What’s The Best Naturepedic Crib Mattress? A Guide for New Parents

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Ensure your baby gets a healthy sleep with one of the most trusted organic mattress brands around: Naturepedic. Our easy-to-follow guide to the best Naturepedic crib mattress takes the confusion out of choosing a natural crib mattress for your little dreamer. Say hello to safe and healthy sleep! 

If you’ve decided to buy an organic crib mattress (or organic kids mattresses, for that matter), chances are you’ve come across Naturepedic crib mattresses. 

While Naturepedic has strict standards to ensure your baby gets a safer sleep that’s free from harmful mattress materials and added chemicals, it can be confusing to figure out which model is best. 

This guide will help you learn more about Naturepedic and their commitment to healthy and non-toxic crib mattresses, reducing your family’s chemical exposure as compared to a traditional mattress. 

It covers Naturepedic’s full size baby and toddler mattress models. If you want to read about Naturepedic’s mini crib mattress, read this guide.

My ultimate goal is to help you choose the best Naturepedic crib mattress for your family!

Naturepedic Crib Mattresses At-a-Glance Comparison

Why I Love Naturepedic Non-Toxic Crib Mattresses

Before jumping into each organic crib mattress offered, I wanted to take a quick minute to explain why I like Naturepedic products. 

For one, the company is transparent as heck. What you see is what you get, and I don’t worry about greenwashing or having them sneak in synthetic material, but marketing it as organic. Unfortunately, a lot of traditional crib mattress manufacturers do exactly that, meaning their products are organic in name only. 

I also like that Naturepedic is the mattress manufacturer. They actually make their products rather than outsourcing them, and they make them in the USA.

It is worth noting, however, that if you’re looking for a 100% natural mattress, Naturepedic isn’t the one. Yes – they use a ton of natural materials. And no – you won’t find any kind of materials you don’t want in an organic crib mattress, so no flame retardant chemicals and other toxic chemicals, no memory foam or synthetic foam, and no to any other type of chemical additive that isn’t helpful or safe.

However, Naturepedic does use some synthetic materials like in their polyethylene cover – I’ve gone into more on that below, including why I think it’s actually good that Naturepedic doesn’t make all natural mattresses (spoiler: it’s because of the need to waterproof crib mattresses!).

What you do get with Naturepedic is safe materials for a safer sleep, and the end result is a waterproof and stain resistant crib mattress that’s free from even a small amount of questionable chemicals. 

With that out of the way, let’s dive into explaining the difference between each of the different organic baby crib mattress offered.

There Are 3 Styles of Naturepedic Crib Mattress: Start By Choosing a Style

Naturepedic recently simplified their crib mattress offering. Now you can choose between 3 lines of mattress: The Classic, Breathable, and Ultra.

The Breathable Ultra is a “what you see is what you get” kinda mattress. But  the Classic and Breathable require you to make a few choices: innerspring vs. lightweight, and single vs 2-stage dual firmness. 

All told, there are 6 different organic mattress variations to choose from, plus the oval bassinet mattress and the organic rest pad: a great choice for a daycare nap mat.

Naturepedic’s 3 organic crib mattress lines can be thought of as follows…

Most Affordable and Customizable: Naturepedic Classic

The Naturepedic Classic Crib Mattresses comes with a wipe-clean waterproof surface, and the option to choose between Naturepedic’s lightweight support system or Classic 150 innerspring mattress. If you go with the Lightweight, you can also choose between single or dual firmness. The single firmness is a firm mattress suitable for infants, and the dual firmness has a firm side foe infants and slightly plusher side for toddlers. There are 3 different Classic models, with prices ranging between USD $259 to $299, depending on which options you choose.

The Affordable, Mid-Range Choice: Naturepedic Breathable

The Naturepedic Breathable Crib Mattresses come with a removable and washable breathable surface. All Breathable mattresses have dual firmness, including a firm mattress side for infants, and a plusher side for toddlers. However, you’ll need to choose between Naturepedic’s lightweight inner support system or 252 innerspring coils. There are 2 different Breathable models based on your choice, and prices ranges between USD $349 to $379.

Luxury Choice: Naturepedic Breathable Ultra

Naturepedic’s Breathable Ultra Crib Mattress comes with a removable and washable breathable mattress cover that’s an upgrade from the Breathable series. It uses Naturepedic’s lightweight support system (instead of innerspring coils) and comes in dual firmness that includes a firm sleep  surface for infants, and a softer feel for 12+ months. There’s only 1 Breathable Ultra model, and it’s priced at USD $399.

What They All Have in Common

Of course, all Naturepedic organic crib mattresses are made from safe, certified organic materials that the meet Global Organic Textile Standard. They’re also free from harmful chemicals such as flame retardant chemicals and toxic chemicals / off-gassing emissions that might effect your indoor air quality. Add to that, they all have a waterproof surface.

With that in mind, here  are some of the choices you’ll have to make when buying a Naturepedic crib mattress.

Single Sided vs 2-Stage Dual Sided Mattresses

With the Classic model only, you can choose between single-sided or dual firmness. Both the Breathable and the Ultra lines of mattresses are dual-sided, meaning they have a firm surface for baby, and a slightly plusher side for toddlers.

The main reason to get a single-sided crib mattress instead of a dual-sided one is price: the Classic Lightweight single sided is $259, vs. $289 for the dual sided Lightweight model.

Personally, I’d choose dual sided every time, as it means the mattress will live beyond the infant and baby years, serving as a comfortable and safe mattress into the toddler years   – until your kiddo is 4 or even 5 years old if you want to stretch it.

Lightweight vs Innerspring

With both the Classic and the Breathable models, you can choose between Naturepedic’s lightweight support core, or more traditional inner spring mattress support (the Classic 150 and the Breathable 252).

Which brings me to the next point …. what’s the difference?

wavesupport™ replaces the coils of a traditional innerspring mattress. Naturepedic makes the “waves” from food grade polyethylene plastic, instead of polyurethane foam (which is commonly used in lightweight mattresses).

Using “waves” instead of innersprings means mattresses that use this system (as opposed to inner spring) will be much lighter – about half the weight of an innerspring.

With either choice, you’ll get much better edge support than with a standard foam mattress or memory foam. In my opinion, good edge support results in a safer sleep. This is because the mattress will hold firm when your baby sleeps on the edges, rather than compressing down, which risks the mattress pulling away from the sides of the crib to potentially create a gap. 

Want an Innerspring Baby Mattress? Choose Between the Naturepedic 150 vs 252

Typically, the more coils, the better weight distribution. And the lower gauge the steel, the heavier and more supportive.

Basically, you have a choice between fewer coils with heavier steel or more coils with slightly lighter steel. Both are great, safe options for your baby’s crib mattress and offer a firm side suitable for infants.

If you want a Naturepedic innerspring baby mattress, you can choose between the Classic 150 or the Breathable 252. 

All other models use the lightweight wavesupport™ inner support core.

Naturepedic Crib Mattresses are Easy to Love

Choosing a crib mattress is not for the faint of heart – there are a lot of decisions to make. If your crib mattress budget allows, buying Naturepedic is an easy choice.

Naturepedic has strict standards for all of their mattresses, which makes it easy to shop within the brand. Knowing that all Naturepedic crib mattresses meet high quality, safety, health and environmental standards means you can focus on other aspects of the mattress.

The company offers eight different crib mattresses to choose from. They’re all great options made out of certified organic materials.

But with eight fantastic options, you might find it hard to choose the one that’s best for you. 

We’re here to help.

So Much Goodness In Naturepedic Organic Crib Mattresses

Organic, Safe and Non-Toxic: The Baseline Across all Naturepedic Mattresses

When you buy any Naturepedic baby mattress, you can rest easy they all have the following in common: 

• Made from certified organic materials, which simply isn’t possible with a foam mattress
• All materials are Non-GMO verified
• Materials meet Organic Exchange Certification 100 Organic Content Standard
• None of the materials are known or suspected to cause harm to humans (MADE SAFE certification)
• GREENGUARD Gold certified, meaning low chemical emissions such as VOCs
• Formaldehyde Free Verified
• Are made in the United States by Amish craftsmen
• Meet CPSC standards 
• Provide a firm sleeping surface that is safe for infants
• Come with a limited lifetime warranty
• Use cotton fabric for the waterproof surface (organic)
• Have an allergen-friendly design and contain no latex or soy
• Free from flame retardant chemicals (while still meeting all flammability standards)
• Fit snugly in standard US cribs

Many of these features mean Naturepedic mattresses are quite environmentally friendly. However, studies show they might also make them safer for your baby.

For example, researchers found increased respiratory rate and fewer incidences of airway irritation in lab mice placed on mattresses with organic cotton padding.

Other Naturepedic features that may help reduce the risk of SIDS include meeting CPSC standards, providing a firm sleeping surface, and offering a snug fit in standard US cribs. 

After investing in a safe crib mattress made with natural materials, we recommend pairing it with a non-toxic crib as well.

It’s All About Priorities

Naturepedic prides themselves on five priorities. If we had to guess, we’d bet most parents have similar priorities when it comes to their baby’s crib mattress.  

• No harmful chemicals. 
• Allergy-friendly design. 
• Natural, organic and renewable materials wherever possible. 
• Practical design (e.g. easy-to-clean waterproof cover). 
• Third party independent testing and verification.

A Closer Look at Naturepedic’s Waterproofing and Fireproofing

Naturepedic Waterproof Crib Mattresses

Because this company uses waterproof surfaces, it’s natural to wonder how they achieve this.

The waterproof mattresses use a food grade polyethylene surface, which is a plastic, derived from non-GMO sugarcane. According to their website,

“The surface of every waterproof Naturepedic mattress is so pure you can eat on it.”

Other than the obvious benefit of being waterproof, some of the pros of choosing a waterproof mattress include resistance to mold, mildew, and dust mites. 

Personally, I’ll choose a waterproof organic crib mattress over an all natural crib mattress that isn’t waterproof any day of the week. Once you’ve been through a few accidents, you see how unhygienic it could get if your little dreamer’s pee and poop soaks into the mattress, even a little bit.

Worth noting, Naturepedic also offers a sold-separately waterproof mattress pad. The mattress pads use polyurethane as waterproofing, which the company points out is not the same as polyurethane foam.

You can also buy their organic breathable mattress covers on their own.

Fire Safety

Naturepedic designs their mattresses to have naturally fire resistant properties. By using materials that smolder rather than burst into flames when exposed to fire, they can meet flammability standards without chemicals. These materials include organic cotton, PLA batting, and steel innersprings.

Naturepedic Crib Mattress Comparison

When we look at the list of things Naturepedic does to make their crib mattresses safe and healthy for your baby, we have to wonder…

Shouldn’t all baby products automatically be free from formaldehyde, phthalates, and other harmful chemicals?

Yes, they should be. But unfortunately, they aren’t.

Being chemical and hazard free is especially important in a crib mattress, since babies spend so much time on their mattresses. And since all Naturepedic mattresses make the grade, you can focus on the different features you want for your little one.

Naturepedic breaks their mattresses up into three categories – Classic, Breathable, and Ultra. We researched them all to help you understand the differences. 

The Classic Series ($259 to $299)

All Classic series mattresses have wipe-clean waterproof fabric made from baby-safe organic cotton and polyethylene, contain organic fabric and filling, and use heat-sealed seams rather than glue.

From that base, you can choose an inner mattress core made from either Wavesupport technology, which replaces the coils of a traditional innerspring mattress, or 150 innerspring coils.

You can also choose between single or dual firmness. The single/1-stage has a firm sleep surface on both sides, whereas the dual/2-stage has a  firm sleep surface for infants and a slightly softer feel for toddlers. 

Naturepedic’s Classic series is the most affordable of their three lines and is a good choice if you’re concerned about a safe, non-toxic sleep, without breaking the bank.

Learn More About the Classic Series

The Breathable Series ($349-$379)

The breathable series is an upgrade from the Classic series, as it comes with a removable, breathable mattress pad that maximizes airflow around your baby, which the company logically argues also increases your baby’s comfort.

The breathable pad goes over the waterproof mattress – what’s cool about this is you can use the mattress with or without the breathable pad, in case of middle of the night accidents that require you to remove the pad for washing (you can also buy an extra breathable pad for situations like these).

All the Breathable Series mattresses are 2-stage dual firmness – making them great for a baby or toddler.

However, you can customize this mattress by choosing either 252 innersprings or lightweight wavesupport™.

In the past, the company has used 15.5-gauge coils for the mattress, and super firm 9-gauge coils along the edges for added support. Since updating their line, they no longer provide this information in their marketing materials, but we expect it’s probably the same.

Learn more about the Breathable series.

The Breathable Ultra ($399)

Like the Breathable Series, the Breathable Ultra has a breathable and removable cover. The mattress can be used with or without the cover, but in the case of the Ultra, the cover is quilted, making it a bit more comfortable and durable for your little one. This is a dual firmness mattress using the lightweight wavesupport™ inner construction – no innerspring option here.

Learn more about the Breathable Ultra.

FAQs About Naturepedic Crib Mattresses

How Much Does a Naturepedic Crib Mattress Cost?

Naturepedic crib mattresses range between $259 and $399 at the time of writing, however, I really recommend you get one of their 2-stage mattresses, which start at $289.

With a 2 sided mattress, you’ll be able to use it from Day 1and all the way through toddlerhood – probably until they are 4 or even 5 years old. Once they outgrow the firm surface required for the littlest dreamer, you can flip it over to create a more comfortable sleep for toddlers.

When you consider this as a 4 year investment, the cost of their dual sided organic mattresses are quite reasonable:  

• The Classic Lightweight 2-Stage Dual Firmness Mattress costs $289, which translates to $72.25 per year or $6.02 per month if you use it for 4 years.
• Naturepedic’s Classic 150 2-Stage Innerspring costs $299, which translates to $74.75 per year or $6.23 per month.
• The Breathable Lightweight mattress costs $349, which translates to $87.25 per year or $7.27 per month.
• Naturepedic Breathable 252 Innerspring costs $379, which translates to $94.75 per year or $7.90 per month.
• The Breathable Ultra Lightweight costs $399, which translates to $99.75 per year or $8.31 per month.

Naturepedic also offers monthly payments via financing if you prefer. 

What to Look for When Choosing the Best Naturepedic Organic Crib Mattress for Your Baby?

Crib mattresses are one of those “get what you pay for” things in life. Given how much time your little one is going to spend on it, you want to get something that’s truly healthy and safe for your baby. 

Here’s what to look for:

• Free from harmful materials like polyurethane foam core, fire retardants, and PVC waterproof covers.
• Safe materials inside and out. Many “organic” crib mattresses only contain mattress  covers made from organic materials – often enough, it still has a foam core, and the interior is still made from less than savoury materials and harmful chemicals. Don’t fall for the greenwashing as this is one area where you really want to be sure you get it right!
• Dual stage mattress. If you buy a single-stage mattress (Naturepedic only makes one: the Classic Lightweight), it will only last your baby’s first year. By the time your kiddo is a bit older and heavier, they’ll want something plusher for comfort. 

Naturepedic proves that you can get a safe sleep environment for your little one without spending $500 or more. Their Classic Lightweight mattress costs $289 and Naturepedic offers financing as well.

Do Naturepedic Crib Mattresses Work in All Cribs?

Yes – all Naturepedic crib mattresses will fit with any US standard sizes cribs. This includes convertible cribs, so long as you’re using a US standard sized crib (which, if you bought new in the USA, it will be).

Do You  Still Need a Mattress Cover or Protector with Naturepedic Crib Mattresses?

You might want to buy an extra one for middle of the night swaps as accidents happen, but you don’t need one as the mattress surface is waterproof.

How Do You Clean a Naturepedic Crib Mattress?

All of the crib mattresses have a wipe clean surface, so you’ll just need to use a damp cloth to clean up any messes.

Do Naturepedic Crib Mattresses Come with a Warranty?

Yes, Naturepedic has a fairly comprehensive warranty that more or less covers the lifetime  of use for one baby and toddler. You can read the whole thing here.

Final Thoughts on Choosing the Best Naturepedic Crib Mattress

I know from personal experience that it can be tough to choose the right crib mattress. There are so many options available from different companies, and from within companies themselves.

I hope this post helps you choose what’s best for your family. Personally, I think the Breathable Lightweight is the best Naturepedic mattress for most families.

And if you know a new parent, please share this article with them!

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