Best Moses basket mattresses for a safe night's sleep

A Moses basket isn’t used for as long as a cot or even most cribs and co-sleepers, but your newborn will spend many hours in theirs as they'll initially sleep for up to 18 hours in every 24. As such, you’ll want to be sure that you pick the best Moses basket mattress - one that's both safe and comfortable. Experts advise that you buy a new Moses basket mattress for each child, although reusing the basket itself is fine.

Babies spend so much of their early months asleep (even if it sometimes doesn't feel that way for the parents!). It's when they do most of their growing, and it's a huge part of infant development, not to mention essential to new parents' mental health. Choosing the right things to buy can be a minefield - whether it's the best swaddle blanket for peaceful newborn naps, the most soothing white noise machine to help them drift off, or the best toddler bed to help them transition to a larger bed or bunk bed. Luckily, Mumsnetters are always on hand with authentic recommendations and tried-and-tested advice.

We consulted both safe sleep experts and real parents to put together this guide to buying the right Moses basket mattress for your baby so you can rest easy while your baby sleeps soundly.

These are the best Moses basket mattresses to buy in 2024.

What thickness should a Moses basket mattress be?

Moses basket mattresses are usually somewhere between 3.5 and 5cm in thickness. Some expert advice suggests that they should be a minimum of 5cm but many of the well known and respected manufacturers make them at 4cm thick, and much less.

While Moses basket mattresses do feel much thinner than a cot mattress or other kids' mattresses - more like a pad - The Lullaby Trust advises that it should simply be “firm, flat and waterproof.”

Are all Moses basket mattresses the same size?

No. The standard width is 28cm and standard lengths usually 74cm or 65cm, but double check before you buy to ensure that your chosen mattress will fit your Moses basket snugly - gaps around the edges should not exceed 3cm - and that you’re buying the correctly sized fitted sheets.

If you have an unusually sized Moses basket, there are lots of companies that make bespoke mattresses for Moses baskets, like The Little Green Sheep.

Can you use a secondhand Moses basket mattress?

It’s recommended that you buy a new Moses basket mattress for each baby, even if you'd only be handing down from your own children. The NCT says, “It might not seem like a big deal to reuse mattresses from your eldest child’s Moses basket or cot, or accept a hand-me-down from a friend. But bear in mind that doing this could mean a small increase in your baby’s risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). That applies if you’re using one that’s come from outside your house and if you lent it to somebody else in between babies.”

The NHS says, “If you're borrowing a crib or a cot, or using one that's been used by another of your children, you should ideally buy a new mattress. If you cannot do this, use the cot mattress you have, as long as it's firm (not soft), flat, fits the cot with no gaps, is clean, dry, waterproof and not ripped or torn.”

In reality, lots of Mumsnetters say they did reuse a mattress between siblings. But if you’re going to reuse it, do make sure that it’s in good condition.

What else should I consider when buying the best Moses basket mattress?

As well as size and ensuring a good fit, there are a few more things to look out for:

• Materials: Most Moses basket mattresses are made from foam, which is comfortable but also firm and supportive. But you can also buy mattresses made from hypoallergenic and natural materials. Even if your mattress is foam, you can look out for brands that have been treated to discourage dust mites, and many mattresses will come with a hypoallergenic cover.

• Firmness: You want a mattress that's nice and firm and definitely not too soft as this helps to reduce the risk of SIDS.

• Waterproof cover: As well as being a safety feature recommended by sleep experts and doctors (you don’t want any germs getting into the mattress and growing there), a waterproof cover is also more practical. Your baby will posset regularly on the sheets and it can sink through quickly, so look for mattresses with covers that can be quickly and easily removed for machine-washing.

How should I wash a Moses basket mattress?

It’s best not to wash a Moses basket mattress, unless the packaging specifically states you can, so check the instructions and recommendations for the product.

Most should come with a removable, machine-washable cover anyway, so there should be no need to wash the mattress itself.

What is the best Moses basket mattress to buy?

We think the best Moses basket mattress is the Little Green Sheep Natural Moses Basket Mattress. We love its eco credentials as well as the comfort and support it offers your little one. While it's pricy - especially once you add the sold-separately washable cover - it's the Rolls Royce of Moses basket mattresses.

If you're looking for a Moses basket too, check out our guide to Mumsnetters' best Moses baskets.

How we chose our recommendations

Before we began researching the best Moses basket mattresses, we first scrutinised the latest safe sleep advice from trusted organisations such as The Lullaby Trust, the NCT and the NHS so we could be confident that all the mattresses we were recommending were safe.

We also consulted renowned consumer organisations such as Which? to gather information on how to choose the best quality products and also those that would offer the most value for money.

Finally, we scoured the Mumsnet forums, where real parents offer honest and impartial advice about the products that have worked for them, as well as analysing reviews from customers and consumer experts on various other websites.

We took all the mattresses that came most highly recommended by consumers and parents to draw up a shortlist of 20 products and then narrowed it down to the eight you see here, which we think offer enough choice for every family.

Why you should trust us

At Mumsnet, we believe parents should be able to access impartial and honest advice about products and services they may purchase.

We consult real parents as well as experts so we can offer the benefit of honest experience and we don’t take payment for our reviews from companies.

Our team of reviewers is made up of experienced consumer and parenting journalists who between them have a wealth of experience and knowledge at their fingertips.

About the author

Poppy O'Neill is a Content Editor at Mumsnet and a mother of two. She's been researching and reviewing baby and child products for 2 years, with a particular focus on baby essentials, toys and books for toddlers and outdoor play equipment. From potties to paddling pools and bunk beds to bedtime stories, she loves to deep-dive into research and find the best products out there.

Poppy is also an award-winning, best-selling children's and parenting author of books such as Don't Worry, Be Happy, The Extraordinary Book That Makes You Feel Happy and Mother Power. She specialises in children's mental health and her books are used by therapists, teachers and SENCOs across the UK. She won a The Week Junior Book Award in 2023, her books have been translated into several languages and she's been featured in The Guardian, The Sunday Times and The Sun.