Best Toddler Bed Mattress of 2022

If you’re in a hurry and just want to find out what the best toddler bed mattress is, I’d recommend the Graco Premium Foam Crib and Toddler Bed Mattress.

Proper sleep is crucial for your child’s development. When your toddler is sleeping well, the whole family can rest better. The best toddler bed mattress is comfortable, helps maintain a stable temperature and repels water. Find out what other factors go into making the right decision for your purchase.

In this article, I am breaking down the best toddler bed mattresses, and in the end, I’ll choose the winner.

Here are the toddler mattresses I will be reviewing:

• Graco Premium Foam Crib & Toddler Bed Mattress
• Safety 1st Heavenly Dreams Crib and Toddler Bed Mattress
• Delta Children Twinkle Stars Deluxe Innerspring Crib and Toddler Mattress
• Newton Baby Crib Mattress and Toddler Bed
• LA Baby Natural Triple Zone 2 in 1 Soy Foam Crib Mattress

How To Choose The Best Toddler Bed Mattress

Shopping for a mattress for yourself can be challenging. It’s hard to decide what feels good when you’re not snuggled up in your pajamas. But at least you can test out the comfort level for yourself.

When you’re buying a toddler bed mattress, it’s difficult to determine what your little one will find comfortable. Plus, you’re probably wondering what is best for your growing child’s development. Here’s what to look for in a toddler bed mattress.

How Firm Should A Toddler Bed Mattress Be?

Although companies that sell mattresses for adults often hype the comfort of the pillow top, a cloud-like design isn’t always ideal for grown-ups. Sinking into cushiony softness is definitely not desirable for toddlers.

If a mattress is too fluffy, it can surround your child’s face. This might impede airflow and create an unsafe scenario. Therefore, a firm mattress is preferable to a soft one.

Toddler bed mattresses don’t have to be as firm as crib mattresses. If you intend to convert a crib into a toddler bed, you can certainly use the same mattress, however. Some crib mattresses have a different level of firmness on each side. One is designed for infants, and the other is meant for toddlers.

How can you gauge the firmness of a mattress that you buy online? Manufacturers use an indentation load deflection rating to indicate the rigidity or softness of a mattress. The scale ranges from 12 to 50. A firm mattress has an indentation load deflection rating of 36 or higher.

Although none of the mattresses in this review have a numeric rating in their descriptions, you might be able to contact the manufacturer to get more information. Because all of these mattresses are designed for infants or toddlers, they’re all quite firm.

What Size Mattress Should You Get?

If you’re using a convertible crib or toddler bed, the mattress is usually the same size as a crib mattress. Other bed options may require you to shop for an adult-sized mattress. Make sure that you measure your bed before shopping even if you assume that it’s a standard size.

The typical toddler mattress is five inches thick. You may have trouble finding a toddler-sized mattress that is thicker than this.

What Materials Are Toddler Bed Mattresses Made Of?

Toddler bed mattresses can be made with springs, coils or foam and come in organic and non-organic options. Some say that organic mattresses prevent children from being exposed to toxic compounds.

Innerspring Toddler Bed Mattresses

An innerspring mattress is similar to a conventional adult mattress. It may feature springs that are attached in a framework or individual coils. Those coils are surrounded by various layers of foam and other materials that add to the comfort of the product. More layers usually make for a better quality mattress.

Most manufacturers will provide you with the coil count of an innerspring mattress. A higher coil count usually gives you better support, but it’s not a measure of the firmness. Also, coil counts that are far greater than the standard don’t necessarily increase comfort.

Foam Toddler Bed Mattresses

Foam mattresses are generally made of polyurethane. These should snap back when you put pressure on them. If they retain the indentation of your toddler’s body, they could pose a suffocation hazard.

Denser foam is preferable. It prevents the foam from compressing too much under your child’s weight.

Other Factors To Consider

Once you know what size and material you’d like in a toddler bed mattress, you have some other decisions to make. 

Insulator Pads

Crib mattresses usually have thermal insulator pads built in because infants have trouble regulating their temperatures. A toddler mattress may also have this feature.

Versatility

Many parents prefer to buy one mattress to get their child through the early years. Therefore, a product that works in a crib and toddler bed can prevent you from having to shell out money for a separate mattress. You might be able to splurge on a higher quality product if you only have to shop once.

Waterproofing

Even a potty-trained toddler can have an accident. A sick child may vomit during the night. Kids might spill water on their mattress. If moisture gets into the core of the mattress, it can deteriorate the materials.

You might want to look for a toddler bed mattress that has a waterproof exterior. If the cover isn’t waterproof, you should find out whether it can be removed for washing. You can always buy a waterproof cover separately from the mattress.

Some mattresses with waterproof covers feel like plastic and are noisy when the child moves around. A water-resistant barrier that’s quiet is preferable for helping your little one sleep soundly.

My Top Toddler Bed Mattress Reviews

Now that you understand some of the factors that make up a toddler bed mattress, you can learn which are my favorites.

Graco Premium Foam Crib & Toddler Bed Mattress

This mattress uses non-toxic materials and high-quality foam to deliver a supportive surface. It fits standard-sized cribs and toddler beds.

The design maximizes airflow, helping to regulate your child’s temperature and improve ventilation. The polyurethane foam core is surrounded by a fire barrier and separation barrier. The soft polyester cover contains a moisture barrier. The cover is also removable and machine washable.

Because it’s made of foam, this mattress compresses into a compact cylinder. When you receive it, you should unwrap it and allow it to expand for at least 72 hours. The manufacturer recommends doing this in a well-ventilated area, which tells me that it could contain harmful chemicals.

It’s free of phthalates and lead, but it could have other toxins. On the plus side, the mattress is made with anti-microbial materials.

Safety 1st Heavenly Dreams Crib And Toddler Bed Mattress

If your child has allergies or environmental sensitivities, you might prefer a mattress that has been tested for chemicals. This one is hypoallergenic and free of phthalates and lead. It is GreenGuard Gold certified, which means that it meets safe threshold levels for volatile organic compounds.

The Safety 1st Heavenly Dreams mattress is made of high-density thermo-bonded fiber core. In other words, it’s a dense foam that’s made from polyester.

The vinyl cover keeps moisture out and can be wiped clean easily. It also resists odors and stains. Some people worry about the chemicals that vinyl emits, however.

Because it is designed for a crib, it is quite firm. It should be supportive enough for a toddler.

One downfall to this mattress is that the outer material can deteriorate and flake off over time. You may not be able to use this throughout the toddler years. It’s a good thing that the mattress has a 5-year warranty.

It’s also shorter than the reported 52.5 inches. The reduced size may create a gap between the mattress and the side of the bed.

Delta Children Twinkle Stars Deluxe Innerspring Crib And Toddler Mattress

This innerspring mattress is an affordable alternative to foam. It’s versatile because it fits cribs and toddler beds. It also has two sides with different levels of firmness. The toddler side has an additional layer of convoluted foam to enhance the comfort.

The product contains 162 interlocking coils. Border wires surround the interior of the mattress, making the surface equally balanced. You won’t run into issues with softness around the edges that compresses when your child is sleeping on the edge of the bed.

The coils are covered with layers of CertiPUR-US approved foams. These are free of PBDE flame retardants, mercury, heavy metals and lead. Even though it does not contain toxic fire retardants, the mattress features natural cotton fire protection and meets and exceeds flammability standards.

With its vinyl cover, this mattress is waterproof. The cover wipes clean.

Newton Baby Crib Mattress And Toddler Bed

The manufacturer claims that this mattress uses innovative Breathe-Thru Technology to improve ventilation. It is the first 100-percent breathable and washable crib mattresses.

This means that it’s ideal for infants, but it works just as well in a toddler bed. The air flow may help keep your little one from overheating at night.

The core is made from patented Wovenaire that is 90 percent open. It is designed with a three-dimensional spacer that further enhances air flow. Even though it’s so breathable, the mattress is still firm enough for a young child.

This is different than a foam or innerspring mattress. It contains no foam, latex, glue, springs or allergens. It’s also recyclable. Instead, it is made from a food-grade polymer that contains no VOCs and is GreenGuard certified.

When the manufacturer says that the entire mattress is washable, they aren’t just talking about the cover. The cover can be unzipped, removed and washed and dried by machine. The mattress core can be dunked in a tub of cool water or spot cleaned.

One of the disadvantages of this mattress is that the cover is not waterproof. If it were, it would hinder the air circulation. The product comes with one cover, but you can purchase an additional one separately so that you can throw it on if your child soils the mattress during the night.

LA Baby Natural Triple Zone 2 In 1 Soy Foam Crib Mattress

Although this is marketed as a crib mattress, it’s the same size as a toddler bed mattress. It also has two sides, one of which features memory foam and is better suited for a toddler. This mattress is also the only one that I reviewed that offers soy foam and an organic cover.

The CertiPUR-US certified soy foam core is supportive enough for young children. It also has dense foam borders that regulate the softness throughout the mattress. The edge of the mattress doesn’t compress any more than the center.

The topper is made from a polyester blend, which is soft and comfortable. You can wrap the entire mattress in a blended organic cotton cover. The cover is waterproof and features a dust mite barrier.

Whereas some foam mattresses are compressed before they’re packaged, this one is not. Therefore, you shouldn’t have problems with expansion when you receive the mattress.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, toddler mattresses can have significant differences in price and materials. If you’re looking for a traditional toddler mattress, you might want to opt for the Graco Premium Foam Crib and Toddler Bed Mattress. 

The size and feel seem ideal, it’s breathable, and the waterproof cover protects the foam inside. As long as you give it plenty of time to expand, you shouldn’t have a problem with this one.

If you’re looking for something more natural, you may wish to choose the LA Baby or Newton Baby, depending on your budget. The Newton Baby mattress is made from a unique material, and some people question its eco-friendliness. Because it’s GreenGuard certified, you don’t have to worry about toxic chemicals.

All of these mattresses are of good quality, and you should get plenty of longevity from any of them. 

Of course, once you’ve picked out a mattress, it’s time to start looking for a good toddler pillow to go with it.