Infant Car SeatsTravel System Car SeatsConvertible Car SeatsBooster Car SeatsCar Seat AccessoriesPremium Car SeatsCar Seat BasesStroller & Car Seat Toysshop our car seat deals of the dayThe 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]Babies can be expensive. I say can be because they really do not have to be as expensive as people make them. I remember seeing lots of estimates of what babies cost before my daughter was born. They seemed entirely ridiculous to me! I just couldn’t see spending so much on one tiny baby! Let’s break it down, what stuff can really cost. **please note that these costs are assuming you buy new, you buy everything yourself (i.e. don’t receive items for shower gifts) and the higher prices include designer options Your baby must have one, and some babies have more than in the first year — depending on how big they are. Most infant seats are around $100, but can be up to $250. Convertible car seats can be from $50 – $300, and they’ll last often from birth to age 3 to 5. Babies need a place to sleep, and most will have a crib.
The crib alone (not including the mattress) usually costs anywhere from $125 – $2000. It all depends on how fancy you want to go. The crib needs a mattress. These can cost from around $50 on up to nearly $400 (for organic ones). Many baby bedding sets are around $200. A few sheets and blankets can be about $50, with high-end bedding up near $500. These can cost anywhere from $150 new to over $1600. Umbrella strollers can be had for as little as $15, but these aren’t suitable for a newborn. A lot of moms these days enjoy wearing their babies. Carriers can cost $50 – $200, and maybe more if you get a custom made one. I’m lumping these together because there are a lot of combo models these days, and some opt not to have a separate changing area at all. These cost $200 – $1000, depending on how solid they are. Although you won’t need one right away, most do buy one eventually. These can cost from $50 to $300, depending on the model you get (and I’m sure there are designer models that cost even more).
This includes paint, wall paper, hangings, etc. You can go cheap and spend about $30 to paint a room, or up to $500 (possibly more) for perfectly coordinating decorations. Most moms like one of these. They can range from $100 – $600, with a few probably even pricier. You’ll probably either need a pump and a few bottles, or an entire bottle feeding system. Regardless you’ll probably spend $50 – $400 for all of these items (especially when you add in baby’s cups, spoons, bowls, etc. later in the year). Most parents like to buy one, even if their baby doesn’t end up using it (some return it). These cost from $50 – $200 or so, depending on the features you get. Although not “required,” many parents prefer to buy one. They are maybe $50 or so on the low end, but the high-end ones with changing station, bassinet, toys, etc. are more like $250. This includes things like a Bumbo seat, a Jumperoo, an Exersaucer, etc. These each cost $30 – $75 and many parents buy more than one.
So, you’re looking at a total cost from $30 – $200. You can find a basic one for $20 or so, but designer bags can cost up to $500. Babies typically need 4 or 5 sizes in their first year. Parents can spend $200 – $500 per size (depending on how much they buy and what brands), resulting in a total cost of $800 to $2500 for clothes. A baby in disposable diapers goes through 8 – 12 diapers per day in the first year. Assuming an average cost of $0.25 per diaper (according to Amazon; more for “premium” brands but less for store brands), this will cost you about $700 – $1200. Just for the first year. Wipes cost about $0.03 each, and assuming 2 per diaper change (obviously sometimes more and sometimes less), you’ll spend about $150 – $300 in the first year. For cloth diapers, assuming using one-size diapers and having 24, they’ll cost $450 (and last till potty training). Cloth wipes will cost about $12 (assuming 12 for $6 and having 24). Washing is a factor, but two extra loads a week might cost an extra $50 per year.
A lot of parents like to have these. They can range from $10 – $50, depending on the style you choose. Go simple and spend perhaps $25 on rattles, books, stacking rings, etc.; or go wild and spend over $1000 on top-of-the-line baby entertainment. If you don’t breastfeed (or do so part-time), you’ll need to buy formula. It can cost anywhere from $0.10/oz. (powder, store-brand) to more than $0.50/oz. (ready-to-feed formulas). A few babies on special formulas may cost up to $1/oz. Assuming babies eat on average 30 oz. per day, this will cost anywhere from $1100 to $11,000 per year. Most babies these days start on food around 4 months of age (which is too soon, but that’s another post entirely). Babies eat an average of 3 jars per day (much less at the beginning, but much more towards the end). Jars cost around $0.50 each. So, assuming 3 jars per day for 8 months, that’s about $350 (and that doesn’t include snacks, finger foods, cereals, etc.). With the ‘snacks,’ you could spend over $500 in the first year on baby food.