A baby crib mattress is rarely thought about in any depth. Our crib has a mattress, great. All baby crib mattresses appear to look the same, small and covered in vinyl.
Innerspring mattresses are made of multiple layers. The number of coils and the thickness of the coils makes up the main body and the quality of an innerspring mattress. Mattresses with 150 coils usually have 13.5 gauge carbon tempered steel. A baby crib mattress has limited space; there isn't room inside the mattress to increase the number of coils at the same gauge. A lower weight coil creates a softer crib mattress. The best crib mattresses have a higher amount of steel, both coils and border rods.
Border rods are steel rods placed around the top and bottom edges of the mattress. They are preferred to be 9.0 gauge steel. They provide weight distribution which reduces soft spots or sagging.
The insulator pad is the next important feature in the mattress. It lays on top of the coils and rods and protects the foam cushioning from sinking into the coils. The insulator pad can be made of any number of materials however, a pad made of coconut shell formed into a mat called coir fiber is preferred. It wears better over time.
Higher end baby crib mattresses also include an extra mesh layer that lays between the coils and the pad. Some manufactures also use two foam cushioning layers. While most mattresses usually have only one. A high end innerspring mattress is just as good as a high end foam crib mattress; most of us are just more familiar with innerspring mattresses on our own beds. It is simply a matter of taste whether you choose one type of mattress or another. Just make certain that it snuggley fits your baby's crib.
Foam Crib Mattress
A foam crib mattress is another baby crib mattress option available today. If you are considering purchasing a foam crib mattress, always consider weight, firmness and resiliency. Foam crib mattresses are made from a foam core that is covered in a vinyl cover. Density refers to weight and you want a high density foam crib mattress, about 1.5 pounds per cubic foot. High density crib mattresses wear better over time and they have less chance of deteriorating.
Squeeze the edges of the mattress; you shouldn't feel your fingers on the other side, the mattress shouldn't give under the pressure of your grip. Firmness ensures your baby's weight will be supported properly. A soft mattress will sag and cause your baby to roll easily.
Resiliency is the mattress's ability to bounce back to it's original shape quickly. The quicker the foam bounces back to it's original shape, the better it's resiliency. A high end foam crib mattress is just as good as a high end innerspring mattress. The choice is yours. Just make certain that your foam crib mattress fits snuggley into your crib.
Baby Crib Mattress Covers
Crib mattress covers protect your baby crib mattress from moisture, keeping it dry and mildew free. They come in two styles, pads and sheets. They are usually designed to:
- Be stain resistant.
- Be flame resistant. (Fabric softener decreases a fabrics flame resistance.)
- Be machine washable.
- Be 100% waterproof.
- Be economical.
- Add longevity to your crib mattress.
For added protection double up. Place crib mattress cover over the crib and add a fitted sheet over the cover, then add a mattress cover and another crib sheet. At 4:00 a.m. clean baby up, strip the first two layers off the crib, put baby back to bed and you are back into your bed in under five minutes!
All crib mattresses are treated with Boric acid or other chemicals. Federal flammability standards require this treatment to make them wet resistant. Even "all natural" crib mattresses must be treated.
Your baby will be sleeping on this crib mattress for the next few years of their life, so you want it to be the best quality baby crib mattress possible.
Spending upwards to 70% of their lives on this mattress as an infant, when their bones are the softest and growing faster than at any other stage in their life. It is the quality of the mattress that matters most. A firm, quality baby crib mattress along with crib safety tips will give your little one the safest place to rest.
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