Searching for the best crib mattress and want to get a better idea of crib mattress measurements? We’ll dive into crib mattress dimensions, along with crib mattress materials, and what factors you should consider when making your selection.
What is a Standard Crib Mattress Size?
There are strict safety standards when it comes to crib mattresses, meaning they need to be a certain size to fit correctly in a crib. The standard size is 52 inches in length and 28 inches in width. It can vary slightly but this is the most popular crib mattress dimension given that the absolute minimum is 51 ⅝ inches x 27 ¼ inches as per Consumer Product Safety Commission standards.
When considering crib mattress measurements, it should also be noted that a crib mattress should not exceed 6 inches in thickness and should be firm in density.
These standards are all for safety reasons, avoiding gaps between the crib mattress and the crib, and a sinking feeling in the mattress that can lead to injury and suffocation.
The forefront of everyone’s minds when thinking about crib mattress safety is SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), which is why it’s important to avoid plush mattresses. Even a used crib mattress can lose its firmness over time, so we always recommend investing in a new organic crib mattress.
What is a Mini Crib Mattress?
A mini crib mattress is meant for portable cribs or very small spaces. In terms of mini crib mattress size, typically they measure 38 inches in length and 24 inches in width. Mini crib mattresses are in a separate category, so they do not have the same size requirements as full-size crib mattresses.
What is a Bassinet Mattress?
A bassinet mattress differs in size from a mini crib mattress, and is actually even smaller. On average, a bassinet mattress is about 32 inches long and 16 inches wide, but be sure to check the dimensions of your bassinet to make sure that the mattress will fit properly. Bassinet mattresses are also thinner than other crib mattresses, and should only be about 1-1.5 inches thick.
Crib Mattress Materials
When searching crib mattresses, you’ll notice there are a variety of materials on the market, with a very common one being polyurethane foam. However, we strongly recommend choosing a natural latex crib mattress instead, since natural latex does not off-gas harmful chemicals into the air. Natural latex is derived from rubber tree sap which is harvested and baked into cozy supportive layers that are used in mattress cores.
When looking at the crib mattress casing, synthetic materials are common, such as polyester. Even a bamboo casing isn’t our first choice since bamboo typically has to go through a heavy chemical process in order to turn it into soft material. Instead, we recommend looking for a crib mattress with an organic cotton casing.
It’s also important to note that chemical flame retardants should be avoided. Organic wool can be used as a natural flame barrier instead. Wool is breathable and moisture-wicking, making it an excellent bedding material in general.
Crib Mattress Protector
To protect your crib mattress from inevitable accidents and stains, we strongly recommend a crib mattress protector.
For the most protection, we recommend an organic waterproof protector. The waterproofing layer will stop liquids from coming into contact with the mattress. When you choose an organic mattress protector that is GOTS-certified, you know that it does not contain toxic materials.
If you would prefer a completely natural mattress protector that does not have waterproofing properties, then we recommend a wool mattress pad. Wool is moisture resistant, so it will help protect the mattress. However, wool is NOT waterproof, so it will not be as strong as a waterproof protector and accidents cannot sit as long on the mattress.
Crib Mattress Checklist
If we had to pick the most important elements of a crib mattress to have on your list, they would be…
- Firmness: Make sure the crib mattress is firm, NOT soft or plush. While we do not recommend secondhand crib mattresses, if you are getting a crib mattress from a loved one to use, make sure it still has that necessary firm support.
- Organic Materials: Your baby spends many hours in their crib since they sleep much more than their parents. Their environment should be free from harmful chemicals and questionable materials. We recommend choosing a crib mattress with high quality organic and natural materials.
- Correct Size: When you choose a crib mattress, make sure it will fit in the crib properly so that it meets safety standards.
Savvy Rest Crib Mattresses
Savvy Rest offers two crib mattresses!
The Savvy Baby is our original crib mattress and is made with supportive organic Dunlop latex and covered in our Savvy Rest organic casing, which is made of organic cotton and organic wool. The wool acts as a natural flame barrier so no chemical flame retardants here! The crib mattress is GOTS-certified organic.
Our second crib mattress is The Savvy Baby Talalay, which is just like the original Savvy Baby but instead has luxurious natural Talalay latex. We give adults the choice of Dunlop or Talalay latex for our line of organic mattresses, so we gave baby (or really, baby’s parents) the choice as well. Both are firm crib mattresses, and both are GOTS-certified.
Congratulations on this incredibly exciting time in your life. Enjoy all the little things, and make sure to nap when baby naps!