To help prevent sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and suffocation, it's important to choose a foam crib mattress designed for babies. It should be firmer rather than softer. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends avoiding memory foam mattresses for cribs or mattress covers. In this regard, while online shopping may be convenient, it's best to buy mattresses from a brick-and-mortar store.
You can then perform a proper check for dimensions and firmness before making a purchase. A mini crib is a great option if you're short on space or just want a crib with a smaller size. This one is the perfect size for a mini crib, but offers many of the same benefits that a full-size crib mattress would have. The outer layer is made of soft cotton, making it comfortable for baby's face.
It's also free of many things you probably don't want in your mattress, such as polyurethane foam, vinyl, PVC, chemical flame retardants, dyes, allergens, phthalates, synthetic latex, and gas-releasing materials. The general rule is to perform a thorough visual inspection of the mattress and check its firmness. According to the CSPC, a crib mattress should be firm enough to prevent a child's nose and mouth from being obstructed by a mattress that is too soft and pillow-like. It's important to choose a safe and supportive mattress for the crib, as your baby can sleep on it for three years or more.
If you're worried about achieving the perfect fit, one suggestion is to buy a crib mattress and crib from the same manufacturer, as they do all their tests on their own products. Many modern foam and polymer mattresses increase the structural rigidity of the mattress near the edges, to mimic some of the edge support you would expect in a crib mattress with internal springs. For your child's safety, you should follow the same two-finger rule to check the space between the mattress and the sides of the crib. Gold certification meets a higher level of emission standards than Greenguard basic certification, and is a relatively rare criterion that a crib mattress must meet.
Mattresses with cotton wadding or springs are highly unlikely to roll up, as this would damage or deform the core of the mattress. GREENGUARD Gold certification means that the mattress has low chemical emissions and has been tested to detect more than 10,000 individual volatile organic compounds. Needless to say, most parents don't like the idea of their baby sleeping on a crib mattress that releases harmful chemicals such as flame retardants, plastic precursors, dyes, and adhesives. Some of the best small crib mattress companies based in the U.S.
US companies on the market right now include Naturepedic, Newton, Avocado and MyGreenMattress. You'll want a mattress that fits your baby's crib perfectly, with no more than two fingers wide between the mattress and the wall or crib to prevent suffocation or entrapment. The release of gases from volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is a major problem with any manufactured textile and consumer product, not just crib mattresses. One issue that remains inconclusive is the safety of reusing a second-hand crib mattress passed on to you by a friend or one of your other children.
When your baby starts to stand up on its own, you'll want to lower the crib mattress to its lowest position.
