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There are plenty of reasons people choose a mini crib over a standard crib. They save space, tend to be more affordable, and can be easily moved from room to room. Plus they’re small and adorable — just like your little one.

Once you’ve decided to climb on the mini crib bandwagon, it’s time to pick the mattress of your (or, more accurately, your baby’s) dreams.

We tried to select a range of price points in our roundup of the best mini crib mattresses.

Mattresses in this roundup have no current recalls or pending safety lawsuits against the company. Our picks are certified to have low emissions or nontoxic materials.

We also took a look at what customers say about each mattress we chose. Good reviews from multiple online retailers were a must.

A flat, rigid surface without any surrounding pillows is the golden rule for a newborn sleep environment. We looked for mattresses that are naturally snuggly and will contour gently to your newborn’s body.

All measurements for mattress dimensions are given in inches.

Pricing guide

  • $ = under $75
  • $$ = $75–$100
  • $$$ = $101–$150
  • $$$$ = over $150

Best overall mini crib mattress

Naturepedic Organic Breathable Mini Crib Mattress

  • Price: $$$$
  • Measurements: 37.5 L x 23.5 W x 3 H in.
  • Firmness: extra firm

If you’re concerned about off-gassing, ventilation, and safe manufacturing practices in your mini crib mattress, this is our top pick.

It has Made Safe, Greenguard Gold, and Global Organic Textile certifications, which isn’t easy to do. This mattress also features waterproof backing.

What to know before you buy: This mini crib mattress is definitely a splurge for a product your baby may only use for a year or so. Naturepedic offers a 30-day, money-back guarantee and free returns if you decide it’s not for you.

Best two-stage mini crib mattress

Bundle of Dreams Mini Crib Mattress

  • Price: $$$
  • Measurements: 38 L x 24 W x 5 H in.
  • Firmness: extra firm newborn side, medium firm toddler side

This two-stage mattress offers a firm side for newborns and a softer foam side for when baby is ready to make the switch. The cover has certified organic cotton, and the mattress is Greenguard Gold certified, meaning it’s been tested for gas emissions and been found safe.

What to know before you buy: If you purchase through the company website, you’ll get free shipping, a lifetime warranty, and a 120-day trial.

Best organic mini crib mattress

Nook Organic Pebble Mini Crib Mattress

  • Price: $$$$
  • Measurements: 38 L x 24 W x 3 H in.
  • Firmness: extra firm

The Nook crib mattress is thinner than some other options, but reviewers say it still feels soft and fluffy. Organic coconut coir and organic wool are the main materials used, and reviewers like the textured, cloud-like mattress cover.

It’s Greenguard Gold Seal certified and also meets Global Organic Textile Standard guidelines. The cover is removable and washable, too.

What to know before you buy: Nook is a newer company, so it doesn’t have the track record of well-established companies. This mattress is quite expensive and not flippable, which means you’re spending money to use it for maybe only a few months until your baby outgrows it. It may not be the best bang for your buck, but reviewers say it feels soft to the touch.

Best waterproof mini crib mattress

Babyletto Pure Core Non-Toxic Mini Crib Mattress with Hybrid Waterproof Cover

  • Price: $$$
  • Measurements: 37.5 L x 23.5 W x 3 H in.
  • Firmness: extra firm

The Greenguard Gold certified Babyletto mini crib mattress features a firm, waterproof surface and also includes a removable waterproof cover. Reviewers say it’s lightweight, breathable, and ultra-soft to the touch.

What to know before you buy: Some reviewers noted that the mattress cover can only be washed in cold water. The mattress materials aren’t necessarily organic, either. Babyletto offers a 1-year manufacturer’s warranty for the cover and 10-year warranty for the core of the mattress.

Best budget-friendly mini crib mattress

Serta SleepTrue 4-Inch Mini Crib Mattress

  • Price: $
  • Measurements: 38 L x 24 W x 4 H in.
  • Firmness: extra firm newborn side, medium firm toddler side

Serta offers many of the same qualities as some much pricier brands with this mattress. It’s Greenguard Gold certified and can fit snugly in most mini cribs. The cover is vinyl for wipe-off cleaning. It’s also flippable, offering two firmness levels so you can use it past the infant stage.

What to know before you buy: You’ll probably want to add a mini crib sheet since vinyl isn’t the coziest cover material.

Best lightweight mini crib mattress

Simmons Kids SlumberTime Naturally 4-Inch Mini Crib Mattress

  • Price: $
  • Measurement: 38 L x 24 W x 4 H in.
  • Firmness: extra firm newborn side, medium firm toddler side

This mattress comes in at just under 4 pounds, which makes it super easy to flip from the firm side to the soft side when your baby is ready.

It’s also Greenguard Gold certified and features a soft cotton cover designed for breathability and comfort. Since it’s waterproof, stain-resistant, and flippable, you may be able to use this mattress until your baby outgrows their mini crib.

What to know before you buy: Reviewers rave that this mattress is a great value for the price. They say the cotton cover makes a big difference when compared to other similarly priced mattresses that are topped with vinyl.

Best breathable mini crib mattress

Newton Baby Crib Mattress in Mini

  • Price: $$$$
  • Measurements: 38 L x 24 W x 5.5 H in.
  • Firmness: extra firm newborn side, medium firm toddler side

This mini crib mattress is designed to be easily washable. You can unzip and throw the cover in the wash, and rinse the core of the mattress with soap and water in your shower.

The mattress is Greenguard Gold certified. It’s also made to be super-breathable. Reviewers say the cover is soft to the touch. It can be flipped to a softer firmness as your infant grows into a toddler.

It’s also closing in on 1,000 5-star reviews on Amazon, which is no easy feat.

What to know before you buy: Some reviewers claim that this mattress has a strong smell when it first arrives, so keep that in mind. With a 100-night trial, free shipping, and free returns if you buy through the Newton website, you’ll have plenty of time to decide whether this one’s a keeper.

Most comfortable mini crib mattress

Moonlight Slumber Baby Bluebird Mini Crib Mattress

  • Price: $$$$
  • Measurements: 38 L x 24 W x 5 H in.
  • Firmness: extra firm newborn side, medium firm toddler side

This flippable mattress is great if you want to use the mini crib in the toddler stage too. The mattress is soft enough to keep baby cozy but firm enough to meet safety standards. Once you flip the mattress over, your toddler can enjoy memory foam that wicks away heat. There’s a mattress cover included that can easily be zipped off and cleaned in the washing machine.

What to know before you buy: It’s backed by a lifetime warranty, so your purchase is protected. Some reviewers say that it can be difficult to tell at first which side is the newborn side of the mattress since there is no label on the mattress to differentiate.

Most eco-friendly mini crib mattress

Lullaby Earth Breathe Safe Mini Crib Mattress

  • Price: $$$$
  • Measurements: 38 L x 24 W x 6 H in.
  • Firmness: extra firm

The Lullaby Earth mini crib mattress comes with a removable mattress cover that’s simple to wash, as well as a mattress protector. It’s also very thick compared with others, measuring 6 in. This mattress is Made Safe certified, which means that the materials used in manufacturing are free of 6,500 known harmful substances.

What to know before you buy: This mattress is pretty expensive, especially when you consider that it isn’t flippable. It’s also not the softest one on the list.

Most durable mini crib mattress

DaVinci Complete Slumber Mini Crib Mattress

  • Price: $$
  • Measurements: 37 L x 24 W x 4.5 H in.
  • Firmness: extra firm

This Greenguard Gold certified mattress is waterproof, but that doesn’t mean it’s uncomfortable or that it makes a loud, crinkly sound when your baby shifts during sleep. Reviewers say that it’s pretty sturdy and that it’s easy to wipe clean in the event of an accident. It’s also very lightweight at less than 4 pounds, which makes changing the sheets a much easier chore.

What to know before you buy: This mattress will fit in a standard-size mini crib, but it’s 1 inch shorter in length. It shouldn’t create a gap that is a safety hazard, but it’s worth being aware of.

Just like regular-size crib mattresses, mini crib mattresses differ widely on the features they offer.

Mini crib mattresses fall into several main categories. Some mattresses might even be a combination of some of these types:

  • Flippable crib mattresses offer a firmer side for babies in the first few months of life and a softer side for when it’s safe to give baby’s head a little extra cushion.
  • Waterproof crib mattresses are made to be pee-proof, even for your little one’s longest sleep stretches.
  • Organic crib mattresses are made with organic cotton, wool, and other natural materials to limit chemical fumes.
  • Innerspring crib mattresses typically have a firmer feel and protect your baby from “sinking in” too deeply into the mattress.
  • Foam mattresses tend to be softer than innerspring mattresses but still firm. They’re not as soft or “sinkable” as memory foam mattresses for adults. Most commercial brands of mini crib mattresses have a foam core.

When you’re shopping for a mini crib mattress, there are a few things to keep in mind.

Used vs. new

Contrary to what advertisers tell you, babies don’t actually need every single brand-new, sparkly [insert latest “must-have” gadget] that you see in commercials.

But crib mattresses are the rare exception when buying something new, instead of thrifting or recycling, could actually make a difference.

Researchers team up with crib mattress manufacturers to update safety regulations all the time. Using an older mattress might mean that your mini crib mattress isn’t as safe as a newer model.

Reusing mattresses might potentially introduce mites, bacteria, and even bed bugs to your little one during their first weeks, when their immune systems are still being activated. If at all possible, buy something new.

Know your safety lingo

There are a few definitions that are good to know before you buy.

All crib mattresses have to meet the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) minimum standard for flammability. Additionally, Certi-PUR US, Made Safe, and Greenguard are all types of certifications that indicate a mattress has been tested to meet low-fume emission thresholds.

The Greenguard Gold Seal, in particular, is one of the most coveted certifications.

Size matters

You’ll need to be thinking carefully about what fits best in your mini crib. According to the FDA’s crib guidelines, a mattress for a crib needs to fit snugly against every side of the bed so that your little one stays safely on top of the mattress. The same goes for mini cribs, which is why sizing is so important. There should be no gaps wider than two fingers between the mattress and the sides of the crib.

The first thing to note when you’re shopping for a mini crib mattress is the actual size of your crib. You might need to break out the measuring tape to figure it out.

What exactly is a mini crib? To put it simply, it’s a crib that’s smaller than the standard 28-by-52-inch regulation size. Regular crib sizes are standardized by law. Mini crib sizes aren’t.

Since a mini crib can really be any size, make sure you shop with the correct specs. Generally, the inside of mini cribs (and the size of a mini crib mattress) will be 24 inches wide and 38 inches long. glass

How thick should a mini crib mattress be?

Mini crib mattress sizes aren’t regulated in the same way as standard crib mattresses. Standard-size crib mattresses sold in the United States are limited to 6 in. thick or less. Mini crib mattresses are typically 6 in. thick or less. That’s because they don’t need to be bouncy or dense — they need to be breathable and firm.

Are mini cribs safe for newborns?

Mini cribs are considered safe for newborns. A mattress that is firm and breathable, as well as a sleep surface free of soft toys and extra blankets, will help keep your baby safe at night.

Medical experts recommend that babies share a room with their parents for the first 6 months, whether that’s in a bassinet, mini crib, or standard crib.

How long can a baby stay in a mini crib?

A baby can’t stay in a mini crib for as long as they would in a regular crib. Each mini crib will have its own weight limit, as per the product information.

Typically, a baby won’t be able to stay in a mini crib for long once they weigh around 20 pounds. That’s something to keep in mind if you’re getting a flippable mini crib mattress — your baby might not be in the mini crib for long once they’re old enough to switch to the mattress’s softer side.

Choosing a mini crib doesn’t limit your options for safe, nontoxic, and breathable mattresses for your little one. Whichever mattress you decide on, make sure to follow best practices for newborn sleep when you bring baby home.

Kathryn Watson is a freelance writer covering everything from sleep hygiene to moral philosophy. Her recent bylines include Healthline, Christianity Today, LitHub, and Curbed. She lives in New York City with her husband and two children, and her website is kathrynswatson.com.