The lowdown on crib mattresses Types of mattresses What to look for when buying Important safety notes What it's going to cost you The lowdown on crib mattressesA good mattress not only makes bedtime cozier – it supports your growing baby and keeps her safe. Consider cost, comfort, and durability, as your baby will probably sleep in a crib for up to 3 years.Browse dozens of cribs.Types of mattresses“Breathable” mattresses, made of materials that are supposed to allow a baby to breathe freely even if his or her face is pressed up against it, are getting more popular. Experts haven’t yet weighed in on their efficacy.What to look for when buyingDensity: You want high density so it’s firm enough to keep your baby safe while sleeping. Most foam mattresses don't list density on the packaging, but weight can be a good indicator. As for innerspring mattresses, manufacturers often equate the number of coils with firmness, but the gauge of the wire is just as important. Lower gauge means thicker wire, which is stronger and therefore firmer.
Look for a mattress with 135 or more coils and a gauge of 15.5 or lower.Weight: A typical foam mattress weighs about 7 to 8 pounds, although mattresses made of memory foam (an especially dense form of polyurethane) can weigh close to 20 pounds. Innerspring crib mattresses are heavier in general, weighing in at about 15 to 25 pounds. Keep in mind that you'll be hoisting up a side of the mattress, or lifting the whole thing, when changing your baby's sheet.Cleaning: Most traditional mattresses suggest spot-cleaning only. Some have removable covers that can be machine-washed. The innards of at least one crib mattress on the market can be hosed down in the tub once its washable cover is removed.Certification seals: Crib mattresses for sale in the United States must meet safety standards defined by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and the American Society for Testing and Materials. (The Juvenile Products Manufacturer Association does not test or certify crib mattresses.) A manufacturer's claim that a product is organic can mean a variety of things, but look for an Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certification (a worldwide uniform certification), which assures you that certain flame retardants and heavy metals were not used to make the mattress.
Important safety notesNo matter what mattress parents choose, they should continue to follow the American Academy of Pediatrics’ safe-sleep guidelines and put babies to sleep on their backs on a firm, bare surface.What it's going to cost youCrib mattresses start at about $40 and can range to more than $350. Organic mattresses start at about $80 and can reach $400. Download our illustrated guide to crib mattressesAmerican Academy of Pediatrics. /English/ages-stages/prenatal/decisions-to-make/Pages/Choosing-a-Crib.aspx [Accessed May 2016]Consumer Reports. Crib mattress buying guide. /cro/crib-mattresses/buying-guide.htm [Accessed May 2016]Consumer Reports. /cro/cribs/buying-guide.htm [Accessed May 2016]CPSC. Learn how to put your baby to sleep safely. http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-Centers/cribs/ [Accessed May 2016]Learn How to Put Your Baby to Sleep Safely If you just had a baby, are expecting, or are taking care of a young infant it's important to create a safe sleep environment for your baby.
Because babies spend much of their time sleeping, the nursery should be the safest room in the house. Take a few moments to learn about safe sleep. Watch the 12-Minute Safe Sleep Video New Crib Standard: What You Need to Know With any crib, bassinet or play yard, follow a few simple rules to keep babies sleeping safely. • To prevent suffocation, never place pillows or thick quilts in a baby's sleep environment. • Make sure there are no gaps larger than two fingers between the sides of the crib and the mattress. • Proper assembly of cribs is paramount - Follow the instructions provided and make sure that every part is installed correctly. If you are not sure, call the manufacturer for assistance. • Do not use cribs older than 10 years or broken or modified cribs. Infants can strangle to death if their bodies pass through gaps between loose components or broken slats while their heads remain entrapped. • Set up play yards properly according to manufacturers' directions.
Only use the mattress pad provided with the play yard; do not add extra padding. • Never place a crib near a window with blind, curtain cords or baby monitor cords; babies can strangle on cords. For more information please visit the Safe to Sleep® public education campaign led by The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and in collaboration with other organizations.Skip to main content HomeBusiness & ManufacturingBusiness EducationFull-Size Baby Cribs Business Guidance The link you selected is for a destination outside of the Federal Government. CPSC does not control this external site or its privacy policy and cannot attest to the accuracy of the information it contains. You may wish to review the privacy policy of the external site as its information collection practices may differ from ours. Linking to this external site does not constitute an endorsement of the site or the information it contains by CPSC or any of its employees.
Click Ok if you wish to continue to the website; otherwise, click Cancel to return to our site.PregnancyLittle babies mean big baby gear purchases — and a crib may be the biggest one you'll make right now, both in size and expense. And it'll take some big consideration, too. Your baby will be clocking a lot of hours in that crib until he or she graduates to a bed, so you'll want it to be just right — right style, right size, and right color. Most of all, you'll want the crib to be as safe as can be.Fortunately, if you’ll be bringing a new one home, you've got the government on your (and your baby's) side when it comes to crib safety. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) made crib safety a top priority in 2011, setting strict standards for both manufacturers and retailers. These requirements include stronger mattress supports and crib slats, extremely durable crib hardware, and rigorous safety testing. Also, the CPSC put an end to manufacturing and selling dangerous drop-side cribs, which have caused an overwhelming amount of accidents and recalls.
Though you'll still want to take any crib you're considering through the checklist below, the CPSC standards should make crib safety assessment a lot simpler.On the other hand, if your heart's set on an older crib — like that antique in Aunt Anna's attic — you'll need to determine yourself whether it’s a safe crib or not. If a hand-me-down crib doesn't pass muster (or it's just plain musty), take a pass.Here's how to make sure you’re buying a safe crib:The slats and corner posts of a crib should be no more than 2 3/8 inches apart (yes, it's fine to whip out the ruler while you're shopping for your baby). Wider slats pose an entrapment danger.Corner posts should be flush with the end panels (or no more than 1/16 inches higher). Is that heirloom outfitted with fancy finials or natty knobs? Saw them off (and sand down the rough edges).In a safe crib, the hardware — bolts, screws, and the like — should be firmly secured, with no sharp edges or rough areas and no spots that can pinch or otherwise injure your beautiful babe.
The crib's wood should be free of cracks or splits. (And the entire crib — sides, slats, and all — should be very sturdy with tight joints.)Consider more than the color when it comes to crib paint. The paint on older cribs may contain lead, which poses a serious health risk to babies and young children. If you have a hunch that your prospect's paint is lead-based, have it stripped and start from scratch with a high-quality, lead-free enamel (check the paint label to make sure your choice is safe as a nursery item). For a natural nursery, stick to non-toxic paint with low or no volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Any crib that has peeling or cracked paint (even lead-free) should also be refinished.Make sure the mattress fits snugly against the inside of the crib. To ensure crib safety, try the two-finger test: If you can fit more than two fingers — Mom's, not Dad's if he has big hands — between the mattress and the crib, the mattress isn't a good fit. (The harder it is for you to make the bed, the better for your baby.)
Standard-sized mattresses for a full-sized crib should be at least 27 1/4 inches by 51 3/8 inches and no more than six inches thick. (Also, if the mattress is new, pull off that plastic.) Make sure, too, that the mattress itself is firm.Make sure never to put plush toys or soft bedding in the crib with your baby (even the adorable pillow and comforter that comes with the crib bedding set) because they can pose a suffocation hazard. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) also strongly advises against using bumper pads — they increase the risk of SIDS and other crib-deaths. If you do decide to go against the AAP’s recommendations, skip the padded kind and use thin, breathable ones that fit firmly around the whole crib. Then take down the bumpers as soon as your baby can stand, so your little one won't use them to climb out.Lastly, stay away from these crib models: those with headboards and footboards with pretty decorative cutouts, which are prohibited by the CPSC, and in light of the latest crib safety standards, be sure to pass on a hand-me-down drop-side crib.