What Is The Safest Crib Mattress?

What if the crib mattress you’re using is silently putting your baby at risk? You might not realize it, but the mattress your baby sleeps on could be harboring chemicals that impact their health. As a parent, you prioritize your baby’s safety, and when it comes to sleep, that starts with a crib mattress. Babies spend up to 16-18 hours a day sleeping, and those hours matter more than you think. A safe, high-quality mattress doesn’t just ensure better sleep—it can save you money in the long run by lasting through the toddler years, all the while keeping harmful chemicals at bay.

In this post, I’ll walk you through the criteria for a safe baby crib mattress and share the top options that will give you peace of mind while your little one sleeps soundly in her toddler bed. I ended up buying a mattress for my son twice because I didn’t know that Greenguard Gold certification doesn’t mean much. Read on to learn more!

Note: This post does not address Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), as I’m not an expert on this topic. When I mention “health” or “safety” here, I’m referring specifically to reducing your baby’s long-term exposure to potentially harmful chemicals commonly found in conventional crib mattresses. I encourage you to research SIDS separately to stay well-informed.

What Is The Safest Crib Mattress?

When it comes to choosing the safest crib mattress, there’s much more to consider than just comfort. While a mattress should certainly be comfortable to help your baby sleep soundly, safety is paramount. The crib mattress you choose should be made with high-quality materials, free from harmful chemicals, and designed to provide proper support. Since babies are particularly sensitive to environmental toxins, the safety of the mattress plays a crucial role in their health, given they spend so much time in their cribs.

In this post, I will outline what makes a baby crib mattress safe as well as help you choose the safest crib mattress for your little one. I’ll also cover various aspects, such as materials, certifications, and features that you should look for to ensure that your baby is sleeping on safe and non-toxic mattress covers.

Are All Crib Mattresses Safe?

To begin with, many crib mattress manufacturers still use the materials that could pose potential health risks to your baby. They include polyurethane foam for the mattress filling and vinyl for the mattress covers. To clarify, polyurethane foam can off gas toxic flame retardants, and vinyl (PVC) may leach toxic chemicals into the air your baby is breathing while asleep. (Learn more about these materials in my blog posts about polyurethane foam in furniture and PVC yoga mats.)

Additionally, manufacturers use a variety of other materials for crib mattresses, such as synthetic fibers, polyurethane foam, and latex. All of the above can contain harmful chemicals that may be potentially damaging to your baby’s health. That’s why it’s essential to look for a mattress that is made from natural, organic materials and is free from toxic chemicals.

In short, in my opinion, not all crib mattresses are safe for your baby. Choosing the right one requires careful consideration of the materials used in its construction. The good news is that you don’t need to spend too much time on this research because I have already done it for you. Yes, I’ve been through thick and thin when I was looking for a safe crib mattress. I even purchased one mattress that I thought was the safest on the market, but in the end, it caused my newly born son to sweat and suffer. You can learn more in my blog post Is Sealy Soybean Foam-Core Crib Mattress Safe?.

How To Know If A Crib Mattress Is Safe

My decade-long research into the mattress industry allows me to formulate several criteria for a baby crib mattress to meet my strict safety standards. I believe some of the key factors to consider include:

• organic certification
• no harmful materials
• no latex
• waterproofing
• testing for safety according to Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) standards.

Let’s look at all of these factors closely.

Organic Certification

First, out of all existing mattress certifications out there, including CertiPUR-US, Greenguard Gold, and OEKO-TEX, the most important one – in my opinion – is the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). Indeed, it ensures that at least 95% of the mattress materials are organic, and the entire production process from raw materials to finished product adheres to strict environmental and social requirements.

Specifically, a GOTS-certified organic crib mattress is made from GOTS-certified organic cotton, organic wool, and other non-toxic, GOTS-approved materials that are gentle on your baby’s sensitive skin and respiratory system. Importantly, select a mattress that holds the GOTS certification for the whole mattress, not only mattress covers. This will also prevent you from buying a mattress with the potentially harmful materials we discuss next. (Find out if Organic Mattresses Are Worth It.)

No Harmful Materials

Second, by choosing a mattress certified by GOTS, you reduce exposure to harmful chemicals, such as:

• pesticides
• fertilizers
• polyurethane foam (including memory foam)
• flame retardants (like fiberglass)
• formaldehyde, and
• other volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

To meet safety regulations, GOTS allows none of the above. However, if the mattress boasts organic materials but has no GOTS certification for a whole mattress, it is possible that it contains some materials that GOTS would not approve. Thus, it may have organic mattress covers on the outside and polyurethane filling on the inside. Even the presence of CertiPUR-US, Greenguard Gold or OEKO-TEX certifications does not guarantee that the mattress is completely free from toxic emissions. Find out why in my blog post called How To Buy A Non-Toxic Mattress.

No Latex

Third, latex is a common material in mattresses, but it can trigger allergic reactions in some sensitive individuals, like babies. As adults, we know whether we are sensitive to latex; however, babies’ symptoms may not be apparent to you. Therefore, it’s essential to choose a crib mattress that is free of latex to reduce the risk of allergies. If latex is a concerning factor for you as well, you will benefit from my blog post about latex-free mattresses. Plus, if you have considered buying a crib mattress topper, including a latex one, read this first: Are Latex Crib Mattress Toppers Safe For Babies?.

Waterproofing

Next, I believe, a safe mattress should have a waterproof washable cover, made from non-toxic, food-grade materials, to keep your baby’s sleep surface clean and hygienic. Indeed, the waterproof cover will protect your baby from bacteria, mold, microbial contaminants, and dust mites that can develop in non-waterproof mattresses. This is especially vital if your baby sleeps with his face down, like my son did starting at 6 months young or so.  

Testing Per CPSC Standards

Lastly, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) provides guidance for testing crib mattresses to ensure safety. They also focus on firmness, durability, and proper fit within the crib to reduce the risk of suffocation, entrapment, and laceration.

10 Safe Crib Mattresses

Now that you know how to choose the safest crib mattress for your baby, let’s look at 10 safest crib mattresses available on the market. Their manufacturer is Naturepedic, one of the most transparent and integrity-oriented company I know. Discover the reasons we switched to Naturepedic non-toxic crib mattresses after making a mistake of buying a Sealy Soybean mattress as mentioned earlier.

All of the mattresses listed below share the following features:

• made in the USA by Amish craftsmen from organic cotton
• GOTS-certified organic as a whole (not just mattress covers)
• made without latex
• free from potentially harmful chemicals and materials (e.g., glues, adhesives, flame retardants, vinyl, phthalates, polyurethane foam)
• have a waterproof cover made from GOTS approved food-grade polyethylene
• meet rigorous Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) safety standards, and
• if purchased through the website (not a retail store), offer generous warranty and trial policies.

You can access your organic crib mattress and a 15% discount code here. Let’s talk about each of them a little more.

Classic Lightweight Crib Mattress

• Weight: 10 lbs.
• Price: $269
• Core: PE Wavesupport™
• Firmness: Single

Classic Lightweight 2-Stage Crib Mattress

• Weight: 11 lbs.
• Price: $299
• Core: PE Wavesupport™
• Firmness: Dual-sided (firm on the baby side and medium-firm on the toddler bed side)
• PLA made from non-GMO sugarcane on the toddler side for added resilience.

Classic Innerspring 2-Stage Crib Mattress

• Weight: 19 lbs.
• Price: $329
• Core: 150 Steel Coils
• Firmness: Dual-sided (firm on the baby side and medium-firm on the toddler bed side)
• PLA made from non-GMO sugarcane on the toddler side for added resilience.

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Breathable Lightweight 2-Stage Crib Mattress

• Weight: 14 lbs.
• Price: $359
• Core: PE Wavesupport™
• Firmness: Dual-sided (firm on the baby side and medium-firm on the toddler side)
• PLA made from non-GMO sugarcane on the toddler side for added resilience
• 360 air flow provided by removable, breathable, and washable layer doubling as a mattress protector.

Breathable Innerspring 2-Stage Crib Mattress

• Weight: 19 lbs.
• Price: $399
• Core: 252 Steel Coils
• Firmness: Dual-sided (firm on the baby side and medium-firm on the toddler side)
• PLA made from non-GMO sugarcane on the toddler side for added resilience
• 360 air flow provided by removable, breathable, and washable layer doubling as a mattress protector.

Breathable Ultra Lightweight 2-Stage Crib Mattress

• Weight: 14 lbs.
• Price: $459
• Core: PE Wavesupport™
• Firmness: Dual-sided (firm on the baby side and medium-firm on the toddler side)
• PLA made from non-GMO sugarcane on the toddler side for added resiliency
• 360 air flow provided by extra thick removable, breathable, and washable layer doubling as a mattress protector.

Breathable Ultra Innerspring 2-Stage Crib Mattress

• Weight: 19 lbs.
• Price: $499
• Core: 252 Steel Coils
• Firmness: Dual-sided (firm on the baby side and medium-firm on the toddler side)
• PLA made from non-GMO sugarcane on the toddler side for added resiliency
• 360 air flow provided by extra thick removable, breathable, and washable layer doubling as a mattress protector.

Breathable Mini Crib Mattress

• Weight: 8 lbs.
• Price: $279
• Fit: 23.5″x37.5″x3″ (versus 27 1/4″x51 5/8″x6″ of the regular models above)
• Core: PE Wavesupport™
• Firmness: Single
• 360 air flow provided by removable, breathable, and washable cover doubling as a mattress protector.

Oval Breathable Crib Mattress

• Weight: 8 lbs.
• Price: $359
• Fit: Stokke Sleepi Crib V2 (27″x47″x3″) or Stokke Sleepi Bed V3 (27.5″x53.7″x3″)
• Core: Cotton Fill + Food-Grade Polyethylene Foam
• Firmness: Single
• 360 air flow provided by removable, breathable, and washable cover doubling as a mattress protector.

Bassinet Mattress

• Weight: 3.5 lbs.
• Price: $139
• Fit: Halo Bassinets (17.5″x30″x1.3″)
• Core: Cotton Fill + Food-Grade Polyethylene Foam
• Firmness: Single
• 360 air flow provided by removable, breathable, and washable cover doubling as a mattress protector.

Conclusion: What Kind Of Crib Mattress Is The Safest?

In My Opinion, A Baby Crib Mattress Made Without Potentially Toxic Chemicals And Without Latex, Tested Per Consumer Product Safety Commission Rigorous Safety Standards, And Most Importantly – GOTS-Certified Organic As A Whole – Is The Safest Crib Mattress.

In conclusion, choosing a safe crib mattress for your baby is one of the most important decisions you can make as a parent. A safe mattress reduces the risk of exposure to harmful chemicals and provides a comfortable sleep surface for your little one. By focusing on organic materials, free from flame retardants and VOCs, you can ensure that your baby sleeps safely and soundly.

As I’ve outlined above, Naturepedic certified organic mattresses are of the highest-quality and meet my own strict standards for safety, formulated based on more than a decade of experience as a consumer product researcher. You can access your organic crib mattress and a 15% discount code here.

Your baby’s sleep health is worth the investment in a high-quality, safe, and comfortable mattress!

Take advantage of my unprecedented e-books on safe baby wipes and diapers. For information on other safe baby products, visit the I Read Labels For You blog. Also, check out my non-toxic product shop and my Amazon store. Finally, gain immediate access to my free emails for exclusive content, special discounts, and inspiration to support your healthy journey.

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