Here are our top picks for the best organic, non-toxic crib mattresses made without polyurethane foam, vinyl/PVC, phthalates, formaldehyde, and flame retardants. The Naturepedic Organic Cotton Classic Crib Mattress retains our top spot after extensive staff testing.
There’s a lot to think about when buying a crib mattress. Which natural materials are best? Is an organic mattress really necessary? What about safety recalls?
You might also want to think about:
- Whether the crib mattress can be flipped
- If the mattress is two-stage – for infants and toddlers
- How much the crib mattress weighs
- If it’s a vegan crib mattress
- How the mattress meets fire safety standards
- How the mattress is shipped
- The warranty, trial period, and ease of returns.
We cover all that and more for our top picks of the best organic crib mattresses (plus a cheaper, non-toxic, non-organic option) below.
Adults may also want to look at the Guide to Non-Toxic Bedding we just published.
Our top picks
Naturepedic is offering LeafScore readers 15% off their purchase using coupon code LEAFSCORE15 at checkout.
- Built-in wipe-clean waterproof LDPE cover
- GOTS, Greenguard Gold, EWG Verified, and MadeSafe certified
- Made by 1% for the Planet member
- As affordable as some foam mattresses!
- Reinforced edge support on innerspring version
- Free of hazardous chemicals
- Lifetime warranty, 100-night trial, and free returns!
- Lightweight versions may not be as durable or supportive as coils or latex
At a glance:
Materials: Organic cotton, PLA, and sugarcane LDPE, innersprings (one model)
Two-stage: Optional
Size: 27 ¼ x 51 ⅝ x 6 inch
Weight: 10, 11, and 19 lbs.
Price: from $269
Naturepedic offers three versions of its Organic Cotton Classic Crib Mattress. Two are dual-sided, for use with infants and toddlers. All three are made with organic cotton covers and fill. All three also have a waterproof cover made with low-density polyethylene derived from sugarcane. The cover is heat-sealed for seamless waterproofing and easy cleaning edge-to-edge.
Of the three, we strongly recommend the innerspring Classic. This is likely to be more durable, can also be used into toddlerhood, is easier to recycle, and is better overall for the environment.
Our founder, John, and his wife, chose the Naturepedic organic cotton crib mattress for his newborn. Here is a video the Naturepedic crib mattress pictured in his family’s nursery inside of a DaVinci crib.
The innerspring Classic crib mattress weighs 19 lb., which is still very manageable for most people for sheet changes. There are 150 or more recycled steel coils in the mattress, which help reduce pressure points for a more comfortable sleep.
Naturepedic reinforces the sides of the innerspring mattress with a heavy-duty border rod to prevent sinking when a toddler stands on the side of the mattress. This also offers more support for adults who sit on the edge or lay on the mattress to help a toddler get to sleep (I’m speaking from experience here!).
Naturepedic mattresses come with a lifetime limited warranty, 100-night sleep trial, and free returns.
Naturepedic also offers the Classic mattress for a Mini Crib (view on Naturepedic) and as an oval crib mattress, ideal for Stokke cribs (view on Naturepedic).
- Dual-sided design for infants and toddlers
- Handmade in LA
- MadeSafe™, Greenguard Gold, GOTS, GOLS, and FSC certified
- Made by a B Corp and 1% for the Planet member
- Climate Neutral and sustainably packaged (plastic-free)
- 30-night sleep trial and 25-year warranty!
- Less affordable than other organic mattresses
- Not waterproof
- Not vegan
- Heavier than coil or PLA core mattresses
At a glance:
Materials: Certified organic cotton, wool, latex, and coconut coir
Two-stage: Yes
Size: 28 x 52 x 5.5 inch
Weight: 28 lbs.
Price: $439
Avocado’s signature Organic Crib Mattress is a fantastic choice for a non-toxic, eco-friendly crib mattress. It comprises:
- GOTS organic wool (42%)
- GOLS organic latex (58%) blended with organic coconut fiber
- A GOTS organic cotton cover.
This mattress is two-stage. The infant side has a firmer, breathable latex infused coconut coir pad for safe sleep and the toddler side has a 1-inch layer of organic latex and organic cotton to make it a little softer and comfortable without being too squishy.
Avocado makes the crib mattress by hand in its GOTS factory in LA. The edge seams are reinforced and the mattress has four handles, which is useful as it weighs 28 lb.
Avocado is so confident in the craftsmanship of its mattress that it offers a 25-year warranty. With care (and waterproofing!), this mattress could last you through several children and still be passed onto another family. Now that’s eco-friendly!
Avocado is also Climate Neutral certified and a B Corp, with a renewable energy powered factory and its own organic farms supplying its raw materials. It ships crib mattresses without plastic in upcycled paper and cardboard for protection.
Avocado’s organic cotton protector pad (view on Avocado) can help protect against some spills but is moisture-absorbing, not waterproof. Avocado also offers a GOTS certified organic waterproof crib mattress protector made with two layers of organic cotton surrounding a polyurethane layer (view on Avocado).
- Made in the U.S. in a GOTS and GOLS Certified Organic Factory
- MadeSafe, GOTS, and Greenguard Gold certified
- Delivery within two weeks
- 365-day sleep trial
- Heavy duty innersprings with good edge support
- 50 lb. weight limit
- Not two-stage (but flippable)
- Not vegan
- Not waterproof
At a glance:
Materials: Organic cotton, wool, latex, and coconut coir and steel innersprings
Two-stage: No, but flippable
Size: 27.25 x 52 x 6 inch
Weight: 15 lb. 6 oz
Price: $299
The Emily Crib mattress from My Green Mattress is a fantastic affordable option for a MadeSafe certified non-toxic and eco-friendly crib mattress. It comprises:
- GOTS organic cotton quilted cover
- GOTS organic wool as a natural flame barrier
- A GOLS organic latex core infused with organic coconut coir
- Heavy duty innersprings.
The Emily crib mattress contains 150 steel innersprings with a 13.5 gauge with supportive edging. This makes the mattress firmer than most crib mattresses and ideal for infants. For toddlers, you might want to add a softer latex mattress pad or switch to a less firm mattress.
There are no chemical flame retardants or synthetic fire barriers in this mattress and no other chemicals or materials of concern. The mattress is also relatively light compared to an all-latex mattress, though nearly five pounds heavier than the Naturepedic innerspring mattress.
This mattress is not waterproof, so protect it with a puddle pad or waterproof mattress cover.
The Emily is made to order and should arrive within two weeks of ordering. It comes with a 365-night trial and 10-year warranty.
- Impeccable eco certifications and non-toxic
- Features all organic materials
- Breathable and supportive design
- Reinforced perimeter for safety and comfort
- Handmade in GOTS factory in LA
- Dual-sided and suitable for use up to age 4
- Expensive!
- Very heavy (36 lb.)
- Not vegan
- Not waterproof
At a glance:
Materials: Organic cotton-wrapped recycled steel coils, GOTS wool and organic hemp pads, and GOLS organic certified coco-fiber infused with organic latex
Two-stage: Yes
Size: 28 x 52 x 6 inch
Weight: 36 lbs.
Price: $1379
Avocado’s Luxury Crib Mattress features 170 organic cotton wrapped recycled steel coils interlaced with strips of organic wool to prevent noise and increase durability. The coils are tied and nested top and bottom and hand-sewn without glues.
This mattress also features GOTS wool and organic hemp pads, and GOLS organic certified coco-fiber infused with organic latex at the perimeter for strong edge support. On the toddler side, there’s an extra layer of organic Dunlop latex and organic cotton ticking.
This impressive mattress design means adults don’t need to worry about sitting on the edge of their toddler’s bed, or even napping on it, frankly, as the mattress offers robust support.
The Luxury Crib Mattress also comes with an extended 100-night sleep trial and 25-year limited warranty, which is very rare for crib mattresses.
Note that the Luxury Crib Mattress is not waterproof. Protect your (significant!) investment with robust puddle pads or one of Avocado’s mattress protectors.
Totally non-toxic, Avocado crib mattresses are certified Formaldehyde Free and MadeSafe™, meaning they don’t contain any ingredients “known or suspected to harm human health, animals, aquatic life, or ecosystems.”
Avocado mattresses are also Climate Neutral certified, and the wool, hemp, cotton and latex are GOTS, GOLS, and FSC certified. All three mattresses have GreenGuard Gold certification and Avocado is a B Corp, 1% for the Planet member, and on its way to being Zero-Waste certified.
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- Pocket coils and coconut husk pad provide support and breathability
- MadeSafe™, Greenguard Gold, GOTS, GOLS, and FSC certified
- Made by a B Corp and 1% for the Planet member
- Climate Neutral and sustainably packaged in paper and cardboard
- 30-night sleep trial
- Low-profile at under 5 inches high
- Not dual-sided
- Only a 10-year warranty (not 25)
- Fairly heavy (22.5 lb.)
- Less sturdy than the Luxury version or Naturepedic Innerspring Classic
At a glance:
Materials: Organic cotton, hemp, wool, coconut husk, and pocket coils
Two-stage: No
Size: 28 x 52 x 4.75 inch
Weight: 22.5 lbs.
Price: $349
Avocado’s most affordable organic mattress – the Eco Organic – carries all the same non-toxic and green certifications as its pricier counterparts. The main difference between the Organic Crib Mattress and the Eco Organic is that the latter isn’t dual-sided and is made with pocket coils instead of a latex core.
The Eco Organic is best suited for infants and lighter toddlers only. This isn’t a good choice for co-sleeping with your toddler or for larger toddlers. Instead, you’re going to want to switch it for a more supportive children’s mattress earlier than the Organic or Luxury models.
The Eco Organic has:
- An organic cotton cover
- Quarter-inch organic hemp pads (GOTS certified) for comfort and support
- 1-inch layer of GOLS organic latex infused with organic coconut husk.
This breathable and cooling design helps to enhance airflow and thermoregulation.
The 3.5-inch innerspring coil unit is made by Avocado in its GOTS factory using recycled steel. Thanks to the coils, the Eco Organic is lighter than the Organic Crib Mattress, but is still three pounds heavier than the Naturepedic innerspring Classic. It’s also lower profile, at 4.75 inches, making it a good choice for lower profile cribs but also meaning you’ll need to stretch farther down to pick up and put down an infant.
Avocado wraps its mattress in upcycled paper and ships it in a cardboard box, without plastic.
Note that the Eco Organic has a shorter warranty of just 10 years, versus 25 for its other crib mattresses.
- GOTS certified
- Made in the U.S. in a GOTS factory
- Fast delivery
- Made with 5-inch firm Dunlop latex core
- Made by charitably minded B Corp
- No returns
- Likely heavy
- Not waterproof
- Not vegan
- Fewer credentials than Avocado and Naturepedic
At a glance:
Materials: Organic latex, wool, and cotton
Two-stage: No
Size: 27.5 x 52 x 6 inch
Weight: info unavailable
Price: $399
The Savvy Baby Crib Mattress from Savvy Rest is a GOTS-certified organic crib mattress comprising:
- 5-inch layer of firm Dunlop organic latex
- Organic wool batting
- Organic cotton cover
Savvy Rest makes this crib mattress in its GOTS-certified factory in the U.S. Because the mattress is so popular, it’s constantly in production, which means Savvy Rest can ship the mattress the day after you order!
Safe and supportive for infants and toddlers, this mattress is free from:
- Toxic flame retardants
- Phthalates
- Pesticides.
The major downside to Savvy Rest is that it doesn’t allow returns on mattresses, unless there’s a manufacturing defect. This mattress also isn’t waterproof, so you’ll want to use a crib puddle pad or a waterproof cover to prevent soiling.
Savvy Rest is a certified B Corporation and member of the Carbon Fund, through which they support reforestation along the Mississippi River. It also donates pillows to domestic violence shelters and is employee-owned.
Savvy Rest also offers the Savvy Baby made with Talalay (view on Savvy Rest). We recommend the Dunlop latex mattress, though, as this is firmer, more durable, and better suited to infants and toddlers.
- GOTS and GOLS certified
- Made carbon neutral in Canada
- Comes with wool mattress protector
- 10-year warranty
- Not vegan
- Not waterproof
- Not flippable
- Not two-stage
At a glance:
Materials: latex, cotton, wool, and coconut husk
Two-stage: No
Size: Fits standard cribs
Weight: info unavailable
Price: $349
Obasan is one of our top picks for adult mattresses and now the company offers a fantastic crib mattress too. The Obasan Organic Crib Mattress is handmade in Canada using GOTS organic cotton and wool and GOLS organic latex and coconut husk. It is totally natural and free of synthetic materials and chemicals.
The mattress features a moisture-wicking wool layer for thermoregulation and as a natural flame barrier, covered with super soft organic cotton. Beneath that is a layer of extra-firm rubber and a firm base of coconut fiber infused with organic latex.
Obasan provides a 10-year limited warranty on its crib mattresses and all products are made in the company’s carbon neutral workshop in Ottawa. Every crib mattress comes with an organic wool mattress protector that naturally repels liquids. This does mean that the mattress isn’t fully waterproof but has some protection against leaks and spills.
- Certified GOLS
- Low-profile mattress ideal for low-profile cribs
- Made in Seattle using U.S.-grown cotton
- Not as well credentialed as Avocado and Naturepedic
- Likely heavy (company doesn’t provide weight info)
- Thinner and larger than standard
- Not waterproof
At a glance:
Materials: Organic cotton, wool, and latex
Two-stage: No
Size: 28 ⅝ x 52 3/8 x 3½ inch
Weight: info unavailable
Price: $499
Soaring Heart makes every Organic Crib Mattress by hand in Seattle. it comprises:
- GOLS certified natural Dunlop latex
- Organic wool from New Zealand
- Organic US-grown cotton.
The Soaring Heart crib mattress is low profile at just 3.25 inches high. It’s also a little larger than standard, but should still fit snugly into a standard crib. Overall, this a great mattress for a cribs where a deeper mattress is too tall for safety.
The Soaring Heart crib mattress is 100% organic and chemical-free and is made with extra firm latex that safely supports your baby. The crib mattress is designed for a slatted crib and passes federal fire safety standards without chemical flame retardants or synthetic materials thanks to its proprietary needle punched wool cover design.
As a latex and wool mattress, this is likely to be on the heavier side, even though it’s thinner than standard mattresses. We’ve asked Soaring Heart for the exact weight and will update once we know.
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- Made in OMI’s Eco-Factory
- GOTS certified with GOLS latex
- 30-night sleep trial
- Available in oval shape
- Takes 6-7 weeks to ship!
- Very heavy
- Not vegan
- Not waterproof
- Expensive
- No warranty
At a glance:
Materials: Organic latex, wool, and cotton
Two-stage: No
Size: 28 x 52 x 5 inch
Weight: 30 lbs.
Price: $699
The Stork Crib Mattress from Nest is certified organic by GOTS and is made at the OMI Eco-Factory using GOLS latex and GOTS cotton and wool. This mattress is free of chemical flame retardants and other chemicals of concern and is made entirely of natural materials.
The Stork is a heavy mattress, weighing in at 30 lb. despite being just 5 inches deep. It ships uncompressed and ready to use in a large cardboard box. The mattress is two-sided and flippable but not two-stage. It should, however, be both firm and supportive enough for infants and toddlers.
Nest offers a 30-night trial but doesn’t seem to have a warranty for its crib mattress. This mattress is also not waterproof, so you’ll want to use a protector.
You can also purchase the Stork as an oval crib mattress upon request. Email the company at sales [at] nestbedding.com for help.
- Organic certified and non-toxic
- Made in Canada
- Vegan
- Waterproof with LDPE
- Lower profile than most standard crib mattresses
- Synthetic (Kevlar) flame barrier
- Expensive
At a glance:
Materials: Organic latex and cotton, waterproof (LDPE) cover, Kevlar fire barrier
Two-stage: No
Size: 28 x 52 x 4.5 inches
Weight: info unavailable
Price: $699
Essentia’s LaLa organic crib mattress comprises GOLS latex and GOTS cotton along with a food-grade waterproof (LDPE) cover. The company makes it in Canada in its GOLS and GOTS certified factory, where it also blends its own organic latex.
This wool-free mattress is vegan, but Essentia uses a Kevlar (synthetic fabric) sock to meet fire safety standards in the U.S. You can request the mattress without the Kevlar if you have a doctor’s note.
The LaLa mattress has a cover you can unzip and machine-wash.
- Non-toxic and made with recycled materials
- MadeSafe and Greenguard Gold certified
- Very lightweight for easy sheet changes
- Dual-sided for infants and toddlers
- Waterproof and wipe-clean
- Affordable
- Decent edge support
- Not totally natural
At a glance:
Materials: Organic cotton, recycled polyester, LDPE
Two-stage: Yes (cheaper one-sided option available)
Size: 27.25 x 51.62 x 6 inch
Weight: 8 lb.
Price: $219
Lullaby Earth is owned by Naturepedic, meaning that even though this mattress isn’t quite as eco-friendly as Naturepedic’s crib mattresses, it’s got the backing of a great company.
The Healthy Support 2-Stage Crib Mattress is very affordable and features patented waterproofing made with food-grade low-density polyethylene (just like Naturepedic). This mattress also has a patented WaveSupport core (like Naturepedic) made from recycled polyester (Naturepedic’s is made using sugarcane).
The mattress is fully waterproof and easy to wipe clean, thanks to the seamless edge design. It has a firm, flat surface and reinforced edge support that can withstand bouncing toddlers. Lullaby Earth also offers other mattresses that aren’t two-stage and are a little cheaper but just as credentialed.
- Made using mostly organic materials
- Design helps with airflow and body temperature regulation
- Supportive and suitable for infants through toddlerhood
- Uses conventional cotton
- Uses latex without GOLS certification
- Not certified GOTS, Greenguard, MadeSafe etc.
- Expensive
- Made in the UK (with associated transport emissions)
- Possibly fumigated on arrival to U.S.
At a glance:
Materials: Organic coconut coir, latex (natural, but not organic certified), organic wool, cotton with hypoallergenic Oeko-Tex approved cotton treatment
Size: 28 x 52 x 6 inch
Weight: info unavailable
Price: $597
Naturalmat’s original Quilted Coco Crib Mattress features:
- Organic coconut coir core blended with latex
- Organic British wool batting
- Conventional cotton cover.
It appears to be free of synthetic chemicals but isn’t entirely made of organic materials and carries no certifications for the mattress as a whole.
The design means this mattress is likely very breathable and supportive with a firm sleep surface ideal for infants. It may not be comfortable for older or heavier toddlers, however. At this price, I’d expect more robust certifications, transparency over materials, and a two-stage design.
If you’re in the UK and need a mattress in a pinch, consider Naturalmat. Otherwise, choose one of the more affordable and better certified options above.
The best natural materials for crib mattresses
There are plenty of excellent mattress materials that don’t off-gas, have a lower carbon footprint (typically) than synthetic mattresses, and are more easily recycled, or able to break down naturally. In addition to avoiding potentially toxic chemicals in crib mattresses, choosing appropriate mattress material(s), and getting the size of mattress right for your chosen crib, there’s also quality and corporate responsibility to think about.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants sleep on a firm surface. This is why some of the best materials for a crib mattress differ from those I’d recommend for an adult mattress.
- Organic wool
- Organic cotton
- 100 percent natural latex (Dunlop, ideally, not Talalay, which is softer)
- Hemp
- Coconut coir (with caveats)
- Innersprings.
Read more about the best crib mattress materials here.
Many companies now make crib mattresses that sound eco-friendly, at least at first glance. Upon closer inspection, a lot of the hype from these companies is revealed as simple greenwashing, which I why I’ve written elsewhere about green certifications for crib mattresses and what to watch out for in terms of toxic chemicals that might be lurking in a crib mattress.
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Closing Thoughts
Whichever size, shape, and style of crib mattress is right for your family, knowing that your baby is sleeping on a non-toxic and eco-friendly mattress can certainly help you sleep more soundly at night.
And, if there’s a mattress company you love but who only makes healthy and sustainable mattresses for adults, why not reach out and see if they’ll start making crib mattresses too?
Your request might be all it takes to incentivize a company to make eco-friendly, non-toxic mattresses for the whole family.
Once you’ve chosen an eco-friendly, non-toxic crib mattress from the list below, make sure to use it with a non-toxic crib and eco-friendly crib sheets.
FAQs
If you’re struggling to stretch your budget to one of the better crib mattresses, add your preferred mattress to your baby registry. Then, add some gift coupons too! When family and friends know what you want, they will often club together to help out.
If nobody gifts you the mattress itself, most registries offer a discount on items remaining on your list. You can also put any vouchers you received toward the final purchase price. Amazon, for instance, has a 15% completion discount on its baby registry. My top tip: Add stuff to your registry even if you plan on buying it for yourself! This way, a $300 mattress may cost you close to the same price as a much lower quality mattress.
While crib mattresses may seem overly firm by adult standards, a firm sleep surface is essential for sleep safety for infants. Too soft a surface and an infant may struggle to maintain a clear airway. This means you need to pay attention to which side is facing up if you have a dual-sided crib mattress where one side is a little softer and intended for toddlers.
Up until recently, Eco Baby / Pure Rest would also have made our recommended list. These eco-friendly, non-toxic mattresses (including pet mattresses!) were made using organic wool in a facility that was painted with zero-VOC paints. However, it seems that this company folded late in 2018 and no longer manufacture their eco-friendly, non-toxic mattresses.
If you happen upon a second hand Eco Baby mattress in good shape, snap it up! Their innerspring and organic latex mattresses were excellent options and it’s a shame they’re no longer available.
The organic mattresses listed here do not contain chemical flame retardants. This doesn’t mean they’re not fire-safe, though. To meet federal fire safety requirements, these mattresses include natural fabrics such as wool that resist flammability without the need for added chemicals.
I am bummed that Avacado isn’t in lineup. Any thoughts on their products?!
Hi Laura,
Thanks for the prompt to add Avocado! They weren’t offering the crib mattresses when I first wrote the piece, but they’re excellent choices. so I’ve included both options. Avocado are also a top choice for adult mattresses!
Leigh
Hi Leigh,
Can you also do a review on Newton crib mattress?
Thanks
trying to decide between avocado & Emily, it’s a tie, do you know how firm the avocado is?