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]#1 in Sleep Product Research Millions Served Since 2008 Based on 815 Actual Owner Experiences Gathered From 73 Sources"Memory foam hybrid" most often refers to an innerspring-based mattress that uses memory foam in the comfort layer – usually at least two inches of the material.
Memory foam hybrids tend to provide an effective compromise between comfort / pressure-point relief and support. Many firmness options are available. Motion isolation tends to be better than average as does suitability for sex.Durability / longevity is likely no better than fair in most cases. Prices in general are about 25 percent higher than the price of the average mattress. At least 12 percent of owners report bothersome heat retention. Weight is often substantial making transport and handling difficult especially for one person. Memory Foam Hybrid Ratings Overall What Is A Memory Foam Hybrid Memory Foam Thickness and Hybrid Characteristics Popular Model Ratings, Prices, And Specs Make Your Own Memory Foam Hybrid The table shows how hybrid mattresses overall rate in relation to other mattress types. (See more on how they compare.) "Memory foam hybrid" refers to an innerspring-based mattress containing a significant amount of memory foam. Consumers should not, however, assume that these mattresses are true hybrids – in other words, that they consist 50% of memory foam.
While the amount of memory foam that a hybrid mattress has can vary by model, the average hybrid has only two inches of memory foam, which is less than 20% of total mattress thickness. (In addition to springs and memory foam, these mattresses often contain significant amounts of regular foam.) Memory foam hybrid mattresses are most distinguished from other mattress types by the fact that they offer a unique combination of characteristics. These characteristics depend mostly on how much memory foam the mattress has. As the chart below shows, those hybrid mattresses with 1.5 inches or less of memory foam tend to have a significant degree of innerspring mattress characteristics and only limited memory foam mattress characteristics. Those hybrids with 1.5 to 3 inches of memory foam tend to provide an approximate equal mixture of innerspring mattress and memory foam mattress characteristics. And those hybrids with 3 inches or more of memory foam tend to provide a significant degree of memory foam mattress characteristics and limited innerspring mattress characteristics.
Spring-like characteristics include 1) a relatively high level of support, 2) little weight sensitivity – meaning you sleep on top of the mattress as opposed to sinking somewhat, 3) ease of moving on and getting up off the bed, 4) at least some bounce, and 5) limited motion isolation / couple friendliness. Learn more about innerspring mattress characteristics. Foam-like characteristics include 1) conforming ability – meaning that the mattress molds to your body, 2) weight sensitivity – meaning you sleep in the mattress to some extent as opposed to sleeping on top, 3) little if any bounce, and 4) a high degree of motion isolation / couple friendliness. Learn more about memory foam mattress characteristics. Combination characteristics consist about equally of spring and foam characteristics. Memory foam hybrids overall perform average compared to other mattress types in owner satisfaction. The average price for a memory foam hybrid mattress is about $2200 for a queen.
This is at least 25% more than the price of the average mattress. The high average price for a memory foam hybrid combined with an average owner satisfaction rate overall results in below-average owner opinion of value. Memory foam hybrid mattresses overall likely have about average durability / longevity. Sagging is the loss of a level and supportive sleep surface. Sagging can include the development of body impressions, "sink holes," and "peaks & valleys." About 17% of memory foam hybrid owners report the problem which makes sagging the top owner complaint. * estimated to be at least 1.5" depth Off gassing refers to a chemical-like or musty-like odor that a mattress may release when it is new due to its composition and packaging. Memory foam hybrids tend to off gas more often and more strongly than other mattress types. About 12% of owners report sleeping hot – a higher than average rate due likely to the presence of the memory foam. An additional 20% report above average warmth but not to a bothersome extent most of the time.
A mattress with good motion isolation absorbs movement and does not transfer it across the bed. Memory foam hybrid mattresses perform significantly better than the average mattress on this issue, only beaten by memory foam mattresses. Before a mattress is broken in, the sleeper may find the firmness to be excessive. A mattress is considered broken in when the comfort layer has softened with use about as much as it is capable of. Memory foam hybrids, especially firmer models and those with thick memory foam layers, tend to have a longer break-in period than other mattress types. Memory foam hybrids rate better than most other mattress types on this issue. Learn more: Sex and mattresses comparison. The table below includes many popular and / or widely available memory foam hybrids. - The models below may have different names at different retailers. They tend, however, to be merely renamed (and perhaps slightly modified) versions of the models below. Retailers may provide specifications of the models they sell to help you to comparison shop.
- Prices below are usually for a mattress only, not a foundation which often costs $100-$350 depending on mattress size. - The price ranges below are due to the availability of different models within each line. Models in the higher end of a price range tend to be thicker and / or have better material. * Most hybrid models are fairly new to the market and have limited owner experience data available. As a result, owner satisfaction rates below are based on a combination of available owner experience data as well as previous- or similar-model satisfaction rates or the estimate of Sleep Like The Dead. ** Memory foam hybrids tend to use pocket coils. Learn more about them and how they compare to other coil types. ** Gel memory foam tends to reduce heat trap complaints by 30% especially if at least two inches of the material are present. Making your own hybrid often minimizes cost and potential durability problems. You can make a simple hybrid mattress yourself by buying a firm non-hybrid innerspring mattress, that is, one with minimal padding.