we won’t point you towards it if it falls below this baseline.
Learn more about how we test mattresses at Mattress Clarity.
- 500+ mattresses tested in person
- 30+ data points collected for each bed
- Certified Sleep Science Coaches on staff
- Expert input from our Chief Medical Advisor Dr. Raj Dasgupta (MD, FACP, FCCP, FAASM), and our Chief Medical Product Tester Dr. Hannah Habeeb (DPT)
- 43,000+ readers who bought a new bed based on our recommendations
Learn more about Mattress Clarity.

Saatva Crib Mattress – Best Crib Mattress Overall
Saatva Crib Mattress

This luxurious, dual-sided crib mattress includes a mix of natural materials to provide sound sleep for both infants and toddlers.
Mattress Clarity Score
4.8 / 5
Avocado Eco Organic Crib Mattress – Best Organic Crib Mattress
Avocado Eco Organic Crib Mattress

This organic crib mattress is made of organic wool, cotton, and coconut fibers, and it comes with a plethora of certifications and third party testing to put parents’ minds at ease.
Mattress Clarity Score
4.8 / 5
Newton Waterproof Crib Mattress – Best Waterproof Crib Mattress
newton Waterproof Crib Mattress

This two-stage waterproof crib mattress features a removable and washable cover with waterproof lining on the toddler side.
Mattress Clarity Score
4.8 / 5
Moonlight Slumber Little Dreamer Crib Mattress – Best Affordable Crib Mattress
Moonlight Slumber Little Dreamer Crib Mattress

This all-foam crib mattress has a firm feel and is affordably priced to suit budget shoppers looking for a safe, comfortable bed for their baby.
Mattress Clarity Score
4.3 / 5
Naturepedic Breathable Organic 2-Stage Baby Crib Mattress – Best Crib Mattress for Babies and Toddlers
Naturepedic Breathable Organic 2-Stage Baby Crib Mattress

This two-stage mattress works for both infants and toddlers. It’s made with organic cotton and a supportive mesh naturally derived from sugarcane fibers.
Mattress Clarity Score
4.3 / 5
Other Crib Mattresses We Researched
If you didn’t find your dream crib mattress above, here are two more options we tested:
- Avocado Green Luxury Organic Crib Mattress – Like the Eco, this is another organic mattress from Avocado, but it is made with more luxurious materials. It features organic wool, cotton, coconut fibers, and even recycled steel coils. While our tester found it pleasantly firm and sturdily made, she noted that it was quite heavy, making it difficult to move and clean.
- My Green Mattress Emily Organic Crib Mattress – Another organic crib mattress that might tickle your fancy is the Emily mattress from My Green Mattress. If you’re looking for a super-firm crib mattress, this is the one. It contains organic wool, coconut, and latex to create a sturdy yet comfortable surface that helps your baby sleep soundly. The only qualm our tester had was that it seemed to be spot-clean only, as there wasn’t a removable cover.
What Makes a Great Crib Mattress
I’ve hopefully established that the best crib mattresses will be made of premium materials, provide the right amount of support, and be reasonably priced. Let’s dive a bit deeper into each of these areas, so you might know what to prioritize in your unique search.
Materials

As a parent or guardian of an infant, you’re likely concerned about what’s in your crib mattress. You may have heard of some beds using fiberglass as a flame retardant to cut costs, despite the known negative effects of exposure.
Moreover, some studies have shown that many crib mattresses contain materials that can produce a high number of VOCs, or volatile organic compounds. These are released into the air through what’s called “off-gassing,” AKA, that new mattress smell. In most cases, this is harmless. However, increased exposure to these compounds can cause adverse effects like discomfort or health problems, so many crib shoppers may want to look for mattresses made without or with less of these materials.
How do you avoid these materials? The good news is that most brands are forthright about what’s in their mattress and are happy to brag about high-quality, organic, natural materials. Another good option are those that have gone through third-party testing for things like VOC emissions, lead, and more; it’s an extra layer of security.
Many crib mattresses also include a long list of certifications for safety and sustainability. Some certifications are signs of safe, non-toxic materials, while others are fairly bare bones. CertiPUR-US certifications are pretty easy to get as they refer primarily to chemicals that are already banned in manufacturing. On the other hand, GOLS (Global Organic Latex Standard) and GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) are touted as some of the best for organic products, and involve much more rigorous testing and selection.
Wool, cotton, latex, or plant fibers are common natural components in crib mattresses. Synthetic materials like foam and polyester are found in some of the more affordable options. These aren’t necessarily bad, just as natural products aren’t necessarily good for all sleepers—read the fine print closely if you have any doubts. Like big kid beds, crib mattresses can come in foam or innerspring style. We don’t recommend one over the other, but innerspring beds will likely be sturdier and heavier.
Our testers take all of this into account when rating a crib mattress’s materials. Aside from the many certifications and safety standards, they also look at the quality of the bed itself. Even if it’s all-natural and safe, you want it to hold up throughout your little one’s growth. These beds should feel thick, durable, and firm—something I’ll dive a bit deeper into below.
Support
“Firmer mattresses are best for toddlers and infants, as these will provide the most support,” says our chief medical advisor, Dr. Raj Dasgupta. This claim isn’t just about comfort. It’s further backed up by many studies, which tout firm mattresses as paramount, especially in the case of SIDS. A too-soft mattress can have a baby sinking too far into the bed, leading to rebreathing, a compromised airway, or even suffocation.
Thankfully, most crib mattress manufacturers are well aware of this and strive to keep your little one safe. We found that every crib mattress we tested fell on the firmer side, though some felt firmer than others, receiving a higher firmness score. We wouldn’t recommend a crib mattress that scored lower than a 4/5 for firmness, as it’s likely too soft.

“Traditional memory foam will likely be too soft for a crib mattress,” adds Dr. Dasgupta. “This is what gives the bed a super slow-moving feel that many adults love, but it’s not preferable for infants.” You’ll be better served by beds that feature firmer synthetic foams, denser materials like wool, or even mattresses with steel coils.
Some crib beds are flippable, so you can use the slightly softer side as a toddler bed once your little one is not-so-little anymore. You can also purchase a kids’ mattress specifically designed for toddlers and young teens, and we have many to recommend.
Price
Crib mattresses are small but mighty, but some of the higher-end models can still run you hundreds of dollars. With safety and comfort at the forefront of shoppers’ minds, it can be difficult to lean toward a budget option when there is a risk of unsafe materials like fiberglass. Generally, we recommend spending $150 to $200 on a crib mattress, as this will likely meet safety standards and provide a quality product. For reference, our pick for the best affordable crib mattress comes in at $200 and earned a 4.5/5 rating for price.
Our testers look at every aspect of the mattress before rating its overall price. It’s more than the quality and certifications that come with it—they consider how it performed, any extra features, and even the warranty, stacking all this against the retail price. The exact number matters less; it’s more important that the mattress has great value for all that it offers. We believe that all the options on our list provide great value for their price, as they all earned at least a 3.5/5 price score.
What Else Is Important When Buying a Crib Mattress?
Still unsure what to look for in a new crib mattress? Allow me to outline some other areas that could factor into your final decision.
Size and Fit
You’ll also want to consider how the mattress fits into your crib set-up. First, determine which type of crib bed you’ll need. There are two types of crib mattresses: mini-crib mattresses (which are a bit smaller) and standard-size crib mattresses. If you have a bassinet, the dimensions will vary.
You may also wonder about the thickness of your crib mattress. I don’t have any specific recommendations for a certain depth, so go with your personal preference. However, ensure it isn’t too tall with the crib you have, or else your baby might crawl out when your back is turned.

On top of that, you’ll want your mattress to fit snugly in your crib. This means no gapping or bunching, which can become a safety concern for your baby. As you’re probably well aware, babies can move around a lot when they sleep, so you don’t want your baby stuck in a nook or cranny between the crib frame and the bed.
We evaluate this category when testing each of our crib mattresses, rating the overall score out of 5. All of the beds on this list earned a 5/5 for fit, meaning they should fit comfortably and completely in standard cribs.
Extra Features
For some folks, a standard crib mattress that gets the job done is enough. But many now feature nifty features to make sleep easier.
A couple of the crib mattresses on this list are flippable, meaning they offer two firmness levels in one. This makes transitioning from a baby bed to a toddler mattress easier. Both need a firm, supportive sleep surface, though toddlers can get away with just a bit more softness. It eliminates the need to buy a whole new mattress once your child is old enough, cutting costs and saving some hassle.
Some crib mattresses also feature waterproofing elements in the cover or the mattress itself. Accidents happen, so this could make clean-up easier—but refreshing and keeping a clean sleep environment is always a plus. In the same vein, you might prefer a crib mattress that features a removable and machine-washable cover or mattress protector.
These extra features enhance your overall experience as a parent—and hopefully your little one’s experience, too—but they can also add to the overall cost. It’s up to you if you think they’re worth it.
Company Policies
When purchasing a new mattress online, it’s easy to skip the fine print of warranties and trials, but you can actually reap plenty of value from these policies. For one, sleep trials allow you to test out the bed before committing to the purchase. Traditional mattresses tend to have longer sleep trials than crib beds, but most brands will give you about a month to try before you buy.
If you decide to keep your mattress, it’s backed by the brand’s warranty. Trying to decode the specific parameters of a warranty can be a pain, but on the surface level, we like to see it as a preview of how long the bed is expected to last. Longer warranties speak to a greater confidence in the product’s quality and durability, as the brand is willing to cover damages for an extended time period. Some of the crib mattresses on this list even come with a lifetime warranty, which is the best money can buy.
Best Crib Mattress FAQs
What are the top rated crib mattresses?
The top-rated crib mattresses vary depending on whose list you’re looking at, but in our terms, we recommend the Saatva Crib Mattress, Avocado Green Crib Mattress, or Newton Crib Mattress if you’re looking for a high-quality, comfortable, and safe option.
What is the best crib mattress to avoid SIDS?
Studies have shown that soft mattresses are often associated with SIDS, so we recommend a firmer mattress that will keep your baby elevated and supported. Avoid mattresses that allow your baby to sink too far into the surface, as this can compromise their breathing. If you have any concerns about SIDS or your crib setup, always speak to your pediatrician or healthcare provider.
What is the best baby mattress to get?
In our humble opinion, the Saatva Crib mattress is one of the best mattresses to get for your baby. Saatva’s policies can’t be beat, and this crib mattress has everything you could want. It has a flippable construction for both babies and toddlers, so it can seamlessly transition into your child’s next phase of life. It also features a waterproof cover with an antimicrobial treatment for fresh, clean sleep.
References
- Boor, B. E., Järnström, H., Novoselac, A., & Xu, Y. (2014). Infant Exposure to Emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds from Crib Mattresses. Environmental Science & Technology, 48(6), 3541–3549. https://doi.org/10.1021/es405625q
- United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2024, August 13). Volatile Organic Compounds’ Impact on Indoor Air Quality. US EPA. https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/volatile-organic-compounds-impact-indoor-air-quality
- Ahlers-Schmidt, C.R. (2025). Firm and Flat Sleep Surfaces. In: Moon, R.Y. (eds) Infant Safe Sleep. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-84294-8_9

















