As the founder of Dream Baby Sleep, I have helped thousands of babies get better, independent sleep in their own cribs, so I know a thing or two about the best crib mattresses out there! So believe me when I say: I love the Newton Baby crib mattress. I’m fastidious when it comes to sleep safety, and the Newton mattress combines so many things I look for when evaluating a crib mattress.
How can parents know if a crib mattress is safe?
The absolute most important thing in a crib mattress is a firm, flat surface. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends babies sleep alone in their cribs on a firm, flat sleep surface until age 1— no blankets, stuffies or lovies. The Newton mattress is perfect for this, because it is dual-sided, meaning one, firmer side is meant for infant sleep while you can flip it over for a softer surface after your child turns one, extending the life of the mattress.
Another safety feature I love about the Newton mattress is that it’s so breathable. While AAP guidelines also stress that putting your baby down on their back to sleep is critical, we also know that once baby can roll independently from back-to-belly and belly-to-back, if they roll in their sleep, you don’t need to flip them. But it helps to know that the Newton baby mattress is made with breathability in mind, helping increase air flow and temperature regulation so your baby is as safe as possible.
A part of crib safety you might not typically think of is bacteria build-up—an ability to clean the mattress easily is really important. It’s an unfortunate inevitability of new parenthood that your baby will poop or pee through their pajamas and swaddle/sleep sack at some point, and you don’t want to be worrying about how much of the mess seeped into the mattress. The Newton mattress is incredible because you can clean all of it—you can wash the cover in the washing machine, and spray down the mattress core in the bathtub or shower in the case of a major blowout, which is a true game changer. I’ve never seen another mattress where you can wash the entire thing like this— it brings such peace of mind when it comes to those messy moments!
Lastly, many parents worry about the environmental safety of the crib mattress they choose. The Newton mattress is Greenguard Gold Certified, which means that it was tested for harmful emissions and passed the independent testing. The mattress has no foam, adhesives or latex, and is hypoallergenic, so if safety of materials is a big concern to you, the Newton is a great choice.
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Other tips I always give parents about crib mattresses
- Have multiple water-proof covers for middle-of-the-night blowouts: as wonderful as the washable Newton core is, you’re not going to be able to put the mattress in the bathtub to wash it in the middle of the night! Newton has a companion breathable, soft-quilted waterproof mattress pad that I’d definitely suggest stocking up on. (Waterproof covers are completely safe as well.)
- You may prefer to have your newborn in a bassinet at first, but there’s no reason they can’t be in the crib if it’s working for your family. You bought that great crib and it’s totally okay to use it! Just make sure baby is swaddled and they’ll do great. Make sure to stop swaddling as soon as baby shows signs of starting to roll over— at that point, you’ll want to switch to a sleep sack.
- And you don’t have to flip the mattress if baby is sleeping well: nothing magical happens on their first birthday! If your toddler is still sleeping great on the infant side, feel free to stick with it.
Lastly, if you’re struggling with your baby’s sleep, you don’t have to be. Reach out to us at Dream Baby Sleep to schedule a free 15 minute sleep consult, so our certified team can learn more about your baby’s specific sleep needs, and share actionable tips that can help your little one get better rest immediately.
