The Best Organic Crib Mattress To Protect Your Baby
A comparison of the best organic crib mattresses from top brands like Naturepedic, Avocado, My Green Mattress, and Lullaby Earth, featuring safe, non-toxic materials for your baby’s health.
As a mom, I know just how important it is to create a safe, healthy sleep environment for our little ones. And as a sustainable product activist, I’ve spent years researching and advocating for non-toxic, eco-friendly choices that are better for both our families and the planet.
That’s why I took a deep dive into the world of crib mattresses—because what our babies sleep on matters. In this post, I’m reviewing four of the best organic crib mattress brands, breaking down what makes them safe, comfortable, and truly non-toxic.
Whether you’re looking for a budget-friendly option or the most eco-conscious choice, I’ve done the research so you can make an informed decision with confidence. Let’s find the perfect crib mattress for your baby’s sweet dreams!
Why Invest in An Organic Crib Mattress?
You may be tempted to save a few bucks and go for an inexpensive crib mattress. I get it – there are a lot of costs for a new baby. But if there is one area I recommend spending the extra money, it’s for a crib mattress.
Here’s why: Conventional foam mattresses (including adult and crib mattresses), are kind of like chemical sponges. They are made from polyurethane foam, treated with toxic flame retardant chemicals and covered with synthetic fabrics. The mattress construction may include glues that emit formaldehyde. Toxic PVC vinyl may be used as a waterproofing material.
Bottom line, the chemicals in mattresses can slowly off-gas into the air that your baby is breathing. Those fumes (also known as volatile organic compounds or VOCs) are linked to negative health effects like respiratory irritation, reproductive problems, impaired brain functioning and cancer.
Two recent studies of children’s mattresses have verified these fears, showing worrisome levels of phthalates, flame retardants and UV filters. The studies also found that a child’s body heat and weight on a mattress can increase the release of toxic chemicals into the air they breathe while sleeping.
What makes it worse is that a baby’s tiny body is not equipped to detox harmful chemicals very well. A newborn’s efforts need to go into growing and thriving, not fighting off toxic chemicals.
Sources: Environmental Working Group, Women’s Voices for the Earth, ACS Publications Sleeping Environmeant Study, ACS Publications Study Children’s Mattress Study
RELATED: Best Organic & Natural Baby Care Products
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Top 4 Organic Crib Mattress Brands
Having already written about natural organic mattress brands for adults, I was familiar with the safest mattresses on the market. However, not all of those brands offer crib mattresses.
So I did some extra research and found the four brands that do sell the most trusted organic mattresses for babies: Naturepedic, Avocado, My Green Mattress and Lullaby Earth.
Rest assured that these baby mattresses are made with only the safest natural materials with organic certification like organic cotton, wool and latex. They are all manufactured in the United States as well.
Read on for a roundup of the best organic crib mattresses I’ve found so that you can buy the right crib mattress for your needs:
Naturepedic Crib Mattresses
- Materials used: Organic cotton fabric and fill and PLA made from non-GMO sugar cane
- Waterproof: Yes (the waterproof coating is made from non-GMO sugar cane and is food-safe)
- Certifications: GOTS, MADE SAFE™, Greenguard Gold
- Warranty: lifetime limited warranty, 100 night sleep trial
- Classic Crib Mattress starts at $269
- Breathable Crib Mattress starts at $359 (has a 3-dimmentional fabric that allows for 360 degree air circulation)
- Two-Stage Crib Mattress (firm on one side, medium firm on the other) starts at $459
- Each crib mattress offers a choice of a lightweight core made from food-grade polyethylene or metal innersprings
- Crib sheets, crib protector pads and changing table pads also available
Use code mindfulmomma15 for 15% off your order
Avocado Crib Mattresses
- Materials used: Certified organic cotton, wool and latex, as well as a coconut husk fiber pad
- Waterproof: No (a washable organic waterproof mattress protector is available)
- Certifications: GOTS, GOLS, MADE SAFE™, Greenguard Gold, Formaldehyde-free certified
- Warranty: 10 to 25 year limited warranty, 30 night sleep trial
- Avocado’s most affordable crib mattress is the Eco Organic Crib Mattress for $249
- The Organic Crib Mattress is $439 (dual sided design—one for infants and one for toddlers)
- If you want the best-of-the-best, the Luxury Organic crib mattress is $1379.
- Certified organic latex and wool come from their own sustainable farms and are processed in their own organic certified facilities.
Emily Crib Mattress from My Green Mattress
- Materials used: Certified organic cotton, wool, latex, and coconut coir
- Waterproof: No – but organic cotton, waterproof mattress protector is available (Moisture barrier is made from renewable resources, including non-GMO corn.)
- Certifications: GOTS, GOLS, Greenguard Gold
- Warranty: 10 year limited warranty
- Mattress is
- The Emily Organic Crib Mattress is breathable and flippable (both sides are identical) and sells for $299.
- Organic cotton crib sheets also available
Use code MindfulMicaela to get the best price.
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Lullaby Earth Crib Mattresses
- Materials used: Food-grade polyethylene and recycled polyester fiber fill
- Waterproof: Yes. Lullaby Earth uses a patented food-grade PE waterproofing material
- Certifications: MADE SAFE™ certified, Greengard Gold, Formaldehyde-Free Verified
- Warranty: Lifetime limited warranty, 30 day money back guarantee
- The Healthy Support Crib Mattress starts at $179 and is the cheapest organic crib mattress I’ve seen!
- The Breathe Safe Crib Mattress has a breathable cover that allows air to flow through the fabric. At $279 this is the most affordable breathable organic crib mattress I’ve found.
- Both mattress styles have a dual firmness or “2-stage” option that features a firmer side for infants and a cushion firm side for toddlers
- Crib mattresses have a reinforced edge support that stands up to bouncing toddler
- Their specially designed breathable cover is also sold separately if you are interested.
Criteria for a Non Toxic Crib Mattress
When choosing a crib mattress, here are the key criteria we think are important:
1. Safe, Natural, and Non-Toxic Materials
- Organic Cotton – A safer, pesticide-free option for fabric and filling. Look for cotton that has been certified by the Global Organic Textile Standard.
- Organic Wool – Wool is used a natural flame retardant and also provides breathability and moisture-wicking properties. Wool should be GOTS certified.
- Natural Latex (if used) – Natural latex is made from the sap of rubber trees and is sustainable and renewable. Look for organic certified latex from Global Organic Latex Standard.
- Coconut Coir (if used) – Some crib mattresses include a layer of organic coconut coir bound together with organic latex, that helps with breathability and is naturally antibacterial.
- Innersprings – Metal innersprings or supportive coils provide extra firm support in some crib natural crib mattress designs.
- No Polyurethane Foam – Conventional foam is made from petroleum-based chemicals and can emit harmful VOCs.
2. Certifications for Safety & Sustainability
- GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) – Ensures that the cotton and wool are organic and non-toxic.
- GOLS (Global Organic Latex Standard) – Certifies that latex is natural and free from harmful chemicals.
- Greenguard Gold – Tests for low chemical emissions to improve indoor air quality.
- MADE SAFE® Certified – Verifies that the product is free from a list of known harmful chemicals.
3. No Harmful Chemicals or Flame Retardants
- Avoid mattresses with chemical flame retardants, phthalates, formaldehyde, PFCs (perfluorinated compounds), PVC/vinyl, or toxic glues and adhesives.
4. Breathability & Waterproofing
- A breathable cover helps regulate baby’s temperature and reduces suffocation risks.
- If waterproof, look for food-grade polyethylene like PLA instead of PVC or vinyl.
- Polylactic acid (PLA) is a biodegradable, plastic-like material that is created from renewable resources like sugar cane or corn. PLA fiber is sometimes used as a filling in crib mattresses to create a softer feel.
5. Firmness & Support
- Babies need a firm mattress for proper support and safety (reduces the risk of suffocation and SIDS). (Source: American Academy of Pediatrics)
6. Ethical & Sustainable Production
- Consider brands that use eco-friendly manufacturing processes, fair labor practices, and sustainable materials.
RELATED: Why Switch to Organic Cotton Sheets?
Organic Crib Mattress FAQ
Here are some of the most common questions I’ve seen asked about crib mattresses:
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) Federal safety standard for crib mattresses, a crib mattress must pass a firmness test, because soft crib mattresses have been linked to infant deaths. All of the new crib mattresses mentioned in this article have met those standards.
A two-stage crib mattress (also known as dual-sided crib mattress or a flippable mattress) has two sides – a firm side for infants and a slightly softer (but still firm) one for toddlers. It’s not necessary to purchase a 2-stage crib mattress, but it might last you longer than a traditional crib mattress.
The firmness of a crib mattress is its most important safety feature, but a breathable cover is a nice addition. A breathable cover is a 3-dimensional structure that allows air to flow through the fabric and under the baby for 360° air circulation. Of the mattresses reviewed in this post, both Naturepedic and Lullaby Earth offer a breathable crib mattress. The Naturepedic crib mattress is a bit more lux and Lullaby Earth is a less expensive version.
A waterproof crib mattress is definitely recommended because accidents happen and no one wants a musty, smelly mattress! Some crib mattresses have waterproofing built into the mattress (waterproof seams are especially nice), and others use a waterproof layer in the cover. Sometimes the waterproof cover is sold separately so be sure to check!
If you are concerned about a possible latex allergy and are looking for a latex-free crib mattress, you can find them at Naturepedic and Lullaby Earth.
If you are looking for a vegan crib mattress, you can crib mattresses without wool at Naturepedic and Lullaby Earth.
Babies are messy so investing in a washable mattress cover is important. All of the mattress brands in this post offer mattress protectors or covers that can be machine washed. My recommendation is to get cover that goes along with the crib mattress that you are purchasing to ensure a good fit.
A lot of people want to know the answer to this question! The primary difference between the Avocado crib mattresses and Naturepedic crib mattresses is that the Naturepedic mattresses are waterproof and the Avocado mattresses are not (but you can buy a waterproof mattress protector if you want.)
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Which crib mattress are you most interested in? Let us know in the comments!
