Crib Mattress Safety Tips

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. Choosing a baby crib mattress that is safe and comfy for your baby isn’t difficult and it will only take an hour, here is how:

1. Check the size of the mattress against the size of your crib. Most cribs and crib mattresses are made to standard sizes these days, so the mattress size should not be an issue. Some obscure brands may be off, though. The mattress should fit snugly in the crib frame, you shouldn’t be able to fit more than one finger in between the crib and mattress all the way around the crib.

2. Find a firm mattress. Soft mattresses may be great for adults, but babies need a more solid sleep surface. Babies cannot lift their head out of a soft mattress if they get turned over in the night. The best way to check a crib mattress for firmness is to pick it up, place your hands in the middle on opposite sides, and squeeze. The harder it is to squeeze the mattress, the firmer it is.

3. Mattressess made of foam or coils, it doesn’t really matter. Foam crib mattresses are usually less expensive than their coil counterparts, and are just as safe, provided that they are not too soft. Foam mattresses are light and easy to pick up if you need to pick the mattress up to change sheets. For coil mattresses, check the number of coils. Although that number isn’t always indicative of quality, it may give you a better idea of how firm the mattress is – a higher number of coils should be more firm.

4. Check the cover. Multi-layer covers are a good bet for durability. A triple layer of vinyl or waterproof material is a good choice. Some crib mattresses have an anti-microbial layer on top, and this may help cut down on germs from spit-ups and diaper accidents.

5. Think about cost. If you’re on a budget, don’t worry. Crib mattresses don’t have to be expensive to be safe, durable or useful. You can 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.

6. Stick to familiar name brands if you’re worried about durability. Simmons, Sealy, Colgate, Kolcraft and Pali all sell crib mattresses. All of these companies have good track records for making safe, durable baby products.