The 6 Best Bassinet Mattresses
Special Honors
Bratt Decor Luxe This pad is specifically designed to fit in the company's cradles, though theoretically you could use it in anything that boasts the same dimensions. It has a damask pattern on its waterproof cover that's attractive enough to make you feel bad about putting a sheet over it, and it's made in the United States. It measures only one inch thick, however, so it might not be the most supportive choice. brattdecor.com
Editor's Notes
June 16, 2020:
Before pulling the trigger on a mattress for your cradle or bassinet, the most important thing you can do is to be absolutely confident of its measurements. Your research might land you on some models that are actually crib mattresses, which would be way too long for a bassinet. Fortunately, most of the models out there make a point to tell you their dimensions, and anything significantly over 32 inches long or about 18 inches wide is a red flag. Beyond that, the closer you can get to the dimensions of your actual bassinet the better, as you don't want any extra material bunching up, or any dangerous gaps to form.
That advice applies to shape, as well. There's no hard and fast rule about whether a cradle or a bassinet is supposed to be rectangular or ovular these days, but ovular models can be harder to find pads for because the specific degree of curvature can be an issue, even if the measurements look right. The Colgate Quilted Cradle Pad and the Big Oshi Comfy, for example, are both 15 x 30 x 2 inches, but the Colgate model is essentially a rectangle with curved corners where the Big Oshi only has straight sides along its length.
Coverings are another important thing to consider, as babies tend to generate a certain amount of moisture, so waterproofing of some kind is necessary. The BabyDoll Bedding uses vinyl for the job, which is plasticky to the touch and a tad noisy when the baby moves. It might cost a little more, but the organic cotton cover on the LA Baby P-1530 could end up saving your newborn a little sleep and earning you some more shuteye in return.