Best Organic Crib Mattress Pads

Oh, baby – finding the right items to outfit your nursery can be tough. As a parent, you’re deeply concerned with the protection of your child and their health. Keeping them well means carefully choosing everything they come in contact with. This is especially important when you’re adorning your baby’s sleep space. 

When choosing a crib mattress pad to top off your baby’s crib mattress, comfort is important but safety is key. By choosing organic materials, you can give yourself peace of mind by knowing what you’re buying. All-natural is always best. Discover our top picks for the best organic crib mattress pads and learn what to look for when shopping for your baby’s crib bedding.

The Best Organic Crib Mattress Pads

• Best Budget Crib Mattress Pad – Baby and Brooke
• Best Waterproof Organic Crib Mattress Pad – Naturepedic
• Best Spot Coverage – American Baby Company
• Most Breathable Crib Mattress Pad – Whisper Organics

What is a Crib Mattress Pad? 

A crib mattress pad protects both your toddler’s crib and mattress. Using such a pad helps protect your infant or toddler’s sleeping surface from allergens and bacteria, particularly from leaky diapers and accidents in the night. Less allergens and bacteria means a reduced chance of your baby’s sensitive skin getting irritated.

Related: Best crib mattress toppers

Why Buy Organic?

There are several reasons to buy organic. Buying organic cotton is more sustainable for the environment, as production of organic cotton uses less water. Organic cotton is also safer for wildlife ecosystems and for consumers. Organic cotton crops are not treated with harmful pesticides, insecticides, and genetically modified organisms. Going organic protects your family from unnecessary exposure to these toxins.

Related: Best organic mattress pads

Do I Need a Crib Mattress Pad?

It is generally a good idea to use a mattress pad for babies. Even if your crib mattress has a waterproof finish, it is still smart to have backup support. The pad provides absorbency for excess moisture caused by a leaked diaper, drool, or saliva that in turn protects your baby’s skin from irritation.

Pros/Cons of an Organic Crib Mattress Pad

Going organic with a crib mattress topper is not just about sustainability, it is also protection for your little one. However, it is important to know all pros and cons about buying an organic crib mattress pad before you decide to purchase one.

The alternative to an organic mattress topper is a foam crib mattress pad. Foam is lightweight, hypoallergenic, soft, and distributes weight evenly. However, foam can have an irritable, persistent smell caused by chemicals that serve as flame retardants.

Exposure to these chemicals can cause lifetime health problems, especially in infants and toddlers who sleep a great deal more than adults and therefore have increased exposure. These chemicals are known to wake infants and toddlers and overheat them. Foam also loses its durability and shape over time.

On the other hand, organic does not have these same risks incurred with harsh chemicals. Therefore, organic is the perfect option for kids with allergies or other sensitivity to these chemicals. It’s soft and comfortable, absorptive but breathable, and has a waterproof barrier. The drawback of organic can be the price, but the benefits outweigh the risks of the alternatives.

How to Find the Best Organic Crib Mattress Pad

If you’re in the market for a baby mattress pad, you’ll find yourself swimming in a sea of options. Consider the below factors to narrow down to your best option. Material, care, and comfort will point you in the right direction.

Material

Material is of utmost importance when choosing an organic crib mattress pad. So first of all, what makes a material organic? Organic cotton is basically cotton grown organically in subtropical countries and parts of the USA from non-genetically modified plants. No synthetic agricultural chemicals like fertilizers or pesticides can be used three years prior to harvest if the product is to be labeled as certified organic. The organic label is regulated by the National Organic Program (NOP) with the USDA. So the bottom line is, if you see a label saying ‘certified organic,’ you can trust it.

Organic crib bedding materials can also be made out of bamboo. Most importantly, bamboo is also regulated by the NOP in terms of whether it is certified organic. However, the NOP only covers bamboo as a grown crop and not as a finished product. Therefore, whether bamboo crib materials are actually completely organic once production is over falls into question and is not regulated. Bamboo grows faster and is more sustainable for the environment than cotton as it takes far less water to grow. However, both crops are considered a sustainable resource.

Care

When you are a busy mother or father, having a crib mattress pad that is machine washable and dryable makes a big difference. Some pads require hang drying for the waterproof layer inside the pad, as otherwise it could burn. Make sure you check a product’s care instructions to see if it will be convenient for you.

Comfort

Foster a peaceful sleep by choosing a crib mattress pad that’s soft, smooth, and snuggle-ready. Luckily, organic fabrics are soft AND protective; they aren’t noisy or crunchy like other waterproof materials. Organic is the option that can really do it all.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are mattress pads safe for cribs? 

Yes, a mattress pad is safe for cribs, provided that a consumer follows guidelines and warnings as related to safe use.

Do you need a waterproof mattress pad for a crib? 

Yes, a baby spends up to 18 hours a day in their crib, and during that time they can drool, leak urine, and defecate in a way that can seep through a fitted crib sheet and into the mattress. A mattress pad protects your mattress from bacteria build up that can cause irritation to your baby’s skin.

Can you wash crib mattress pads? 

Yes, you can. Most are machine washable, but based on the waterproof layer used in your pad, it may be best to air dry.

What other bedding items do I need for a crib?

Other great bedding items to have for a crib are baby blankets, the crib mattress itself, baby movement monitors, and baby mobiles. Before you buy any bedding items that may or may not be necessary, be advised about the risk of SIDS, and what you can do to prevent suffocation of an infant in his or her sleep through what you purchase and how you use it.

Summary

Here’s a recap of the best organic crib mattress pads we’ve reviewed: 

There’s no doubt in our mind that you want what’s best for your baby. When shopping for any organic products, you should always reference the labels and ensure that the product is free from any toxins and chemicals. Your baby deserves to sleep with clean, organic products – not only to get a good night’s sleep but a safe night’s sleep.