Newton Crib Mattress Review

I was first introduced to the Newton Crib Mattress at the ABC Expo back in 2016, and it blew my mind because I hadn’t seen anything like it before.

Up until then (and to this day), many baby crib mattresses were heavy, awkward, and hot, whereas this new breed of crib mattress was light and airy. I remember the inventor inviting me to push my face against it to see how breathable it was and I couldn’t get over how much air got through.

Fast forward many years and there has been talk if there’s value in breathabilty when it comes to safety. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that infants are on their backs for sleep in a crib, bassinet or portable play yard with a firm, flat mattress and a fitted sheet for the safest sleep.

However, there are no studies on whether a mattress with better airflow is better or not. I can’t even imagine the sample size and controls you’d need to measure this, so it’s difficult to say if we will ever know.

Now, the one thing I DO know is that babies poop, pee and spit up in their cribs a lot and it is a royal pain in the butt to change a fitted sheet on a standard crib mattress. Babies also can get hot and sweaty and breathable mattresses are definitely cooler than their traditional counterparts.

For those two factors alone, I think this mattress is worth exploring so let’s press on and start with the features.

Key Features of the Newton Baby Mattress

These are the top five standouts for this mattress:

1. Breathable Design

The mattress features a unique, breathable construction that promotes airflow, helps regulate temperature, and provides a safe sleep environment for babies.

2. Washable

Both the mattress core and the cover are machine washable, making it easy to keep the mattress clean for those late night blowouts and barfs.

3. Lightweight and Easy to Handle

The mattress is lightweight, making it easy for parents to change sheets and move it as needed.

4. No Foam or Glue

You can wash it from cover to core, and it is free from foam, glue, latex, and springs.

5. Firm Support

Designed to provide optimal firmness for infants and the mattress meets safety standards for infant sleep.

Safety Standards

The Newton Crib Mattress adheres to several important safety standards to ensure a safe sleep environment for infants:

• CPSIA Compliance: The mattress meets the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act requirements, which regulate lead content and phthalates in children's products.
• ASTM Standards: It complies with the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards for crib mattresses, which include tests for firmness, safety, and performance.
• GREENGUARD Gold Certification: This certification indicates that the mattress meets stringent standards for low chemical emissions, contributing to healthier indoor air quality.

Care Guidelines

To me, this is where this product shines. You can remove the cover, wash it, and then hose the mattress's core down in the shower Shawshank style.‌‌‌‌ This is especially great for kids with allergies or who tend to dribble, drool, or otherwise dampen their mattresses regularly.

There are currently four different breathable mattress options available.

The first three all fit standard crib dimensions (52” x 28”), while the mini is for smaller cribs (37.75” x 23.75”).

Each mattress is firm enough for use with an infant but designed with comfort in mind meaning you can use it for years to come as your toddler transitions into a toddler bed.

The Essential -  $249 - The cheapest of the full-size options, this mattress is 4” thick and comes with a soft removable cover.

The Original - $299 - The next level up is thicker at 5.5”, and comes with a slightly more luxurious quilted removable cover. (This was the product I sampled.)

The Waterproof - $349 - Has a waterproof barrier on the toddler side. This one is also 5.5” thick and comes with a quilted cover.

The Mini - $199 - The mini crib mattress clocks in at 3” thick and also comes with a washable cover. Perfect for smaller cribs, but NOT for use in a play yard.

My Tester

I was long past the baby years, so I sent the mattress to one of the site's writers, Emily, to test. Her son had started rolling over in his sleep, and it was freaking her out. Here's what she had to say.

"I could go into all the lengths I went to try and get our son to sleep on his back, but from three months old, when he started rolling over onto his stomach unassisted, he made it very clear sleeping on his back was just not an option. And as if sleeping on his stomach wasn’t enough of a heart attack inducer, he prefers to sleep face down, with his nose compressed against the mattress.

The open weave in the Newton mattress made me feel a bit better about this kiddo's 'face sleeping' even though it still drove me nuts."

Experience with the Mattress

Ease of Cleaning

• I love how easy it is to clean, and it doesn’t feel gross to offer it as a hand-me-down one day. (Maybe that’s just my hangup.)

Comfort and Support

• It was comfortable and firm from the baby years to the toddler years, and it did not need to be flipped.

Non-Toxic Materials

• I didn’t realize how much questionable stuff can go into a mattress, so the long list of no-nos (no foam, glue, latex, or springs) felt reassuring.

Longevity

• I’ve had this mattress for eight (8!) years now and it’s still in great condition. (It’s currently sitting in my basement after the big kid bed migration but I wouldn’t feel weird about giving it to someone to use.

Comparison with Other Brands

Newton was definitely the first company to come out with this type of mattress, but other companies have come out with similar versions.

The two I would consider to be in the same camp are the Lullaby Earth Breathe Safe Breathable Crib Mattress and the Naturepedic Organic Breathable Baby Crib Mattress.

HALO used to have a very similar mattress called the HALO DreamWeave Breathable Crib Mattress, but it doesn't seem to be available anymore. It was suspiciously close to the Newton, so maybe their lawyers got twitchy.

None of them have glues, adhesives, or polyurethane foam, and they all pass flame standards without fire retardants or chemical additives. Good stuff.

The Newton mattress is the only one you don’t have to flip. The other two have an infant side and a toddler side with a waterproof cover that isn’t breathable. If you want full airflow, you’re better off going with the Newton and then adding a fitted waterproof sheet when your child is older or opting for Newton's Waterproof version.

Both the Naturepedic and Lullaby Earth have a ‘breathable’ cover with a non-breathable waterproof mattress underneath. The Naturepedic’s cover is also organic.

They cost between $280 and $360, so there isn’t a huge price difference. The most significant difference probably comes down to the tradeoff between airflow and waterproofing.

Is the Newton Crib Mattress  Worth the Investment?

Crib mattresses can be a boring purchase (like snow tires or a hot water tank), but once you start looking at them, you start to appreciate their different features.

The Newton mattress is definitely innovative and has clearly inspired more than one copy cat. It offers a breathable design, is made from recyclable materials, and is fully washable, making it ideal for accidents.

While it meets high safety standards and is durable enough for multiple children, it comes at a higher price tag, which may not suit every budget.

Overall, I really liked the Newton mattress and would recommend it, especially if you have a face sleeper once your child starts rolling, if you want to maximize airflow to keep your baby cool, or if you love the idea of being able to clean it tip to toe.

Where can I buy the Newton crib mattress?

If you’d like to check out the Newton mattress, you can find it on the Newton website and Amazon and Amazon.ca or you can enter for a chance to win one above (psst, Newton Baby will probably send you discount offers so it's worth entering even if you don't win.)

Our next reco: Best Safe Sleep Options