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]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.