You don’t like to get too hot — or too cold - -when you’re sleeping, right? The same goes for baby. The Sleepi Crib Mattress ensures a comfortable sleep with a special water-resistant cover and a durable, non-toxic Damask cloth cover. It even comes with waterproof backing (so drool and sweat won’t ruin baby’s mattress!). Just be sure to buy the Stokke Sleepi Crib too, since this mattress was made to fit with it. We love getting a good deal, so when we saw just how many years’ mom and dad can get out of this Serta Perfect Nature Mattress, we were pumped! One side is made for baby, and when you’re ready, just flip it over and it’s ready to go as a toddler bed. For less than $100, the Kolcraft Pure Sleep Therapeutic 150 Mattress gives you everything you’d ever want (and need!) for a comfortable night’s sleep for baby (like a coil-interwoven spring system, a waterproof cover, hypoallergenic design and the right combo of comfort and firmness). How’s that for a dollar well spent?
Bumpers are a no-no, but the raised, firm sides on the SafeSleep Breathable mattress offers added support for baby without putting baby at risk for SIDS. Plus, it’s breathable and free of harmful chemicals, so that should help you get some peaceful sleep yourself. You won’t believe this, but the Coco Mat from NaturalMat is made from only certified organic coir (from coconut husks around the world) — which makes it 100 percent natural, organic and safe. But that’s not all: It’s also wrapped in lambswool, lavender, lemon and eucalyptus. So, if we had to imagine baby sleeping on a cloud, we’d definitely picture this! There’s no price-tag on ensuring your baby’s safety while she sleeps, which is why we love the Naturepedic Organic Ultra 252 Seamless Dual Firmness Mattress. It’s eco-friendly (made without vinyl, PVC, phthalates, lead and antimicrobial biocides) and comes with a heavy duty interior — so even after years of use and reuse, the mattress’ firmness never fades!
And what’s not to love about a company whose motto is: No compromise? Let’s be honest: Diaper blowouts at 2 in the morning aren’t anybody’s favorite, but when it comes time to strip the sheets and put new bedding in baby’s crib, you’ll be thankful you bought this Lullaby Earth Super Lightweight Baby & Crib Toddler Mattress. It weighs just seven pounds (yes!) so you won’t break a sweat changing sheets. Plus, More from The Bump: More About How to Buy a Crib Mattress 10 Cribs We Love Are Crib Bumpers Safe? Colgate Wins The Bump “Best of Baby 2015” Award for Nuzzle Snuze Crib MattressThe Nuzzle Snuze is the only mattress to receive this coveted seal of approval. With more products than ever on the market, the editorial staff of The Bump was faced with creating the definitive list of “must have” products in categories such as strollers, car seats and feeding gear. These annual awards help simplify an often overwhelming process as new parents navigate through baby products, many without any prior knowledge of the category.
“Babies can spend up to 70% of their growth and development time on the crib mattress, so deciding which brand to buy is one of the most critical decisions parents make,” said Terri Paul, marketing director, Colgate Specialty Division. “We are delighted that Colgate’s dedication to safety and uncompromising quality has been recognized by experts who are trusted by so many parents. We hope a Nuzzle Snuze is part of every expecting parent’s dream registry.” Colgate’s environmentally safe, technologically advanced crib mattress delivers innovation both inside and out. Made of a eco-friendly material, the Nuzzle Snuze line contains NaturesNest™, a naturally fire resistant material that does not require synthetic protection. Inspired by nature, the NaturesNest design provides the ideal micro-climate for a baby and toddler by allowing humidity and air to flow freely through the crib mattress. The Nuzzle Snuze is available in three exclusive designs with modern colors, including Dottie Lottie, Squiggles and Chic-a-Dee patterns.
“Our annual Best of Baby awards have done all the work by reviewing and choosing the best of the best so parents can cut down on the guesswork and feel confident when deciding which products and gear to buy or add to their baby registry.” and at specialty stores and boutiques in the Brixy network.Like a car seat, a crib mattress is a baby essential important enough to research — baby’s sleeping place needs to be safe! You can’t go wrong buying one from a highly-reputable company that’s been around for a while — ask a store clerk if you’re not sure which brands are most trusted. Go online and read what other parents say about the mattresses they’ve purchased. Then, visit a few stores and get a feel for the variety of models out there. While you’re at the store, look for mattresses that are firm but also comfortable (read: no coils poking up through the top or foam that’s hard as a rock). Remember: Firmness can help prevent SIDS. In general, all crib mattresses are firm enough for baby if they’re made using steel springs or have a high-density foam core.
“Find the balance by squeezing the center of the mattress and ensuring it bounces back into shape,” says Andrea Ostapa, senior marketing and product manager for crib mattresses at Kolcraft Enterprises, Inc. Though both kinds of mattresses—innerspring and foam—are considered safe, there are major differences in shopping for the two. What to look for: A higher coil count means the coils are closer together, which creates a firmer surface. You can also look for a lower gauge of steel, which means the steel is thicker. Cool feature: The standard cushioning layers of an innerspring mattress are made of PET, polyester recycled from plastic water bottles, which acts as a hypoallergenic cushion, says Ostapa. Upgrade with: Border rods (a steel frame attached to the perimeter of the mattress); corner protectors and steel clips. They’ll all help make the mattress’s core more durable. What to look for: A high-density polyurethane foam core that holds 1.5 pounds per cubic foot.
The higher the number of pounds per cubic foot, the heavier the core. The lower the number, the softer the core. “There are also bonded polyester fiber cores that tend to be a lower-cost alternative to foam, but they are not considered a ‘high-density’ foam,” Ostapa says. Cool feature: Foam mattresses are lightweight; they typically weigh between 8 and 13 pounds. Upgrade with: High-density edges that help protect the sides where a toddler sits. You’ll be changing the bed regularly—sometimes bleary-eyed in the middle of the night—so you should be able to pick up the mattress fairly easily. Any mattress that’s 10 to 20 pounds should be fine for you and baby. Even if you plan on using a sheet saver and crib mattress pad— both smart ideas, since there are bound to be diaper blow-outs— you should also make sure your mattress is waterproof. Having that extra layer of protection means that accidents can’t seep inside the mattress. Your kid is going to spending a lot of time on the mattress, so it makes sense to want safe materials against his or her skin.
One certification to look for is GREENGUARD, which measures the chemical emissions from the mattress. If a mattress has been certified, that means an outside laboratory tested it to see whether it poses any air-quality risk to your baby. Two things to know off the bat: You’ll pay more for an organic mattress, and most crib mattresses aren't actually composed of all-organic material, since many also contain steel and plastics. Still, having organic cushioning or covers gives peace of mind to some parents. When shopping for one, Ostapa says to check that the mattress contains another, firmer material to help keep it in shape (organic cotton cushioning doesn’t bounce back as well as other fibers). Also, organic cotton covers aren’t waterproof, so look for an eco-friendly treatment for extra protection. A high price tag doesn’t necessarily mean better quality; sometimes you’re just paying for extra features that you may not even care about. “Some manufacturers have been making crib mattresses for so long and have conducted so many quality tests that even the lowest-priced mattress is of the highest quality,” Ostapa says.