Baby Mattress

If you have a crib for your baby, you’ll need to find a good baby mattress. Before you run out and buy the first one you see, do a little research. Like any mattress purchase, you’ll want to see what is available, what fits your budget, and what safety standards you need to worry about to protect your new child. There are a few things you may want to look for. 

Measure your crib

If you have the opportunity, put the mattress you are thinking about inside the crib you are thinking about to see how well it fits. While most mattresses and cribs are standard sizes now, it is always good to double check. You want your baby mattress to fit firmly inside the crib. If you can fit more than one finger between the mattress and the crib, find another mattress. You don’t want any extra room that baby may be able to get trapped in. 

Babies Need Firm Mattresses

When you’re looking at baby mattresses, don’t be afraid to push on it to test the firmness. Babies can’t lift their heads and escape a soft mattress if they roll over, and there would be a danger for suffocation if they get their nose buried in a soft mattress. How do you tell? The more resistance there is to your push, the firmer the mattress is. 

Baby mattresses are generally made with either steel coils or foam. Either one is okay for your little one; again, as long as it is firm enough. Coils are pretty firm, and the more coils there are, the firmer the mattress. Foam has the advantage of being very lightweight, so if you need to move the mattress when you’re changing the sheets, they are easy to work with. Just make sure the foam is dense and firm. 

Check the cover of the baby mattress. Does it have a multi-layer top? The more layers the top has, the better protection you will have from germs if baby leaks or spits up. It is a lot easier to clean a layer or two of fabric than deep into the center of a mattress. What do the seams look like? Make sure the seams are strong and aren’t overstressed. Are they smooth? Smooth seams show they’ve been applied properly and are not being pulled too much. 

Price

Expense shouldn’t vary too much with a baby mattress, unless you are going for an organic cotton mattress or a hypo-allergenic covered mattress. These are more expensive, but if they fill a need you have, it may be worth it to you. Average baby mattresses should cost $75 to $100, and if you are not looking for a specialty mattress, less expensive models should perform just fine, as long as they are firm. 

Finally, to be sure you are getting the best baby mattress for your baby’s safety, look for the JPMA label. JPMA stands for the Juvenile Products Manufacturer’s Association. Those baby mattresses carrying the JPMA seal have met certain professional and quality standards that are set up by the JPMA. 

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