What sits under the mattress matters as much as the mattress: wood slats vs metal, three heights, and when to order a replacement.
Short answer: a crib mattress support is the platform the mattress lies on, and the two common types are a wood slat platform and a metal spring or mesh support. Both can be safe when they meet federal crib rules and are installed correctly. Romina chose a solid hardwood slat platform on every crib except one, the Uptown Convertible Crib (#15503), which uses a metal mesh support. Every Romina crib has 3 mattress height positions, takes a standard crib mattress (at least 27¼ × 51⅝ in, no more than 6 in thick), and carries a 3-year crib warranty that covers hardware and structural parts. If you need a new one, the Mattress Support replacement part is $150 for the wood version and fits most Romina cribs made after June 2015.
What a crib mattress support actually does
Parents compare crib finishes for weeks and barely glance at the part that holds their baby up every night. The mattress support has three jobs:
- Hold the mattress flat and firm, with no dip in the middle. A firm, flat sleep surface is the basic safe-sleep rule.
- Set the height of the mattress inside the crib, so you can lower it as your baby learns to sit, pull up and stand.
- Stay put, with no loose corners and no movement when a toddler bounces.
Most supports do all three when new. The differences show up after years of daily use, a few height changes and a second baby.
Wood slats vs metal: an honest comparison
You'll find strong opinions on both sides. Some reviewers prefer metal springs for durability; others prefer wood because it feels more solid and makes less noise. Neither type is unsafe by default. Here's how they differ in practice:
| Wood slat platform | Metal spring / mesh support | |
|---|---|---|
| How it holds the mattress | Rigid slats on a frame; the mattress rests on wood | Wire grid or springs under tension on a metal frame |
| Feel | Firm and flat; the mattress gives the comfort | Slight give from the springs; depends on tension |
| Airflow | Gaps between slats let air under the mattress | Open grid, good airflow |
| What to watch over time | Cracked or loose slats, loose fixings | Springs losing tension and sagging in the middle, loose clips, rust |
| Noise | Usually quiet | Can creak or squeak as clips and springs age |
| At Romina | Every crib except the Uptown Convertible | Uptown Convertible Crib (#15503) only |
Romina explains its choice on the safe baby furniture page: supports that rely on spring tension can loosen over long use and let the mattress sink in the center, so Romina builds a wooden platform from select hardwood instead. That's a design preference with a clear reason behind it, not a claim that every metal support sags. A solid support of either kind, checked regularly, does the job.
The question to ask isn't "wood or metal?" but "will this support stay flat, level and tight for as long as I plan to use the crib, including for a second baby?"
Which support each Romina crib uses
Every crib below is 100% solid wood, Made in Europe and Greenguard Gold certified, and every one lists three mattress height positions. Support types come from each product page's specification block, checked in November 2026.
| Crib | Type | Mattress support | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Karisma Convertible (open or solid back) | 5-in-1 | Hardwood, 3 heights | $1,725 |
| Antonio Convertible | 5-in-1 | Hardwood, 3 heights | $1,810 |
| Cleopatra Convertible | 5-in-1 | Hardwood, 3 heights | $1,810 |
| Dakota Convertible | 5-in-1 | Solid wood, 3 heights | $1,810 |
| Imperio Convertible | 5-in-1 | Hardwood, 3 heights | $1,810 |
| New York 5-in-1 | 5-in-1 | Hardwood, 3 heights | $1,865 |
| Quadro Convertible | 5-in-1 | Hardwood, 3 heights | $1,865 |
| Uptown Convertible (#15503) | 5-in-1 | Metal, 3 heights | $1,865 |
| New York Crib | Classic | Solid wood, 3 heights | $1,440 |
| Quadro Classic | 3-in-1 | Solid wood, 3 heights | $1,560 |
| Uptown Classic | Classic | Wood slat platform, 3 heights | $1,560 |
| Cleopatra Classic | Classic | Solid wood, 3 heights | $1,725 |
So if wood under the mattress is a must for you, every Romina crib except the Uptown Convertible qualifies, including the Uptown Classic. If you love the Uptown look and want the full-size bed stages, the Uptown Convertible is still a solid hardwood crib with Greenguard Gold certification; only the support under the mattress is metal. Our New York vs Uptown comparison covers that trade-off, and the solid wood cribs compared guide has sizes and weights for all of them. You can also browse convertible cribs and classic cribs side by side, or check the crib comparison page.
How Romina's wood support is built
The replacement-part listing describes it plainly: a 100% solid hardwood support that hooks into the crib with an adjustable "Y" attachment system made of galvanized metal. So the part your baby lies on is wood, and the small brackets that lock it to the crib frame are metal, which is what lets you move it between heights without wear on the wood.
A few things follow from that design:
- No spring tension to lose. The slats are rigid, so there's nothing that slowly relaxes.
- Three fixed positions. Each height uses its own mounting points, so the platform sits level at every stage.
- Same support, same mattress. Any US standard crib mattress fits at every height.
- Replaceable. The support is sold as a separate part, so a damaged one doesn't mean a new crib.
The rest of the crib follows the same thinking: 100% solid wood, non-toxic water-based and organic oil finishes, Greenguard Gold certification and a brand that has never had a product recall. If the materials question is what brought you here, read our non-toxic solid wood crib guide, which also covers what the mattress support is made of on other brands' cribs.
Using the three heights
Three heights are standard on Romina cribs, and the usual sequence is simple:
- Highest for a newborn, so you can lift the baby in and out without bending over the rail.
- Middle once your baby can sit up on their own.
- Lowest before your baby can pull up to standing. Consumer Reports advises setting the lowest level before a baby can stand, which usually happens by around their first birthday.
To change height, take the mattress out, move the platform to the next set of mounting points following your crib's instructions, and check that it's level and tight before you put the mattress back. Consumer Reports also suggests checking all bolts and screws every six months and whenever you change the mattress height. Manuals for every model are on the assembly manuals page, and our when to convert a crib to a toddler bed guide covers what comes after the lowest setting.
The mattress on top: fit matters more than brand
A support only works with a mattress that fits. Romina cribs take any US standard full-size crib mattress that is at least 27¼ × 51⅝ inches and no more than 6 inches thick. The federal crib mattress standard (16 CFR 1241, updated in 2026) uses the same minimum size and adds a corner-gap limit of 3.15 inches, measured with a fitted sheet on. At home, the simple test is that you shouldn't be able to fit more than two fingers between the mattress edge and the crib side. Our 2026 crib mattress rule guide explains what the update changed and how to read a mattress label.
Romina also sells its own Kinder Mattress ($385): dual-sided for the infant through pre-K stages, with GOLS organic certified coconut coir, GOTS certified organic fabrics, no fire retardants and no polyurethane foam, and CPSC tested at Intertek. Any compliant standard crib mattress will also fit. Our mattress size guide explains crib and full-bed sizes in more detail.
When to replace a crib mattress support
Look under the mattress after every height change and every few months after that. Replace or repair the support if you see:
- A slat that is cracked, split or loose.
- A dip in the middle, or a mattress that no longer sits flat.
- Brackets or fixings that won't tighten, or a corner that moves.
- Any part that's missing after a move or a reassembly.
Don't improvise a fix with boards or a different brand's platform. Use parts made for your crib. Romina sells the Mattress Support in two versions: Adjustable Wood + "Y" Brackets for most cribs ($150) and a Metal Support for the Uptown #15503 crib ($125; check stock on the product page). The wood support is listed as Quick-Ship and is designed for most Romina cribs manufactured after June 2015. If your crib is older, or you're not sure of the model number, email Romina customer service before ordering, as the product page suggests. Other parts such as the crib hardware package ($30) are in the replacement parts collection.
If the support fails because of a manufacturing defect within the first three years, the limited warranty applies: Romina's crib warranty covers defects in the wood construction, hardware and all structural components for 3 years from the date you take possession (finished surfaces excluded). Refunds or exchanges apply only when a warrantied defect can't be serviced or fixed.
After the crib: the full-size bed stage
On the 5-in-1 cribs, the crib support is no longer used once you reach the full-size stages ("Full Size Bed w/ Footboard" and "Full Size Bed"). The full-bed conversion kit ($530) adds design-specific side rails and two slat rolls, and the box spring is included in the form of those slats, so you only add a standard full-size mattress. If a slat roll is ever damaged, the Slats Roll for Full Bed ($100, 8 slats) replaces it. Choose the right bed or kit model, because slat lengths vary.
That's the long-term argument for a support you can replace: the crib frame is built to go through all five stages and, if you plan for it, a second baby. Our heirloom crib guide lists what to check before reusing a crib.
FAQ
Is a wood or metal crib mattress support better?
Both can be safe if the crib meets federal standards and the support is installed and checked properly. Wood slat platforms are rigid and quiet; metal springs can lose tension and sag over long use, which is why Romina uses hardwood on all but one crib. Choose the support you'll actually inspect and keep tight.
Which Romina crib has a metal mattress support?
Only the Uptown Convertible Crib (#15503). Every other Romina crib, including the Uptown Classic, uses a solid wood slat platform.
How many mattress heights do Romina cribs have?
Three on every model: high for a newborn, middle once the baby sits, low before the baby can stand.
Do I need a box spring in a crib?
No. A crib mattress goes straight onto the crib's mattress support. At the full-size bed stage, the conversion kit's slats act as the box spring, so it's included.
Can I buy a replacement mattress support?
Yes. The Mattress Support part is $150 (wood with "Y" brackets, for most Romina cribs made after June 2015) or $125 (metal, for the Uptown #15503). Contact Romina if you're unsure about compatibility.
Is the mattress support covered by the warranty?
Manufacturing defects in hardware and structural parts are covered by the 3-year crib warranty. Damage caused by misuse or by third parties isn't covered.
What mattress fits a Romina crib?
Any US standard crib mattress at least 27¼ × 51⅝ inches and no more than 6 inches thick, such as Romina's organic Kinder Mattress.
Related guides: What Size Mattress · Non-Toxic Solid Wood Cribs · Solid Wood Cribs Compared
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