Mattress Buying Guide

Crib Mattress

If baby's on the way, a crib mattress is going to be a must. However, most people don't really know all that much about these mattresses. If you've assumed that the best mattress for your little one is a soft and cushiony one, you're not alone, but you'd be mistaken. Crib mattresses are surprisingly thin and stiff, since they need to keep newborns from suffocating. They provide a little padding, but they need to be easy to clean and safe for infants to sleep on. Children may use their crib mattress on a cot into their toddler years, as well. That's one good reason to purchase a high quality, long lasting sleep surface. Here's a look at the crib mattress and how to buy the right one.

Crib and toddler mattresses are less likely to be standardized than other kinds of mattress, but there are a few basic sizes they come in. In North America, this kind of mattress is odd-sized - usually twenty-seven and a quarter by fifty-one and five eighths of an inch. If this sizing seems strange to you, you wouldn't be the only one. Crib mattress standardization happened relatively late. UK crib mattress standards are a little more regular. The average cotbed is seventy centimeters wide and one hundred forty centimeters long, or twenty-seven and a half inches by fifty-five inches. Standardization is less common in other countries.

To find the ideal crib mattress for you, you'll need to measure the crib itself. It's important for the mattress to exactly fit the crib, with no space for the child to slip and fall between the edge of the mattress and the railing. Good crib mattresses will be made either from a dense foam - at least one and a half pounds per cubic inch - or a firm innerspring construction. If you're not sure the mattress is firm enough, test it with your finger. If you can easily poke your index finger into the middle of the mattress, it's too soft for an infant. Firmer mattresses will keep your baby safer. Pick a waterproof mattress cover to make cleaning easier.

Breathable mattresses with ventilation holes are considered less risky for SIDS, and all infant bedding should be fire retardant. Many parents are also choosing mattresses made from organic materials, due to concerns over the chemicals used in processing cotton and in producing foam. A wide range of wool, organic cotton, and other mattresses is available. Just remember to test every crib mattress for firmness, and only use a mattress you're confident is safe. Fire retardants and breathability are still required for these healthier and more ecologically friendly products, which many parents may forget.