When you are expecting a new baby, life is stressful enough as there are so many things that you need to prepare for. One of the most important items that goes into a baby’s nursery is the crib and the crib mattress itself.
Safety, comfort, measurement and cost are the four things that you need to look for when choosing the right crib mattress. If your baby is sleeping well, then so are you.
1. Safety
The safety of your baby is the most important thing on your mind. The good news is that the sizes of full-size cribs and mattresses have been standardized by the federal government.
This was done to make sure there was no way your newborn baby would get trapped under a mattress that was not properly sized which could lead to suffocation.
It is important to note that these regulations apply to full-sized cribs.
Another safety concern is what the crib mattress is made of. You want to find a mattress that is free of toxic chemicals. Buying an organic mattress is always better if you have the budget for it as they do run higher in price.
Related: Best Crib Mattresses For 2022 - Keeping Your Child Comfortable and Safe2. Measurement
A full-size crib mattress, according to regulation, must be at least 27 1/4 inches wide, 51 1/4 inches long, and no more than six inches thick. A standard crib mattress will fit well into a standard crib.
When you place the crib mattress inside of the crib, make sure that the mattress is centered and then measure to see if there is a gap of more than ¼ inch on any side. If there is, then this is not the right size mattress. You can also push the mattress to one side and there should not be a gap of more than 1 inch.
3. Comfort
A firm mattress is much better for a baby than a soft mattress. A firm mattress will help your baby sleep better at night. A soft mattress has a higher chance of suffocating a baby. If you are unsure how firm your mattress is just push down with one finger in the middle of the mattress. If the mattress bounces back immediately then it is firm. The manufacturer should also list the firmness of the mattress.
4. Price
I know that no one wants to cut corners when it comes to their baby but we have to be realistic and know that a budget will come into play especially since there are so many other things that you need to buy for your baby on an ongoing basis.
Usually a good crib mattress will cost anywhere from $80 to $200. Anything above $200 is most likely not necessary.
We have also gone through and reviewed the best crib mattresses available. You can see our top four crib mattresses here.