10 Best Crib Mattresses 2024 in the United States

There are two main types of crib mattress types: foam and innerspring. Additionally, there are a host of cushioning material options available, such as polyester, organic cotton, memory foam, and latex foam. Here is a description of each, to help you review, compare and choose the right one for your baby.

Foam Crib Mattresses: These are lightweight polyurethane mattresses that are known for durability. With an ideal density of approximately 1.5 pounds per cubic foot, these light mattresses are very good value for money and perfect for travel and home cribs.

Polyester Innerspring Crib Mattresses: These crib mattresses are both comfortable for your baby and very durable. Made from PET (which is typically recycled water bottles), they are also better for the environment and hypoallergenic, which is healthier for babies.

Organic Cotton Innerspring Crib Mattresses: These crib mattresses are filled with organic cotton cushioning that provides softness to the steel and springs. Cotton cushioning is natural and renewable and a popular choice among modern mothers.

Memory Foam Innerspring Crib Mattresses: Memory foam crib mattresses takes the shape of your child while they are sleeping and are made from petroleum. They are ideal for older babies and toddlers moving to stage 2 cribs.

Latex Foam Innerspring Crib Mattresses: These high-end mattresses are made from hypoallergenic latex material that springs to its original shape instantly. Found mostly in cribs for older babies and toddlers, these are a healthy comfortable upgrade when your baby is ready for a stage 2 crib.

Based on all the consumers' reviews we've scanned, these are the top things they mentioned about their new stuff:

1. Firm: There is no doubt, firmness is the most important crib mattress issue for parents since firmness is a direct link to safety. Soft mattresses are not reviewed well at all, and choosing a good firm mattress will give you a lot more peace of mind.
2. Weight: Crib mattresses that are light, and therefore easy to change and clean, are rated highly by parents. A lightweight mattress will ensure more convenience and a lot less hassle when changing sheets or covers.
3. Comfort: A lot of parents upgrading crib mattresses (from ones that came standard with their new cribs) noted that children were sleeping much more soundly on their new mattress. A good mattress will not only ensure safety but help your baby sleep sounder and longer, which is a big reprieve for parents.
4. Waterproofing: Crib mattresses that are either water resistant or quick drying are reviewed well; ones that aren’t are not. Accidents happen and these key crib mattress features will allow for quicker cleanup and a longer mattress life span.

• The most important feature of your new crib mattress is that it is firm. A soft mattress leaves you with a high risk for suffocation or sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and is not recommended.
• It is imperative when choosing a mattress that the mattress fits perfectly with the crib you have selected. It is recommended that a maximum space of two fingers between the mattress and the crib frame be allowed to ensure your child’s safety and prevent suffocation or entrapment accidents. According to American law, a crib mattress should be at least 24 ¼ by 51 ⅝ inches and no thicker than 6 inches to ensure the baby’s protection.
• The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA) mandates that all crib mattresses contain no substances that are potentially harmful and dangerous. All crib mattresses sold in the USA must have this accreditation to ensure their safety.
• GREENGUARD certification measures the chemical emissions of a mattress and makes sure there is no air-quality risks for your baby. Looking for a crib mattress with this certification will help ensure it is safe for your baby’s skin and offers mothers more peace of mind.
• Buying a waterproof crib mattress offers added protection over and above sheet savers and mattress pads to ensure longer lasting mattress protection. Waterproof binding also means the mattress will be much easier to clean, as spills can be wiped away easily without being absorbed. Other binding options are cloth and seamless, and both will require waterproofing sheets or pads.
• When choosing an innerspring crib mattress, the higher the coil count, the firmer the mattress surface. A high coil count means that the coils are packed closer together, and a firmer surface is much safer for baby.
• When choosing a foam mattress, the higher the density (pounds per cubic feet), the heavier the mattress core will be. A heavier core means a firmer mattress which is much safer and more comfortable for your baby. Some popular mattresses add up to 22 percent soybean oil to the petroleum to make the foam for environmentally sustainable.
• A foam mattress that is CertiPur-US certified means the foam mattress has been tested for quality, strength, air quality emissions, and durability. This will ensure you are buying a good quality foam mattress that is safe for sleeping.
• It is not advised to buy crib mattresses second-hand from unknown sources for safety reasons. Mold and bacteria can collect while the mattress is in storage if it wasn’t properly cleaned and stored in a dry environment. Improper storage could also affect the firmness of the mattress, which is what ensures your baby’s safety.

Sealy: Sealy began in 1881 in Sealy, TX when Daniel Haynes made his first cotton filled mattress. Since then, Sealy has become the leading crib mattress brand in the US. They now own and operate 25 bedding plants across the country.

Simmons: Simmons, based in Atlanta, GA, has 18 factories throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. Simmons Kids has been designing and manufacturing mattresses and other sleep products for infants to tweens for over 80 years.

Colgate: Like Simmons, Colgate Mattress began in Atlanta, GA in 1955. They are the oldest crib mattress manufacturer in the United States, and strive to offer a minimum of 10-15% higher product quality product than their competitors, but for the same price. And every one of their products meets or exceeds federal and state safety standards.

Naturepedic: Naturepedic is an organic and non-toxic baby crib mattress company based in Chagrin Falls, OH. They were started by a grandfather looking for a better mattress alternative for his grandchild, and are now the leading brand for organic baby and children's mattresses.