How To Choose a Baby Crib Mattress

admin — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 02:34:23 +0000

You’ve got your baby crib, and now you need a baby crib mattress to complete the set. Before you buy a crib mattress, there are a few things you should know. Here’s how to choose a baby crib mattress that is safe and comfy for your baby.

Difficulty: Easy

Time Required: Thirty Minutes

Here’s How:

Double check the size of the mattress against the size of your crib. Most cribs and crib mattresses are made in standard sizes these days, so the mattress size shouldn’t be an issue. Occasionally you may find that a mattress doesn’t fit well with a certain crib, though, so checking the fit is important. The mattress should fit fairly tight inside the crib. There shouldn’t be an obvious gap between the crib frame and mattress, and you shouldn’t be able to easily push more than one finger down in between the mattress and crib frame.

Find a reasonably firm mattress. Soft mattresses seem like a good choice from an adult perspective, but babies need a more solid sleep surface since they can’t move themselves out of positions where their face sinks into the mattress if they get turned over. Push down on the mattress and see how much your hand sinks into the mattress. The more resistance, the firmer the mattress.

Foam or coils? It doesn’t really matter. Foam crib mattresses are usually less expensive than coil mattresses, and are just as safe, as long as they aren’t too soft. Foam mattresses are lighter, weight-wise, when you pick them up to change sheets. For coil mattresses, check the number of coils. Generally, more coils means a firmer mattress.

Check the cover. Multi-layer covers are a good bet for durability, in case one layer gets worn through or compromised. Some crib mattresses have an anti-microbial layer on top, and this may help cut down on germs from spit-ups and diaper accidents. You can also check to see how the mattress cover is sealed. Do the plastic seams appear to be sturdy, or are they weak and ready to split open? Are fabric seams smooth from the start or do they appear stressed and ready to pop open? If allergies run in the family, a fully sealed crib mattress may be a good choice.

Think about cost. If you’re on a budget, don’t worry. Crib mattresses actually don’t have to be expensive to be safe, durable or useful. Expect to spend $75 to $100 for a good crib mattress. Of course, you can spend more, but with crib mattresses, you don’t necessarily get any more useful features or added benefits with the heftier price tag. Exceptions to this are crib mattresses with allergy-reducing covers, natural materials or organic crib mattresses. These specialty mattresses are more expensive, but worth every penny if they properly fill a need for your baby or your family.

Tips:

If you’re concerned about quality, check to see if the crib mattress manufacturer is a member of the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Assocation or that the crib mattress carries a JPMA seal. Companies that are involved with JPMA have to meet certain professional and quality standards for their products to be in good standing with this industry organization.

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How To Choose a Baby Crib Mattress

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