A Quick Guide On How To Choose A Crib Mattress For Your Baby

One of the most fun and significant steps when expecting a baby is putting together the nursery room, and it all begins with picking the best mattress for your baby!.

But just how important is choosing the right mattress? What is available? What should you look for?

To help answer some of these questions, we will look at a few underlining factors that should be considered when choosing the right crib mattress for your baby.

What Are The Different Types of Crib Mattresses?

There are various kinds of crib mattresses available. However, what makes the most difference when choosing a good quality mattress is the type of crib mattress you end up going. This first step plays an important role when it comes to both the safety and comfort of your baby.

Below is a list of options as to what is available:

Innerspring Mattress

This type of mattress contains spring coils inside, which help support your baby while making the mattress versatile and sturdy. Over the loops, there are layers of various padding materials, such as memory foam, polyester, or cotton.

The higher the coil count these mattresses have, the more robust they will be. Certain models will typically have metal rods that go along the border, providing additional support around the edges of the mattress.

Innerspring mattresses are among the most popular options because they tend to be more supportive with a range of coil counts. The higher coils and steel gauge provide for better support while also being sturdy enough that you can change sheets in the middle of the night without waking up your baby. However, this is one downside: these types of mattresses come at an average price point between $80 and $300 per mattress which may make them too expensive for some buyers who need back or neck pain relief right away but don't have extra money lying around yet.

Foam Mattress

These are normally produced using polyurethane which is a type of foam resin that is bonded together. Foam mattresses are the most common choice among parents because they are lightweight, durable, and are typically less expensive when comparing to Innerspring mattresses.

When choosing a foam mattress for your baby’s crib, you also want to ensure that it is resilient. You can test this by pressing down on the mattress and applying pressure using your hand. The faster that area comes back to its original position, the more resilient it is.

In addition, you want to look for a memory foam mattress with a higher density foam. This will cause the mattress to become firmer, therefore providing more support for your baby’s head and back. 

This can also be tested by simply squeezing the sides of the mattress. Firmer models will be more difficult to squeeze than softer mattresses.

Double-Sided Mattress

As the name suggests, these types of mattresses are dual-sided and can be flipped. They can have both a firm side and a softer side, making them ideal for toddlers who want to still use a bed or standard crib later on.

These types of mattresses may be more expensive than Foam or Innerspring models due to the various types of materials and densities made available. Also, since you can flip them, they tend to last twice as long as a single-sided mattress, thus making them more expensive due to their value.

What To Look For When Choosing A Crib Mattress For Your Baby

When you purchase a mattress for your baby's crib, it can be important to find one that has the right measurements. It may seem like an easy task but there are many different sizes and widths available. Before buying or ordering online make sure to measure out your child’s crib first so you know what size is needed before heading into the store!

The federal regulations dictate acceptable ranges in mattress dimensions which means while they will differ slightly from brand-to-brand and model-to-model, each of them should fall within those guidelines as long as their label says "federal regulation." When purchasing a new mattress for your little ones' bed keep these things in mind: Measurements vary by manufacturer.

Here's what to look for when shopping for your crib mattress:

Density

Crib models are typically firmer than adult mattresses. This keeps a baby safer by preventing risks of her/him suffocating, and provides better support for their back so that their bones develop properly. Ensure the mattress has these qualities in order to keep your child safe while allowing them to grow properly.

To test the firmness of a mattress, press on it in multiple places and check how quickly you can push air out.

The best way to find your ideal sleep surface is by exploring various mattresses until one feels just right. If they're too soft or hard for comfort, then keep trying different types until something clicks!

Waterproof

Mattresses designed for cribs and infants should have a surface made from either vinyl or polyethylene. This will prevent any liquids from penetrating through which can cause mold and bacteria to form, including bad odor.

Size

The crib mattress size should allow it to fit snugly against the inner frame of the crib. A gap may increase the risk of your infant getting their fingers or feet caught in between the edges, which can potentially cause injury. A good rule of thumb is to ensure that you cannot put more than two fingers in between the mattress and frame.

Mattresses come in a variety of depths, but that doesn't necessarily mean they're the same firmness. Coil-spring mattresses are usually on the thicker side—usually between 5 to 6 inches deep—whereas foam crib mattress tend to be closer to 4 and 6 inches thick. Foam tends to weigh less (unless it's memory foam), which makes them easier for you when changing sheets!

Material

Some parents lean towards mattresses using natural and organic materials in order to avoid having their babies come in contact with chemicals. However, we found that this only becomes a big deal when the mattress is imported from outside of the country in which it is sold.

Imported mattresses often contain chemicals that are sprayed on the materials prior to being shipped in containers. This is mostly due to the fact that it stops bugs from making contact with the products shipped.

Non-Toxic Chemicals

When choosing a baby mattress, you want to think of the long-term benefits. Your child will spend more than half their first year sleeping on this bed! That's why it's important that your new purchase is free from toxic chemicals and made with organic materials if possible. If budget allows, invest in an all-natural GOTS or GOLS certified product for best results!

Other Things To Consider

Cost

You may be able to save money by opting for a quality crib mattress that is not made of organic materials or has an allergen-reducing cover--but you won't find those options at the local big box store. Luckily, there are many online retailers who specialize in these types of mattresses and have competitive prices.

Some good places to start your search include Mattress Firm's Organic & Allergy Relief line; Naturepedic Natural Sleep Memory Foam Baby Crib Mattress with Quilted Cover (which costs $190); Restorology Luxury Bamboo Fitted Sheet Set ($95).

Mattress Covers/Protectors

Some crib mattresses come with a mattress cover that helps protect your investment from diaper accidents and other spills. You can also purchase them separately. Since these are the surfaces closest to the baby (only a thin fitted sheet separates the baby from this surface), look for one without any toxic chemicals, such as organic, waterproof mattress covers by Sleep & Beyond or Naturepedic. Consider getting one that is waterproof, is breathable, and has a hypoallergenic barrier.

Learn more about the benefits of mattress covers here.

Crib Mattress Safety Guidelines

A baby is every parent's most treasured and valuable priority.

Here are a couple of helpful health hand safety guidelines you can follow around the topic of crib mattresses and your baby:

Stay Away From Second-Hand

Mold and bacteria are one of the most common concerns for parents when it comes to their babies. Reusing an older mattress puts your baby at risk of being exposed to diseases if the previous owners didn’t protect, or care for the mattress.

Used mattresses can also be ripped or punctured, which can also create a living environment for mold, dust mites, or even bed bugs.

Keeping The Crib Empty

Though pillow, blankets, and stuffed animals look decorative, you should avoid having them inside of your baby’s crib. Doing so will prevent your baby’s face from being covered when asleep, therefore eliminating the risk of your baby suffocating.

Place Your Baby On Their Back

The safest and most secure sleeping position for your infant is on the back. This reduces the danger of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) which is the common leading cause of death in infants during their first year of being alive.

Replacing A Baby Crib Mattress

Look at every detail of your crib before buying a mattress. Make sure you have the right measurements for the height and width, or it won’t fit in properly. It's important to keep everything snug so there are no spaces between sides that could trap little fingers! If you're not sure about anything else on your new purchase, always consult an expert--baby safety is all up to us parents now.