Guide to choosing the right baby mattress for your precious one

It's late, you're tired and you are hoping that this time (finally) the little one will go to bed. As you tiptoe out of the room, striving not to make the wrong sound or step on the wrong part of the floor, the inevitable happens. The child awakes... and you know exactly what that means. Another long night of caring for the fussy child.

For anyone who has had a fussy baby, you know that there are generally three reasons they are crying. They are hungry, they need to be changed or they are tired. Today, we are going to talk about how to help your child effectively get the sleep that they need. To maximize their sleep time they should have a firm and well-sized mattress that helps you with ensuring your child's safety and them with comfort.

Remember this when purchasing a baby mattress: "firmer is always better". Although you may think of yourself when feeling for a feathery or soft mattress, babies do not have a need for these style of mattresses and you actually put your child in danger when sleeping them on those surfaces. A soft surface can provide an opportunity for suffocation and increase the risk for SIDS, where a hard mattress provides a firm and stable sleeping area that is perfect for your young one.

The easy way of being able to tell if the mattress is firm enough is to push on the center and all the edges of the mattress and see if it snaps back into shape immediately after letting go of the pressure. That said, the mattress should not be rock solid, too hard and your baby won't be able to lay down in comfort.

Allergies, spinal issues, and other problems have helped organic quality mattresses rise in popularity in recent years. Since your baby will spend thousands of hours in the same crib, choosing a non-toxic, comfortable and durable mattress is one of the greatest investments you can make in your child bedroom purchases. There are several things that you should be aware of when searching for the right Organic Baby Mattress:
 

• Avoid mattresses that CLAIM they are organic, but only use the organic material on the outside, while the inside is full of plenty of toxins.

• Avoid any mattress that boasts that it is "waterproof". Waterproofing is generally done with harsh chemicals creating a plastic barrier that whisks water off.

• Avoid ANYTHING labeled polyurethane. Not only is this non-organic material dangerous to the babies health, but it is also highly flammable and could put your child in great risk.

This mattress features heavy organic cotton bedding with a recommended 150 coil inner spring which makes the mattress comfortable, firm and fully organic. The wool used in this mattress is naturally resistant to mold and dust mites and acts as a natural flame barrier meaning that the company did not need to use the harsh chemicals to pass flame testing.

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Naturepedic boasts in being one of the industry leaders in organic mattress choices of parents around the world. This mattress comes with your choice of between 150 and 252 coils. It is firm and fully organic helping your child to sleep safely and soundly through the night.

Purchase directly online at Naturepedic

Nook makes their mattresses with all organic coconut husks and an organic core. This type of natural core makes the bed naturally anti-microbial and liquid resistant without compromising your little one's health or comfort.

Purchase directly from Nook Sleep

Sleep Lily provides several non-toxic organic mattresses to choose from. But one of their top rated is the "Pure Start" mattress. Made with organic cotton and pure grown wool, this mattress boasts a firm support and a comfortable sleep in an organic bed made for your child's safety and your own peace of mind. It boasts no flame-retardant chemicals in it's creation and has serious inner spring coils to help with support.

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Holy Lamb offers a mattress with the traditional spring method wrapped around all natural wool to provide a traditional, organic approach to child sleep safety. As wool is antimicrobial and antibacterial that means that dust mites and allergens cannot attach themselves to the bedding.

Purchase directly at Holy Lamb Organics

A good mattress doesn't mean it has to be an expensive mattress. There are still some very good mattresses that are cost-effective and support your child for a safe and comfortable sleep. 

This mattress boasts a creation made of plant oils with a certified organic cotton cover. It's relatively inexpensive (coming in at just over the $200 price range) and is still hypoallergenic and phthalate free. This mattress is also highly rated by consumers and critics alike.

Purchase directly from Colgate - The Crib Mattress Specialist

Coming in at just over $160, the Lullaby Earth Healthy Support mattress is still a good option for those who want a bed that is free of allergens, pesticides, or glues. This mattress does not contain any of the flame retardant chemicals and is BPA-free.

Purchase directly from Lullaby Earth

Although a little more costly than the other two mentioned above, Newton creates a great, still affordable option for parents who desire to go a natural route for their mattress choices. Newton's baby Wovenaire is made with a core of 90% free air and 10% food-grade polymer.

Purchase directly from Newton Baby

Baby cribs come in all shapes and sizes and the focus should be on if it fits your baby and their crib well. We will cover a couple of baby mattress sizes here.

The Consumer Products Safety Commission does give specific requirements for all full-size baby crib mattresses. They require that mattresses be at least 27 and 1/4 inches in width by 51 and 1/4 inches in length with a maximum thickness of six inches.

Purchase only mattresses that meets those requirements for your child's safety. 

These mattresses can only be used in a crib and are usually the cheapest of the mattresses being that they will only last until the child is two or three years old and outgrows their crib.
As long as your mattress fits the required measurements, your focus should be that it fits a regular crib snugly without any gaps between the mattress and the edges of the crib. 
 

This is one of the most popular cribs purchased by parents expecting a young one as it has the ability to convert into a drop down toddler bed and some even to a regular child bed as well. This is a most expensive option but is cost-effective in the long run since the bed will last for many years. Generally, these mattresses fitting a convertible crib are larger in size for your baby and quite durable. They are a bit more costly but as stated before, they will save money in the long run. 

For parents looking for a unique crib style and mattress size, oval or round cribs seem to be a great option. Most of the times these go in the center of the nursery instead of against the wall and are smaller in size than regular cribs or convertible cribs. The oval mattress should fit snugly against all of the sides of the crib to avoid gaps that the babies arms or hands my slip through. 

Generally used for travel or quick trips, portable cribs have mattresses that are usually very thin and lightweight. Make sure that even these thin, lightweight mattresses are firm and respond quickly to the touch to ensure your baby is safe even in a temporary situation. These mattresses are the most inexpensive of the bunch but are not to be used for any serious length of time for your young child as they are not durable and generally not as safe as the other options. 

A crib wedge works by lifting up the top sheet and placing a triangular wedge under the top sheet so that the child is not obstructed by an extra item in the crib. The wedge helps many children as the baby sleeps elevated so there is less irritation that may interfere with their sleep. This is a great tool for parents who have children that deal with acid reflux as it helps to alleviate many of the symptoms associated with this and can create a more comfortable sleep for your baby. 

There are many options out there as to what you may choose for a mattress for your young child, and no answer is perfect. You need to find what is right for your child, your family, and your budget when it comes to these choices. Focus on safety more than comfort and focus on durability rather than style. You want your mattress to last a long time and you want your dollar to stretch when it comes to your bedding options.
Remember, firmer is always better and to keep no gaps between the mattress and the edges of your crib.
Keep these things in mind and your baby will sleep safely and soundly.