eBooks from Mommypotamus The Busy Mama’s Guide to Getting Dinner On The TableSubscribe to my newsletter and receive this FREE GUIDE along with exclusive coupons, links to recommended products, and much more! I'm Heather, aka The Mommypotamus. I’m a wife, mom, real food lover, research geek, and amateur homesteader. Don’t miss these popular posts Why I Ditched Meal Plans For Real PlansSafe Essential Oils For Babies And ChildrenMTHFR Gene Mutations: A Beginner’s GuideHow To Really Increase Happiness In 5 Minutes A Day15 Ways To Be Kind To Your AdrenalsThe 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]Using a fan while a baby is sleeping appears to significantly cut the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS, according to new research. Researchers at the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research in Oakland, Calif., compared 185 babies who died from SIDS in 11 California counties between May 1, 1997 and April 30, 2000, with 312 normal infants from similar socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds living in the same counties. Mothers were asked several questions about fan use, pacifier use, room location, sleep surface,...
Alligator Takes a Stroll With a Fish in Its Mouth Drowning in Charging Cables? An Architect's Personal Retreat on Puget Sound Hong Kong Remakes Beer Pong: Is That So Wrong? High-End Homes Include High-Tech Security SystemsThe interest with memory foam solutions has grown in the adult arena, but in this case how good is memory foam for infants? Firstly, never let an infant sleep alone on an adult memory foam mattress. Depending on how soft the mattress is, the infant could easily sink in and suffocate if they rolled over on their stomachs. For infants there is specialized memory foam, which has all of the benefits of adult memory foam, but are made to be firm so that the infant can sink in a bit without it being too dangerous. They are tailor made from the ground up for infants and are highly recommended as they help with the general health of your kid, especially in the younger stages as they’re growing up. Several mothers have joined the memory foam revolution and many prefer memory foam made for infants over traditional crib mattresses, since it naturally aids with sleep.
Along with the sleeping benefits there is a comfortable baby sleeping in their crib and not crying as much because they are in cloud heaven. That alone is worth the money, if not for the baby then for the sleepy parents. Contents1 Why is IT Good for Your Baby? Reported Stories Do Specialized Brands Make a Difference? Infants spend most of their time sleeping when they come into the world, so fitting them with a memory foam mattress that allows them to maximize the benefits of restorative sleep helps the mental and physical health of all those involved. Memory foam specifically designed for infants helps their growing needs and keeps them safe whereas an adult solution is not properly fitted to keep a baby from suffocating. These are Certi-PUR certified mattresses that are mite-proof, hypoallergenic and anti-microbial. There are no harmful chemicals in the mattresses that can hurt the infant, and less bad materials included in the construction so that it doesn’t attract harmful elements.
Different manufacturers also use various covers with natural fibers that may contain features like being waterproof, being odor resistant, stain resistant and even the ability to reduce bacterial growth and mold. These removable covers are machine washable and are easy to swap around. Many companies also offer a memory foam pillow with a cover along with the memory foam mattress, a deal which can be hard to pass up when comparing offers. The covers on these pillows are usually hypoallergenic and also machine washable. Pillows that are offered have the options of being available for kids up to age 5, and some places even offer an upgraded pillow for 6-10 year olds so that their sleep habits remain largely the same as they grow, which is peaceful. There are websites and Facebook pages dedicated to memory foam infant death awareness, a horrible introduction to what can happen when infants when they are left unattended on adult memory foam. The assumption that memory foam is safe for everyone can cause immediate grief if not kept in check.
One of the more notable stories is of Gwendalynne Deborah Marie Hines, a 5 month old that was laid to rest on an adult memory foam mattress and ended up scooting while she was sleeping. By scooting she ended up under a heavy memory foam pillow, which caused her to suffocate. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS is a very real thing concerning not only memory foam mattresses for adults, but some of the earlier versions of memory foam mattresses for infants. This has led to several massive recalls due to flammability, movement issues and even improper sizing. With the CPSC on top of things for the last couple of years, memory foam for infants are now a 100% safe option compared to a couple of years ago. On a last note it is also not recommended to sleep with your baby on an adult memory foam mattress, as a mourning mother in Michigan found out one day. Her 5 month old baby Everett James was found beside her not breathing and completely unresponsive. It was a horrible thing for her to wake up to, and it speaks to the dangers of adult memory foam and infants not needing to mix.
Sealy and My First are the go to makers when it comes to memory foam, with Sealy firmly in the top spot. My First is a Kittrich Corportation branch, and is well respected and an ideal solution for the parents that don’t want to pay a couple of hundred for a specialized memory foam mattress for infants, but still want good quality. But staying with Sealy, it’s hard to argue spending a couple of extra bucks to take care of a young infant in need. Since Sealy is the best brand available for memory foam solutions for infants, it is vital that parents recognize this and go with them as a first option if they have the cash. Even some of Sealy’s older solutions are acceptable , which isn’t a knock on My First, but just a testament to how far ahead Sealy is to other competitors in this field. There are hundreds of reviews in their favors, and after reading some of the horror stories with memory foam mattresses and infants it becomes an even clearer solution with what the best buy is.