Crib Mattresses

One of the most important parts of purchasing your baby’s crib is selecting a crib mattress. Crib mattresses are typically sold separately from the crib itself, allowing you to choose a specific mattress to go along with your crib. It’s wise, however, to buy your crib mattress from the same company as your crib if you’ve chosen a specialty crib, such as a round or corner crib. Buying a crib mattress from the same company ensures you get a perfect fit.

Particularly if you purchase a standard rectangular crib, you’ll have dozens of mattresses from which to choose. Crib mattresses come in many price ranges and with many different styles and features. Here are some things to look for when you purchase a crib mattress.

Waterproof Cover – A crib mattress is going to get wet, so it should have a waterproof cover. In fact, look for those mattresses that say that they’re double or tripled layered with waterproof material. Don’t worry if this makes the mattress feel hard and sticky; you’ll be placing a mattress cover and sheets over it anyway.

Firmness – Babies should sleep on firm mattresses for safety. A mattress that is too soft is a suffocation hazard for a young baby. You’ll find foam crib mattresses and coil crib mattresses. It really doesn’t matter which you choose, as long as the mattress is firm. Coil crib mattresses are considered to be of better construction, and will cost more. However, this extra cost isn’t necessarily warranted. Keep in mind that your child will only sleep on a this mattress for a short period of time, and his body weight will likely be less than 40 pounds for the entire time he sleeps here. For this reason, high quality coils are simply not as important as they are when purchasing a mattress for adults.

Cost – A crib mattress needn’t be expensive to be safe and durable. Shop around to find a mattress that meets your needs and falls within your budget. And, in fact, crib mattresses that are significantly more expensive may not be any better than those that cost less. You should expect to pay more, however, for a specialty sized crib mattress, such as round or corner crib mattresses.

Choosing a crib mattress can be a daunting task, simply because there are so many on the market. Take your time and find one with the most important features at a price you can afford. Your baby will sleep comfortably and soundly for a long time.