New parents spend a good amount of time deciding on the right crib but the mattress is really more important, considering it’s what your baby is actually sleeping on. So what makes a crib mattress “the best crib mattress?” I always thought it was mainly about support and good quality materials; the idea of safety as it relates to breathability never really occurred to me. Let alone washability. But the Newton crib mattress has opened my eyes. And it’s not a zillion dollars, either.

Related: Natural Mat baby mattresses: High-end and fabulous in every way

Just in time for baby #2, I had a chance to try this breathable, washable, non-toxic crib mattress from the company, which was designed by sleep expert and father of three Michael Rothbard.

Evidently breathability has huge benefits like greatly reducing the risk of suffocation or overheating — if your baby rolls over in the middle of the night, I like the idea that she can breathe well right through the mattress.

The soft-quilted outer cover unzips and is machine washable, but you might be wondering how the heck a mattress can be washable too. (I sure was.) The Wovenaire inside core is made of 90% air, and the rest of a food-grade polymer instead of springs or latex or foam. That not only nixes all the toxic stuff, it makes it totally safe to wash in the bathtub with some soap without compromising quality. So think diaper blow outs, projectile vomit, leaks… hey welcome to babies, new parents!

It’s also a good way to get rid of mold and bacterial which can grow inside a standard mattress making this a more hygienic option, especially if you want to pass it onto baby 2 or 3 or…well, let’s see if you get past the blow-out phase first.

And for those of you worried about toxic flame-retardant chemicals (none of us are fans), we love that Newton makes use of natural phosphates, i.e. salt, which meet the US safety standards but without spraying stuff on mattresses we don’t want our babies breathing.

Of course safety is nothing without comfort I find the Newton crib mattress to be surprisingly cushy, and not at all plasticy feeling as I thought it might be. As it’s for a baby, I couldn’t very well get a full report of my infant feels after sleeping on it, but no complaints from what I can see.

The one thing that may take some getting used to with a Newton mattress is that they recommend not using sheets on the mattress as it compromises breathability, which is the point in the first place. Now I know how much moms-to-be love designing nurseries around a favorite bedding set, so keep in mind there’s always the crib skirts and quilts for later on. Or if you do insist on using sheets, they recommend Aden+ Anais muslin sheets, which you certainly wouldn’t have to twist our arm on.

The one really minor complaint is that if my baby soils the mattress in any of her wonderfully gross ways, I can’t simply take off the mattress pad and sheet and throw on a fresh one while I put her back down in the crib and carry on. In other words, you’ll need somewhere else for a baby to sleep (sling, swing, Grandpa’s chest) while you’re washing and air drying the outside cover. Which is why I’d like a spare cover, or at least the Aden + Anais crib sheet option.

One vote here for an extra cover to come with the mattress.

The $295 price tag is more than standard mattresses for sure, but comparable to other luxury brands and sometimes even lower than other handmade or non-toxic crib mattresses like the Nook Mattress Lite which we also love. I’d definitely compare the two, which have some similar benefits.

But I like that Newton has certification up the wazoo for their manufacturing process and recos from public health professionals and sleep coaches which inspire more confidence in us nervous new moms — though a pediatrician recommendation in terms of Newton mattress support would be nice too. What can I say, it’s a crib mattress. It’s a big deal for us.

Order the Newton crib mattress at their webshop for $295 plus free shipping. There’s a 100 night free trial which is totally worth it. Thanks to the company for sending CMP a unit for trial.