Image Source: Project Nursery
Choosing the right nursery theme for your baby can be quite exciting. However, choosing the right crib mattress is of utmost importance. This is because your newborn will spend most of his/her time sleeping in the crib. The best mattress will promote and support healthy growth and development of the baby. If you are looking to purchase a mattress for your baby, here are a few considerations that you should put in mind.
Research different types
Choosing the kind of crib mattress you want for your child will purely depend on your personal tastes. There are organic, foam, and innerspring mattresses. Foam mattresses are popular because they are light and easy to change and flip. Innersprings are a bit heavier but are of superior quality. On the other hand, organic or natural mattresses are manufactured from zero chemicals or zero plastics and are environmentally friendly. Whatever you choose, make sure that you have a strong support especially along the edges to ensure that it does not sag when the baby walks or stands along the edges.
Firm mattress specifically for babies
Even though an extremely firm mattress may seem uncomfortable for your child, for the safety of the child, a firm foundation is important. This is because soft sleeping surfaces may create a suffocation hazard for infants, increasing the risks of SIDS. You should never lay your kids on an adult mattress or any soft surface to ensure safety. To guarantee safety, crib mattresses should be about 28 x 52 inches. If two fingers can comfortably fit between your mattress and crib, then this shows that the mattress is too small and can be a safety hazard.
Mattress sizing
Correct mattress sizing is important to prevent the baby from getting wedged between the mattress and the crib. Most mattresses and cribs usually have standard sizes to prevent such safety hazards. You should check the size before removing the wrapper to ensure that it perfectly fits the crib. There should also be no space between the mattress and the crib to guarantee the safety of your child when he/she is sleeping. The height between the top of your mattress and top of the rail should be about 66 centimeters when your crib bottom is lowered fully.
Cover options
Kids can be quite messy and this is why you should choose a mattress with a removable and washable cover. This is important because you can change the covers when the baby spits up, pees or poops on the mattress. The best crib mattress should have a cover that can be unzipped and tossed into the washing machine to clean it up. This is important for sanitary reasons. Even if the baby does not mess up the cover, you can easily wash it periodically to ensure that it is clean.
Convertibility is crucial
Parents who are worried about the long-term comfort of their children can choose double-sided mattresses. These mattresses are designed for use by infants and have a single very firm side, while the other side is softer and suitable for toddler beds. With a convertible mattress, you will get value for your money. This is because you do not have to purchase a new mattress as your child grows. When buying convertible or double-sided mattresses, go for waterproof, high-quality mattress because the poor quality ones will lose firmness over time.
Purchase new
It is important that you purchase a new crib mattress to guarantee that it’s sanitary. When you accept a hand-me-down or a used mattress, you will never know how it was stored or cared for. This is because mold can easily grow in a mattress that is not properly stored and bacteria may be present on the surface due to lack of proper cleaning especially liquids like diaper leaks. If you purchase a new mattress, you will be confident that it was never used and you can take proper care of it and store it in a dry place.
Price
A high price tag is not a guarantee of quality and should not influence your buying decisions. Sometimes, consumers will only be paying for additional features that they do not even care about. There are crib mattress manufacturers that have been in the business for many years and have carried out several quality tests to ensure that even their lowest-priced products are of superior quality. With lots of research, you can easily purchase an affordable mattress that will suit the needs of your baby.
If you need a crib mattress, shopping around for a comfortable, safe mattress for your child can be quite challenging. You should take time to shop around and test different mattresses out. You can also ask parents that you know about what they use for their children or read lots of online reviews from consumers who have bought and used different brands of crib mattresses. With the help of the aforementioned tips, you will be on the right track to getting the right crib mattress for your baby.
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