Best Waterproof Crib Mattress Pads in 2021
As a new parent, I was surprised at how much my newborn daughter slept each day! As it turns out, sleep is one of the most important things for the proper development of babies. So, naturally, I wanted to make this activity as comfortable as possible for my little cherub, and I did what most parents do. I bought the most comfortable crib, a nice mattress and some snuggle toys to keep her company. But I soon realized that I had overlooked one huge problem- the problem of the crib mattress getting wet!
No matter how attentive you are, spillage in the crib is bound to happen. Occasional leaky diapers, drooling (lots of drooling), sweat and other bodily fluids invariably find their way onto the crib mattress. Cleaning out a mattress is not as easy as I had thought either. Everything gets absorbed into the mattress and soon, the mattress is stained and filthy. Well, there is an easy way to prevent all this- a waterproof mattress pad!
Thankfully, some genius people figured it all for us mortals! There are a ton of high quality waterproof mattress pads on the market that you can put on top of your baby's crib mattress. These pads are designed to be a 100% waterproof and yet so comfortable that your baby won't even notice them being there.
As is the case with most baby products, however, there are a ton of options out there, and I mean a ton! If you are new to the waterproof mattress cover game, it can get really confusing to pick the best one.
In this article, we are going to take a look at some of the best waterproof mattress pads that you can buy for your baby's crib. I selected these mattress pads form amongst hundreds of brands out there as these offer the best protection, feel and value for your money.
Rating | Product | Price | My Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
EDITOR'S CHOICE | Organic Crib Mattress Cover Pad | ||
BEST VALUE | Ultra Soft Waterproof Crib Mattress Protector Pad From Bamboo Rayon Fiber by Margaux & May | ||
3. | American Baby Company Waterproof Fitted Crib and Toddler Protective Mattress Pad Cover | ||
4. | Sealy Cool Comfort Fitted Infant/Toddler Crib Mattress Pad | ||
5. | Utopia Bedding Waterproof Crib Mattress Protector |
5 Best Waterproof Crib Mattress Pads (Review)
Organic Crib Mattress Cover Pad
The waterproof mattress pad from Crib Mattress has to be one of the best organic mattress pads out there. Made from organic materials, the pad is very soft and comfortable.
One of the distinguishing features of this pad is that the bamboo fabric is infused with a proprietary bacteriostatic material that resists the growth of bacteria. Even after repeated use, you will not smell the characteristic foul stench coming from bacterial growth.
The top quilted layer made form organic bamboo fibers wicks away the moisture 3-4 times faster than cotton. The surface of the pad remains relatively dry even after a bed wetting incidence.
Overall, the quality of the product speaks for itself and I would highly recommend this mattress pad.
PROS
- Organic bamboo material
- Hypoallergenic
- Wicks away moisture better than cotton
- Easy to clean
- Antibacterial
CONS
- The quality of this product is just fabulous. I have absolutely no complaints with it. Although, the price of these pads is a bit on the higher side.
Ultra Soft Waterproof Crib Mattress Protector Pad From Bamboo Rayon Fiber by Margaux & May
Bamboo Rayon is a great new material for bedding. As the name implies, the fabric is made from sustainable bamboo and is very soft and comfortable to touch. As this mattress pad is made from bamboo fabric, it is super-soft, quiet and fits almost any crib mattress.
The texture feels very breathable and natural. The mattress pad allows the moisture to wick and leaves the surface dry and comfortable. The rubberized material that provides the waterproofing does not make any crinkling noises as well.
In contrast to many similar mattress pads, this one is quite easy to wash as well. I have even tried washing it in warm water and I had no issues with it. That said, I would strongly recommend washing it in cold water and drying without heat for maintaining softness and longevity.
PROS
- Very soft texture
- Hypoallergenic
- Easy to clean
- Fits almost all crib mattresses
- Good waterproofing
CONS
- The mattress pad is a bit expensive but the quality is top-notch
American Baby Company Waterproof Fitted Crib and Toddler Protective Mattress Pad Cover
The American Baby Company is one of the most well-known brands of baby bedding supplies in the world. I love their crib mattresses and when I came across their waterproof mattress pad, I knew it would be a quality product. As I expected, this mattress pad did not disappoint me at all.
The top and bottom part of this pad is made out of high-quality soft polyester fabric. The polyester material is very comfortable and feels very natural on the skin. The waterproofing comes from a layer of Vinyl in the middle.
The pad feels like a quilted mattress on top. As far as the water proofing is concerned, the pad does a fantastic job at that as well. The pads are very easy to clean; just throw them in the washer and that's it.
I love the fact that there is no crinkling sound with these waterproof mattress pads that I have come to expect from a majority of pads. The pads are very quite and won't wake your baby up when he/she turns in the middle of the night.
Another thing that I like about this mattress pad is the fact that it fits very nicely on a standard crib mattress. I have had no problems fitting this pad on top of my 6 inch thick crib mattress at all.
Overall, it is a high quality product and you won't be disappointed with it's performance either.
PROS
- Soft to touch
- No crinkling sound
- Good waterproofing
- Fits most standard crib mattresses
- Easy to clean
CONS
- Although the mattress pad is great, it can cause some pilling if you wash it with warm water. I would recommend using cold water and hang-drying
Sealy Cool Comfort Fitted Infant/Toddler Crib Mattress Pad
If you are looking for an affordable waterproof mattress pad, then look no further. The aptly named 'Sealy' (get it?) waterproof mattress pad is an excellent budget mattress pad that rivals even the more expensive ones.
The pad features a quilted top that is very comfortable to touch and wicks away any moisture. The waterproofing comes from a rubberized layer underneath the brushed, knit polyester later on the top. Although the material used in the waterproofing is not mentioned on the label, I am guessing it is some kind of a Vinyl material. There is no weird chemical smell to the pad, though.
The pads are easy to clean as well. Just throw them in a washer and dry at low temperature. These can be an excellent addition to your travel kit as they are lightweight and relatively inexpensive.
PROS
- Soft knitted polyester top
- Rubberized waterproof layer
- Easy to clean
- Light and easy to carry
CONS
- Although the mattress pad is a great value, it is not as durable as some of the other pads on this list
Utopia Bedding Waterproof Crib Mattress Protector
If you are looking for a hypoallergenic, waterproof mattress pad, then Utopia Bedding is a great option for you. It is a very comfortable mattress pad that will easily fit most standard crib mattresses.
I love the fact that Utopia provides extra deep skirts so that the pad can fit even the thickest crib mattresses. The top of the mattress pad is quilted for an extra comfortable experience for your baby. The waterproofing comes from a rubberized layer below the top cotton layer. Unfortunately, the tags on the product don't specify the type of material used for waterproofing, but I can attest to the fact that it works like a charm. There is no weird chemical smell with pad either which leads me to believe that the waterproofing material is not Vinyl , but I can't be sure.
Another thing that I love about this mattress pad is that although the top part is quilted and soft, it is not too soft. You won't have any issues with the pad even if you have a newborn baby.
Overall, I would strongly recommend the mattress pad as it gets the job done and it won't break your bank either.
PROS
- Comfortable design
- Good waterproofing
- Fits most crib mattresses
- Easy to clean
CONS
- The only downside of the mattress pad is the fact that there is no information about the material used in the waterproof layer
Why do you need a waterproof mattress pad
Although the reasons for getting a waterproof mattress pad are quite obvious, if you are still on the fence, let be try to convince you. I would need to get into some details to drive the point home, but given the gravity of the subject, I think it will be alright.
You see, moisture in a crib mattress provides a sanctuary for harmful microbes to fester. Couple that with the fact that the moisture also has some organic matter. It makes the situation even more conducive for the microbes. There have been studies on bacteria that are commonly found in crib mattress linking them to serious health issues including death of infants. Studies have also found that keeping the mattress dry can prevent the growth of these bacteria significantly.
So, there is a potential health hazard with a wet crib mattress and a good quality waterproof mattress pad can prevent all of these from happening. If the mattress doesn't get wet, there is less chance for the bacteria to thrive. It is as simple as that!
Now that you see the importance of a waterproof crib mattress pad in a new light, lets see what makes a mattress pad great.
What to consider while buying a waterproof crib mattress pad
With so many options on the market, it can get really confusing to select the best waterproof mattress pad for a crib mattress. That said, if you know what to look for, the choice can get a bit easy.
Here are some of the things that you should look for while selecting a waterproof crib mattress pad.
The material
There are a ton of fabrics that are used commonly in manufacturing waterproof mattress pads. Some of the material include Polyester, Cotton, and even Wool. The choice of the fabric will dictate the waterproofing ability as well as the comfort.
The synthetic (plastic) fabrics make an excellent water barrier, but they are not the most comfortable in terms of feel and touch. On the other hand, cotton is one of the best in terms of touch and feel, but it is not that great at keeping the moisture out. So, when it comes to fabric, you want to attain a middle ground. It is important to remember that if you are looking for a fabric that is very comfortable, it is not going to be a 100% waterproof. Similarly, a 100% waterproof fabric is seldom super-comfortable.
Thankfully, though, there are some great composite materials that can provide an excellent moisture protection while maintaining the soft and comfortable feel.
The size and fit
It is also important to note that a mattress pad will not be effective if it keeps sliding off the mattress. Make sure that you are buying a mattress pad that will fit properly on your crib mattress. It is helpful to take a look at the dimensions of the mattress and compare them with the mattress pad that you are selecting.
Antibacterial properties
As we just saw, the mattresses can become breeding grounds for harmful microbes. Although a waterproof mattress pad can be a great way to prevent that, some manufacturers take it a step further. Some of the best mattress pads out there resist the growth of bacteria themselves.
It is an excellent feature to have and I highly recommend a mattress pad that has this feature.
Price
Price is also an important factor to consider while purchasing a waterproof mattress cover. While it is a fact that you get what you pay for, you should definitely not overspend on features that you don't need or want.
There are many great options out there that are quite affordable and yet provide you the same quality as some of the more expensive products.
Things to avoid in a waterproof crib mattress pad
There is no shortage of quality waterproof mattress pads out there. While most of them use materials that safe, some don't. Hence it is important to know what not buy as well.
Most mattress pads out there are made from one of the following three material;
- Vinyl/PVC
- PEVA or EVA
- polyurethane
Stay away from the mattress pads that have PVC in them. PVC is a known carcinogen and it has no place in the crib with you precious bundle of joy. I would strongly recommend against getting a mattress pad that has even trace amounts of PVC.
Some manufacturers do try to put labels such as 'Phthalate-free' or 'non-toxic' in front of PVC, but I would still stay away from such products.
PEVA or EVA are better, chlorine-free alternatives to PVA but they still may contain some toxic chemicals. Although they are quite safe to use, I would exercise caution with mattress pads that are made from such materials.
Polyurethane is the safest of the lot. While the material itself is quite safe, it depends on how it was modified during the process. As a general rule of thumb, make sure that you are avoiding any mattress pad that contains high amounts of chemicals and solvents.
All the mattress pads that I will cover in the following section are carefully selected to avoid any toxics and potentially harmful materials. All the mattress pads that I discuss are safe to use as per the manufacturers as well as my personal experience.
The verdict
There are hundreds of waterproof mattress pads for a crib mattresses, but none of them is as good as the Organic Crib Mattress Cover Pad. The soft bamboo fabric wicks away the moisture easily and keeps the surface dry.
The pads also have an antibacterial coating and are hypoallergenic. Although they are a bit expensive, they are worth every penny. If you are looking for a waterproof mattress pad that will keep your baby happy, I would strongly recommend Organic Crib Mattress Cover Pad.
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