How to Choose the Right Crib Mattress for Your Baby

New parenthood is a magical time, and many are determined to get their baby the best of everything. With resources like the internet available, as well as word of mouth from experienced parents, worried parents can set their minds at ease by doing their due diligence on various items for baby and nursery, such as crib mattresses. Here are some tips on how to choose the right crib mattress for your baby.

Environmentally Friendly and Organic Crib Mattresses

Many parents are going green, and with an eye to lowering their carbon footprint and a need to keep toxins and harmful chemicals away from their newborns, eco-friendly organic crib mattresses are gaining in popularity.

Some of the benefits of organic crib mattresses are:

The Right Crib Mattress to Prevent SIDS

One of a new parent’s worst nightmares is the thought of losing their baby to SIDS. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is a terrifying prospect because no one is exactly sure yet what causes it or how to completely prevent it. However, there are some actions Mom and Dad can take to ensure that their child has a safe bed.

Creating A Soothing Environment for Your Baby

Creating a soothing environment for your baby is an absolute must, and a well executed ‘serenity strategy’ can save your baby (and you) a lot of aggravation in the months and years of his or her development.  Check to see if any of these sensory stimuli are impacting your baby’s comfort levels: 

Visual

Babies eyes are very sensitive to light and patterns.  What might seem normal to an adult could be jarring or unpleasant to an infant.  A few things to keep in mind:

Cribs are by far the most dangerous item in the nursery, causing the highest rate of child injury.  Knowing where (and where not) to put the crib will make a huge difference in the safety and well-being of your child.

Where to Put The Crib

The first few things you should consider are:

Get the right crib mattress for your standard crib. A wrong crib mattress can easily cause your infant to suffocate! Read below for the standard crib mattress sizes and an easy to follow summary at the end...

Standard Size Crib Mattress

You’ll be hard pressed to find a crib mattress that won’t fit a standard crib size, but manufacturers do vary on the length and width of the actual mattress. Be very clear on the following lengths and widths.

The length and width of your crib mattress must be:

Parents are 100% at fault if they do not do basic research before placing their child in an unsafe environment. There are two parts to crib safety:

1. Eliminating the loose articles in the crib
2. ensuring your crib is built with a solid set of safety rules

Follow these guidelines and you'll ensure you'll have a safe place for your baby to sleep each night...

1. Eliminate Loose Articles in the Crib

Follow these rules or risk endangering your child:

Many parents overlook these four dangerous aspects of buying a new crib mattress. The crib is the only place that you'll leave your baby unattended, so you have to be extra-confident your baby will not suffocate.

Important things to watch out for are mattress firmness, plastic coverings, unseen dangers, and sleeping position. Read on for more details...

Most new parents are not aware that some crib mattress manufacturers use dangerous chemicals. Here are five dangerous chemicals you must look out for when shopping for a crib mattress:

• BPA aka Bisphenol A
• Phthalates
• PFOA – Perfluorooctanoic acid aka C8
• Formaldehyde
• PBDEs – Polybrominated diphenyl ethers

Read more to find out where these chemicals are hiding in your baby's crib mattress...