Favorite Crib Mattresses, Travel Cribs, and Bouncers at Every Price Point

New baby products seem to be popping up every day. Making it harder and harder to make sense of not only what works best but what you really need. Even with thousands of online reviews, knowing what will work for you, your baby, your space, and your budget can be very difficult. Even more daunting, many of these items are expensive and meant to last you through your childbearing and toddler years, making the choices lasting ones.

The truth that no one wants you to know is that there are many things in the baby product world that you can do without.

So what do you really need (or not need)? And how do you begin weeding through all the online muck to figure out what will make your life easier and your baby’s life happier? 

Because isn’t that what modern baby products are really for anyhow? It’s not about having the best or most expensive, but about having what YOU feel will have a positive impact on your’s and your baby’s lives. 

Not everyone will choose to use a bassinet, need a baby lounger, or perhaps want the jogger stroller.

This is why I suggest starting with the basics when you begin building your registry and then adding to your collection of products as your baby ages, and you start having “needs”. 

That being said, you don’t have to reinvent the wheel every time you are searching for a baby product. Thousands of differing online reviews oftentimes make things more confusing, which is why we want to help take away a lot of the researching time, shopping pains, and guessing games. 

Simply trying to find a particular product at a specific price point with your desired features can sometimes be like finding a needle in a haystack.

That’s why we are simplifying it for you! By bringing you our very favorite baby products at multiple price points. Hopefully, making your life easier–both in the planning of it and in the living of it. 

Crib Mattress

How are you supposed to know what to look for in a crib mattress!?! It’s not like you can go into a store and try it out for yourself, nor are you looking for the same factors you are in an adult mattress.

There are 5 key elements that are important to look for in today’s modern crib mattresses.

1. Firmness: Infants require a firm, flat surface for safety and development. Some crib mattresses offer dual-firmness, which we love so that it grows with your baby, providing the extra-firm support that infants need on one side and less firmness that toddlers prefer on the other.
2. Breathability: Many new mattresses are formulated to enhance airflow through the mattress, helping to regulate the baby’s body temperature.
3. Flame & Fire Retardant: It is important that mattresses use natural, non-toxic flame barriers as opposed to synthetic fire retardants.
4. Waterproof: Most, if not all, mattresses are waterproof-backed, but it’s important to make sure.
5. Eco-friendly: It is important to highly consider purchasing mattresses that are eco-friendly (hypoallergenic & phthalate free, GREENGUARD® Gold and CertiPUR-US® certified, safe for no harmful emissions), not only because our babies spend so much time on them, but also because mattresses made with synthetics and toxins very negatively affect the environment during their production. Being able to produce them consciously while providing a safer environment for your baby is very important. Fortunately, you do not have to necessarily have to pay more to go this route today.

Sleep & Grow Crib Mattress: When designing this crib mattress with the experts at Colgate Mattress, we set out to create the highest quality, safe and effective sleep surface. At 5.5″ thick, this mattress is made with a high-density, plant-based foam that provides just the right support for your baby while being lightweight to make for easier sheet changes. It is also GREENGUARD® Gold and CertiPUR-US® Certified and dual-sided so that your infant has the firmest support and can be flipped to give your toddler a little softer sleep. Additionally, it features waterproofing and a soft cloth cover with a naturally fire-retardant flammability barrier. It is the perfect product for your nursery. $$$

Bundle of Dreams Classic Crib Mattress

This is also an eco-friendly Greenguard Gold Certified mattress made by a company focused on eliminating toxins, gases & synthetics in their products. This foamless mattress is a 6” dual-sided mattress providing breathability & firmness on the infant side & a bit softer (but still firm) support for toddlers. It also has a 2” edge support for a standing toddler so that the mattress doesn’t sink or buckle with their weight. It is light, with organic cotton backing, and waterproof with natural flame barriers. You won’t be disappointed with this mid-budget option. $$ 

Travel Crib

Having a quality travel crib is life-changing. Travel cribs need to be easy to assemble (less than a minute), easy to collapse, have a comfortable but firm mattress, and be able to be easily cleaned. A good carrying case is also a must.

Baby Bjorn

This travel crib is a tried and true winner for durability, ease of assembly, comfortability of mattress, and minimal carrying size. This crib has breathable mesh sides that are both easy to clean and easy to see, baby. It does not have a topper or changing addition, and the carrying case cannot be worn as a backpack or over the shoulder–it’s more of a handle situation. It’s the easiest to assemble, collapse and reinsert into the carrying case. Now it comes in multiple colors and is even lighter in weight than before. The price tag is high, but for us, it has paid for itself and more. $$$ 

Lotus Travel Crib

This crib is the perfect fit for someone looking to have the new “it” item. This travel crib has a side zip opening for easier use as a play yard outdoors or for grandparents who prefer not to reach all the way to the bottom of the crib to lift the baby out. Made of a mesh, breathable fabric, and has an extremely comfortable mattress, almost identical to the Baby Bjorn’s. It is easy to assemble and disassemble but can be quite tricky to put back into its carrying case. It comes with a smaller carrying case that can be used as a backpack, which comes in handy at airports for sure. The Lotus Crib by The Guava Family has all the bells and whistles with a mid-range price tag. You won’t be disappointed with this purchase. $$

Micralite Sleep & Go

The most affordable by far, the crib is simple to assemble and pack up. Other than the price point, the amazing feature of it is the infant bed that can sit on the top, if desired. This can be used for newborn sleep or for diaper changes. Or it can simply be removed and left at home. It also has a zipper side for easy use as a play yard and packs up in a case quite a bit bigger than the Lotus or the Baby Bjorn. The only hiccup to consider is that the mattress is not quite as comfortable as the other two, and it has a crease in the center, which could possibly cause discomfort as your baby grows. But, as the reviews show, it certainly doesn’t seem to sway people’s opinions about this great, inexpensive option. $ 

Bouncer

The concept of a bouncer is a bit of a new one. Swings have been around for quite some time. I imagine your own parents had one for you. But bouncers are different in many ways. Firstly, they are light and can be moved anywhere in your home. Swings, on the other hand, are typically quite heavy and so remain stationary. 

Secondly, bouncers can be used from newborn age and often grow with your child. They provide an upright, supported lounge that allows you to interact with your baby while not having to hold them. They are great for placing outside your shower when you just need to get one, putting in your kitchen when you are making dinner, taking along with you to the park or a friend’s house, etc. They are not made for naps but simply for supervised play and hanging out. It is also a great place to place your baby while your other children interact with them. It provides them all with eye-to-eye, safe contact.

Baby Bjorn Bouncer

This is a “can’t go wrong” product. While a bit expensive, it is lightweight, easily collapsible and transportable, and extremely easy to clean in instances of blowout or spit-up, especially if you buy it in mesh material. The cover not only wipes clean but is removable within seconds and machine washable, coming out brand new each and every time. It supports baby from day one, has three reclined positions, and is very comfortable. It also comes fully assembled and ready to go out of the package and has many color and fabric options. Its only drawback is the price (the toy bar is also extra). $$$

Fisher-Price Comfort Curve Bouncer

This budget-friendly bouncer has an extremely soft, machine-washable seat and toy bar. It has a 1-speed vibrate option and it seems to be more helpful and functional than its bouncing ability. It is sturdy, light, safe, and comfortable for babies. It can only be used up to 25 lbs and requires assembly. $

Every year means newer baby products, but it doesn’t always mean better.

Often the test of time solidifies certain brands and products that simply have it right. That being said, technology changes so fast, and more work is done than ever to make sure new baby lines are safe, reliable, effective, and often eco-friendly. So, perusing the newest certainly can’t hurt! That’s why the process of registering and committing to a whole slew of big (and small) priced items can be incredibly overwhelming and quite time-consuming.

The trick to knowing what is right for you and your family is to take inventory of your lifestyle without your baby and your lifestyle intentions with your baby.

Do you hope to continue traveling often? Do you plan on flying home to see a family with an infant? Is making your own baby food important? Do you plan on pumping at work? Do you want more children in the near future? Where do you plan on having a baby sleep? Answering these questions will help you prioritize your budget and needs.