The Best Crib Mattresses to Buy Online
We are at our most vulnerable when we are at our infancy. We need constant care and attention, and even the slightest miscare can put our health and well-being at risk. That's why parents should never skimp on anything their toddler spends more than a moment with each day, and especially on things that they spend a large part of their day in close contact with, such as diapers, pacifiers and their crib — the most important part of which is, of course, the mattress.
Here are out picks for the best crib mattresses for infants and toddlers.
Avocado Organic Crib
- Side sleepers
- Back sleepers
- Stomach sleepers
- Trial Period
30 Days
- Warranty Period
25 Years
- Return Fee
Free
- Shipping Fee
Free
Avocado is known for making green, eco-friendly mattresses that are both healthy for the environment and the sleeper, and this mattress is no different. The Organic Crib Mattress is crafted with certified non-toxic organic cotton, wool, and latex, and even its manufacturing process is eco-friendly and sustainable.
The Organic Crib Mattress is pleasant to the touch and features a dual-sided design, with one side intended for infants (up to 1 year old) and one for toddlers (up to 3 years old). For easier cleaning, you can pair the mattress with Avocado's quilted cotton protector pad, which is moisture-resistant and stays snugly in place with the aid of elastic corner straps. It costs $59 and can be purchased along with the mattress.
The mattress features no chemical adhesives nor vinyl waterproofing. It's even has a GREENGUARD Gold certification, which is on of the most stringent green certifications in the world, with strict health-based criteria that ensure it's 100% safe for your child.
The mattress is very affordable. It comes with a generous 25-year limited warranty, free shipping across the contiguous US and free returns.
Size Options
Saatva Crib
- Side sleepers
- Back sleepers
- Stomach sleepers
- Trial Period
365 Days
- Warranty Period
Lifetime
- Return Fee
Free
- Shipping Fee
Free
Saatva is a prominent mattress company well-known for its hypoallergenic, high quality mattresses for all ages. The Saatva Crib Mattress is just that, and even includes a plush water-resistant cover that can be removed and machine-washed.
Just like the Avocado Organic Crib Mattress, the Saatva Crib Mattress is GREENGUARD Gold certified. It is entirely non-toxic, extremely hypoallergenic and very easy to clean and maintain, which promotes cleaner, healthier sleep for your baby.
This crib mattress has a dual-sided design and is made with breathable eucalyptus fibers, latex and steel coils for extra firm support. It even has good edge support, which prevents sagging at the sides and enables your toddler to sleep on any part of the mattress without issue.
The Saatva Crib Mattress is fairly affordable. It comes with a 10-year limited warranty, free shipping across the contiguous US and free returns.
Size Options
Naturepedic Organic Breathable Ultra Baby Crib
- Side sleepers
- Back sleepers
- Stomach sleepers
- Trial Period
-1 Days
- Warranty Period
-1 Years
- Return Fee
Free
- Shipping Fee
Free
The Naturepedic Organic Breathable Ultra 2-Stage Baby Crib Mattress is made from PLA, organic cotton and semi-rigid wave-shaped polymer support layer (can be exchanged for steel coils for an additional cost), making it the most breathable crib mattress on this list. This allows for better heat and moisture wicking, which can help your toddler sleep easier without waking up from discomfort.
While it isn't as low-cost as the previous entries on this list, the Naturepedic Organic Crib Mattress is nevertheless a good investment, and has great value for money. It comes with a removable and machine-washable cover made of breathable organic cotton.
This crib mattress is also GREENGUARD Gold certified, and the top layer of the mattress has waterproof coating, making it easy to wipe clean and thusly maintain sanitary.
The Naturepedic Organic Crib Mattress is somewhat expensive. It comes with a limited lifetime warranty, free shipping across the contiguous US and free returns.
Size Options
Nest Bedding Stork
- Side sleepers
- Back sleepers
- Stomach sleepers
- Trial Period
30 Days
- Warranty Period
Lifetime
- Return Fee
Free
- Shipping Fee
Free
While the Nest Stork is dual-sided, it is the only mattress on this list that lacks 2-stage functionality. Instead, its manufacturer aimed to make both of its sides suitable for both infants and toddlers — and quite successfully, I might add. This adds to its price, but gives you the option of flipping the mattress whenever you wish to.
This GREENGUARD Gold certified crib mattress is made entirely of organic wool, cotton and latex in an eco-friendly manufacturing process. Its design is simple and elegant, and its quilted cover is very soft and plush.
Nest also offers 0% APR financing, which will allow you to pay over time for your Nest Stork with no added interest and without any catch.
The Nest Stork is fairly expensive. It comes with a limited lifetime warranty which can be upgraded for cheap to an extended warranty, alongside free shipping across the contiguous US and free returns.
Size Options
Avocado Luxury Organic Crib
- Side sleepers
- Back sleepers
- Stomach sleepers
- Trial Period
100 Days
- Warranty Period
25 Years
- Return Fee
Free
- Shipping Fee
Free
If you're in the mood for splurging, this is the crib mattress to get. It is by far the most luxurious option on this list, and looks and feels accordingly. You shouldn't consider purchasing this mattress unless you can afford it, but if you can, then feel free to do so and give your new baby the comfort they deserve.
The Avocado Luxury Organic Crib Mattress is certified by pretty much any standard worth mentioning, and is made with 100% organic, green, non-toxic and sustainable natural materials in a likewise green and sustainable manufacturing process.
The mattress is crafted by hand in the US from coco husk, cotton-wrapped steel coils, wool (which covers the mattress and is also layered between the coils to prevent noise and increase durability), hemp and latex. In place of glue, six internal hand-tufts are used for durability.
In short, if we could somehow provide this mattress for every baby in the world, not only would we give them the best sleep they can get, but make the world a better place for them along the way.
The Avocado Luxury Organic Crib Mattress is very expensive. It comes with a 25-year limited warranty, free shipping and returns.
Size Options
| Avocado Organic Crib | Saatva Crib | Naturepedic Organic Breathable Ultra Baby Crib | Nest Bedding Stork | Avocado Luxury Organic Crib | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sleep positions | |||||
| Upgradable | |||||
| Firmness | |||||
| Soft firmness | |||||
| Medium firmness | |||||
| Firm firmness | |||||
| Medium soft firmness | |||||
| Medium firm firmness | |||||
| Returns policy | |||||
| Free return shipping | |||||
| Returns fee | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sleep positions | |||||
| Back sleepers | |||||
| Front sleepers | |||||
| Side sleepers | |||||
| Trial & warranty | |||||
| Trial period | 30 | 365 | 30 | 100 | |
| Lifetime warranty | |||||
| Warranty period | 25 | 25 | |||
Rating the Best Crib Mattresses
Here is the only time size truly does not matter. A crib mattress should fit a crib, and since all standard cribs have the same measures, this is the one question you shouldn't really be reoccupied with. The more relevant and far more important questions you should ask are as follows:
- Will it fit both infants and toddlers? Since your child will grow rapidly, his changing body will quickly need different levels of firmness and support. Most crib mattresses, and nearly all the mattresses on this list, achieve that by having a dual-sided design, where one side is suited for infants and the other for toddlers.
- Is it non-toxic? Small children are much more susceptible to toxins, and thus need a mattress that doesn't off-gas any VOCs and isn't made from any materials that may probably be fine for an adult to sleep on, but not so much for a newborn. Every material in the mattress must be certified by a third-party nonprofit organization as 100% harmless to humans. If it has any foams, then the mattress needs to be Certipur-US certified, if it incorporates any latex, it needs to be GOLS certifies, and so on.
- Is it hypoallergenic? A clean environment is imperative for the healthy development of your child. Mattresses that are not hypoallergenic tend to draw and amass small amounts of bacteria, mold, fungi, pollen and dust mites. While these may be fine for an adult with no allergies to sleep on, its a different story for a baby whose respiratory system has only recently developed and whose immune system and in its earliest stages still. A hypoallergenic mattress is made from materials that don't allow allergens to easily cling to them, thus making them easier to clean and healthier for your child.
- Is it easy to clean? As I've already mentioned, a clean environment is imperative for a baby, and being able to easily clean his sleeping surface will save you a lot of time and effort, and will encourage you to do it more regularly. It also means that the mattress is more accident-proof, which is a huge boon for any child who hasn't yet gone through potty training.
- Does it have good value for money? The last question you need to ask is if the mattress is worth the asking price, since your child will outgrow it in a few short years, and you'll want to be saving up for their kids mattress. A generous warranty, as always, is a great help in this regard, especially if you're planning to use the same mattress for your next child.
Each mattress we recommend in this article, while excelling in different aspects, has all the above qualities.
Conclusion
Since infants and toddlers require basically the same things to support their healthy physical development, the crib mattresses on this list are quite similar. We suggest you check their main differences and go with whichever one seems to suit you most.
But, regardless of which mattress you choose, be sure to keep anything that might block the airway of your child (such as unnecessary toys or pillows) out of the crib, lay the child on their back to reduce the risk of SIDS, and flip the mattress to its other side when it is time to do so.
How can I try out these mattresses?
There's a button at the bottom of each mattress appraisal that will redirect you to the mattress company's website, where you can purchase it at a discount. Each of these companies let you try out the mattress for a few months and either keep it or return it for a full refund (though some of them charge a small fee for retrieval). In this way, you can try out any of these mattresses, see if it's to your liking, and return it if it's not.
What are the warranties on these mattresses?
Most of these companies offer at least a 10-year warranty that covers any damage done to the mattress not by misuse or negligence, though some offer a lengthier warranty. You can read the review of the mattress by clicking it's company's logo for more details.
Do these mattresses come with a crib?
No, unless you order one along with them, and most of these companies don't sell cribs as they are frankly the least important part. A simple wooden one would suffice, though you can get fancier if you'd like. You'd however probably need to purchase it from another retailer.
Where can these mattresses be shipped to?
These companies currently only ship to the contiguous United States, not including Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, etc. They do, however, usually ship to Alaska and Hawaii for an additional fee.
Are these mattresses 100% safe for my baby?
Without question.