How To Choose a Crib Mattress

You've got your baby crib, and now you need a baby crib mattress to complete the set. Before you buy a crib mattress, there are a few things you should know. Here's how to choose a baby crib mattress that is safe and comfy for your baby.


-Double check the size of the mattress against the size of your crib. Most cribs and crib mattresses are made in standard sizes these days, so the mattress size shouldn't be an issue. Occasionally you may find that a mattress doesn't fit well with a certain crib, though, so checking the fit is important. The mattress should fit fairly tight inside the crib. There shouldn't be an obvious gap between the crib frame and mattress, and you shouldn't be able to easily push more than one finger down in between the mattress and crib frame.

-Find a reasonably firm mattress! Soft mattresses seem like a good choice from an adult perspective, but babies need a more solid sleep surface since they can't lift their heads out of soft mattresses if they get turned over. Push down on the mattress gently and see how much pressure it takes to sink into the mattress. The more resistance there is for your hands to sink in, the firmer the mattress.

-Foam or coils? It doesn't really matter. Foam crib mattresses are usually less expensive than coil mattresses, and are just as safe, as long as they aren't too soft. Foam mattresses are light and easy to pick up if you need to pick the mattress up to change sheets. For coil mattresses, check the number of coils. In most mattresses, higher numbers of coils means a firmer mattress.

-Check the cover. Multi-layer covers are a good bet for durability. Some crib mattresses have an anti-microbial layer on top, and this may help cut down on germs from spit-ups and diaper accidents. You can also check to see how the mattress cover is sealed. Do the plastic seams appear to be sturdy, or are they weak and ready to split open? Are fabric seams smooth from the start or do they appear stressed and ready to pop open?

-Think about cost. If you're on a budget, don't worry. Crib mattresses don't have to be expensive to be safe, durable or useful. You can expect to spend $75 to $100 for a good crib mattress. Of course, you can spend more, but with crib mattresses, you don't necessarily get any more useful features or added benefits with the heftier price tag. Exceptions to this is crib mattresses with allergy-reducing covers or natural materials organic crib mattresses. These specialty mattresses are more expensive, but worth every penny if they properly fill a need for your

From Heather Corley, http://babyproducts.about.com