Of course, you want only the best for your baby. Including their special little place to sleep.
Finding a perfect crib mattress might require time and research, but this task is not that difficult.
By following a few simple steps, you will be able to get the best, most suitable crib mattress for your baby. So, keep on reading!
How to Choose the Type
When it comes to crib mattresses, there are three main types you may come across. Let’s take a look at them:
- Foam. Widely available these days, foam mattresses are typically made from polyurethane foam. They usually weigh less than other types. Their thickness may vary but in most cases stays within the range of 4-6 inches. They can also come in different firmness options, but that’s where you need to be very careful. You want a firmer mattress for your little one, with a good amount of responsiveness and resilience, as sleeping on a soft mattress can be dangerous for babies.
- Innerspring. These mattresses usually have a supportive coil core and some extra padding (foam or cotton fabric). Such mattresses are heavier. At the same time, they are great for babies thanks to their firmness and bounciness, which eliminate the rollover risk.
- Organic. Now, this category may include different mattress types. Basically, any crib mattress can be labeled “organic” if it has passed the GOTS certification. However, the GOTS label only means that not less than 70% of the materials used in a mattress are organic. So, you need to be careful when it comes to organic crib mattresses and look out for all-natural materials like natural latex, wool, etc. It’s also worth noting here that organic mattresses often offer dual firmness, which means you can flip the mattress and use both sides for your baby.
Aspects You Need to Consider
Now, you already have an idea what mattress type you might want to get. But making a worthy purchase requires a bit more than that. Here are the main factors you should keep in mind when shopping:
- Firmness. Many experts believe that the firmer the mattress that parents use for the crib is, the safer and healthier their baby’s sleep will be, especially when we take SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) into consideration. So, even if a crib mattress feels quite stiff to you, don’t worry – it will be great for your baby.
- Resiliency. This term is for the speed at which a mattress’s surface gets back to its shape after you apply pressure to it. The faster it regains the normal shape, the better. This might be an issue with foam mattresses, as they offer a hugging feel and sometimes take more time to spring back to normal.
- Mattress cover. Also known as ticking, a mattress cover is just as important as the materials inside a mattress. The cover needs to be durable and nicely made. Many parents prefer water-resistant mattresses allowing for easy cleaning. They feature laminated ticking with some nylon layers underneath and can be wiped with a wet cloth for fast and effortless cleaning, which is very handy when it comes to little babies.
- Edge support. When a mattress has weak edges, it is potentially dangerous for a baby. A child can roll over to those weak edges, which can lead to injuries. To avoid that, give your preference to models with reinforced edges. Keep in mind that innerspring mattresses typically have stronger edge support than foam ones.
- Size. You must already know the size of your baby’s crib and the standard measurements of crib mattresses. But there’s one important thing you might not know yet – the majority of crib mattresses are a bit smaller than cribs. And a large gap between the mattress edges and the crib might lead to injuries, too. Therefore, when shopping, make sure that the gap is not bigger than two fingers.
- Density (when considering foam). The best option is high-density foam since it is the firmest and the most resilient. When buying at the store, you can compare the density of different foam mattresses by comparing their weight. As for online shopping, manufacturers usually list the density of every mattress on their websites.
- Coil count and gauge (when considering innerspring mattresses). Coil count determines the number of coils used in a mattress, while gauge signifies their thickness. You need to pay attention to both of these aspects. Because no matter how many coils there are, the mattress will not be firm enough if they are thin. Typically, the lower the gauge, the thicker the coils.
- Venting. If the mattress you are considering has small holes on the sides, it will allow for ventilation, which is very important when it comes to babies’ mattresses. Proper ventilated, your mattress will remain fresher even after regular use.
- Safety certifications. Many parents prefer organic mattresses because they want to protect their babies from any potential allergens and chemicals. In this case, it is important to look at the certifications a mattress comes with. All US mattresses need to go through the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the American Society for Testing and Materials testing. If you want an organic product, look for the Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certification.
- Convertibility. This feature is not really a necessity, but it can help you save some money. Convertible mattress models can be used for a longer time. One side is firmer and more appropriate for babies, while the other one is softer and more comfortable for toddlers. Thus, you won’t have to get a new mattress when your baby grows up a bit.
These are the main points to consider, but shopping for a crib mattress surely goes way beyond. After all, you want the best for your little one. So, research different brands, compare models, study reviews.
To help you become even more informed, here are some resources to check out:
The 6 Best Baby Crib Mattresses in 2018-2019 – Buying Guide and Reviews
