THE BARE ESSENTIALS OF BUYING A CRIB MATTRESS.
BUY THE FIRMEST MATTRESS YOU CAN FIND.
We adore beautiful nurseries, and we love creating warm, happy spaces for babies. But our first priority when creating a nursery is the mattress the baby will sleep on. Whether you choose a foam or innerspring mattress, the construction should conform to strict manufacturing regulations. To keep you informed of the priorities, we have gathered the information you need to make an educated purchase of a crib mattress for your baby. We want you to be aware that, if you are using a mattress that is more than one year old, it probably contains phthalates, a group of chemicals known to affect a child's developing endocrine (hormonal) system. This substance was banned by the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act in February 2009 in the manufacture of crib mattresses and vinyl pads.
When researching products where health and safety
are concerns, we suggest you refer to
Consumer Reports' BEST BABY PRODUCTS,
a resource we rely on.
A SNUG FIT
First of all, know how to determine the proper fit for the mattress within the frame of the crib. The standard crib frame accommodates a mattress that is 52 inches long x 28 inches wide x 4 to 6 inches thick, and the standard crib mattress should conform to that. When the mattress is installed, there should be just enough room to wiggle one finger between between the crib rails and the mattress. Later when your baby is sitting and then standing, you should be sure the mattress retains this fit when the mattress is lowered in the crib.BUY THE FIRMEST MATTRESS YOU CAN FIND.
Newborns must sleep flat on their backs on an extra firm mattress. In the first year of life, all babies require a mattress that is classified as extra firm. Many mattresses are constructed with an extra firm side for infants and a firm side for toddlers.
THE MATTRESS MATERIAL AND CONSTRUCTION
A FOAM MATTRESS is one of two choices you can make in seeking a firm mattress for your baby. The best quality foam is dense and resilient--it bounces back quickly when you squeeze it in the center and along the edges with both hands. A squeeze test in the center of an extra firm mattress won't allow you to press very far. In general, the heavier the foam mattress, the denser (and better) the foam.
The Starlight Supreme memory foam mattress is hypoallergenic, antimicrobially treated, and flame resistant. Designed with advanced health, safety and comfort standards, the Starlight Support mattress from Moonlight Slumber offers dual levels of firmness. There is an extra firm side for your infant. Then as your baby grows, you can flip the Supreme over and have an ultra supportive, yet ultra comfortable layer of “memory” foam over the firm mattress.
AN INNERSPRING MATTRESS consist of a number of layers; the better the quality of these layers, the better the mattress. Coil count, the number of steel springs a mattress has, relates not to the firmness of the mattress or the quality of the construction. A less expensive mattresses may have fewer coils, but the higher number of coils is not the single factor in firmess. The thicker the gauge of the steel the stronger the mattress construction. Just to confuse you....the lower the gauge of the steel coil thickness, the better the quality. The lower the number, the thicker the gauge, the finer the mattress. Border rods go around the perimeter of the mattress top and bottom, and are the thickest pieces of steel a mattress contains. Don't buy innerspring mattresses that don't have border rods. Border rods provide extra firmness, durability, and edge support so a mattress won't sag when your baby stands or walks near the edge.
On top of the coils is an insulator pad that keeps the coils from poking through a mattress' cushioning layers. The best insulator pad is made from coir fiber, which is shredded and woven coconut shell, but fiber wrap padding is acceptable as well.
The next layer in the mattress is the cushioning, which may be made of foam or cotton. Although polyester is also available as a cushioning layer, we don't recommend it because it can move and lump up over time.
