How To Choose The Best Baby Crib Mattress
| Dream On Me, 2-In-1 Breathable Two-Sided 3" Portable Crib Mattress, White | Milliard Mini-Crib Memory Foam Mattress Topper | Dream On Me 3" Playard Mattress, White | Milliard 2-Inch Ventilated Memory Foam Crib/Toddler Bed Mattress Topper | Dream On Me Spring Crib and Toddler Bed Mattress, Twilight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Item Weight | 3.5 pounds | 3 pounds | 3.5 pounds | 5.45 pounds | 10.55 pounds |
| Product Dimensions | 38 x 24 x 3 inches | 38 x 24 x 2 inches | 38 x 26 x 3 inches | 17 x 9 x 8 inches | 51.5 x 27.5 x 5 inches |
| Material Type | Foam | Memory_foam | Vinyl Cover | Foam | Vinyl |
| Style | Breathable fabric and Vinyl cover | Fits perfectly into portable cribs | Vinyl Cover | Fits perfectly into portable cribs | Vinyl cover |
 | | | | |
Your babies crib is the first bed your child will ever know. It is also often a parents first big baby purchase. Let’s take a look at some of the things expectant parents should look out for when deciding which crib is right for their child.
Mattresses
Second only to safety, the mattress is the most important part of any crib.
When buying a crib mattress you need to ensure that you get one that is as firm as possible. Due to safety concerns, infants need a mattress that is much firmer than what would normally be an adult’s preference. Don’t worry if you think it is too firm because your child will be get used to it in no time at all.
What’s The Best Baby Crib Mattress?
Crib mattresses come in two main kinds, innerspring mattresses, and foam mattresses.
Innerspring mattresses are the same kind of mattresses that most of us have in our beds. Steel springs are coiled inside the mattress that are covered by a soft cushioning layer to provide comfort. Try and get one that is firm, but with plentiful and soft padding. These are usually the most comfortable for your child, but are highly durable and safe too.
Foam mattresses are slightly less durable than innerspring crib mattresses. They are generally 4 to 5 inches thick and are made from dense foam (never use memory foam). The main thing you need to consider when getting a foam crib mattress is ensuring that it is not too soft. If it is too soft, it can start to warp under the weight of your child and potentially cause suffocation or sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Great Or Gimmick? Our Crib Mattresses Review
There are many different features that manufactuerers claim to be essential, but are they backed up by research?
Organic mattresses are a niche kind of crib mattress that are gaining popularity year upon year. They can be found as innerspring or foam variations. Some people believe that the chemicals and compounds that go into making the vast majority of nonorganic mattresses can be harmful to an infant. As such organic crib mattresses are free from artificial chemicals, and are made from materials like cotton, wool, and other natural fibers.
Research in the scientific community is being conducted on the potential risks associated with using nonorganic materials, and to date, there is little evidence supporting the need for organic mattresses.
But some parents would rather be safe than sorry.
Breathable mattresses are another new trend that have recently emerged. The idea behind them is to protect an infant from suffocation by enabling them to breathe through the mattress if the worst happens and they become trapped. Despite the manufacturers bold claims, we are yet to hear from independent researchers if they are actually effective in reducing infant mortality rates.
Also, while researchers are not 100% sure, there seems to be a correlation between the use of a second-hand crib mattress and SIDS. While not a scientific fact, there is cause for concern and most researchers recommend parents avoid second hand mattresses until conclusive studies have been conducted.
Additional Features To Look For In The Best Crib Mattress
Ventilation holes in the side of a mattress are an often overlooked feature that will vastly improve the odor of any crib. Diapers leak and babies are messy little creatures, the ventilation holes on the side of the mattress ensure it stays fresher for longer.
Some of the best cribs have covering (aka ticking) that is water resistant, but some of the cheaper ones are not. Water resistance is almost essential due to the inevitable little liquid accidents that will happen when your child is young. But you do not need to have the waterproofing built into the mattress, you can buy a waterproof cover which will do the job just as well.
Shape And Size
Ensuring that you get the right sized crib is paramount to your child’s safety. The most important thing with regards to sizing is to ensure that your crib and mattress fit each other perfectly. Any gaps between the frame of the crib and the mattress are highly dangerous. Infants can get trapped in them with potentially fatal consequences.
To ensure your child has enough room to grow we recommend you get a crib that is at least 52 inches long and 28 inches wide. A crib that is smaller than this can mean your child outgrows the crib before it is ready to move into a real bed.
If you are living in a compact environment there are several kinds of space saver crib that are a great alternative to getting a small baby crib that might be outgrown quickly. These space saver cribs can be folded and collapsed easily when not in use to provide you with more room for other activities.
While many people like to stick with a traditional rectangular crib, there are many other inventive shapes and sizes on the market. Round baby cribs have soared in popularity in recent years and are an attractive change from the norm. Remember that your mattress choices will be limited by a unique shape like this. You will almost always have to purchase the mattress from the manufacturer of the crib.
Safety
Ensuring your crib is stable and safe is obviously the most important thing you need to consider. Everything else comes second to your child’s wellbeing and safety. Once your crib has been assembled, give it a rigorous test. Push it, pull it, shake it, wiggle it, and move it in every single way you possibly can. If you hear any rattling, or noises, or notice any wobbling or warping then you might have assembled the crib incorrectly. Ensure it is stable before putting your child in it, the best baby crib is a safe crib.
Dropsided cribs are highly dangerous, but they used to be one of the most popular styles of crib on the market. Now they are banned. If a child accidentally activates the lowering mechanism they can potentially suffocate by being trapped in-between the bars. You can still buy second hand dropsided cribs, but do not be tempted. They can be lethal.
Just like second hand cirb mattresses, second-hand cribs themselves are also advised against, especially if they are older. It is very difficult to ascertain if they have been damaged and are still safe to use. Many older cribs can also contain harmful chemicals like lead based paint or can have dangerous design flaws that were not considered dangerous when they were first produced.
Best Baby Crib for you
| DaVinci Kalani 4-In-1 Convertible Crib | Stork Craft Valentia Convertible Crib | DaVinci Jenny Lind Stationary Crib | Union 3-in-1 Convertible Crib | Graco Benton Convertible Crib | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Item Weight | 56 pounds | 79.4 pounds | 37 pounds | 36.6 pounds | 50 pounds |
| Product Dimensions | 54.5 x 34.5 x 42 inches | 29.5 x 60.8 x 50.5 inches | 54.6 x 30.4 x 41.1 inches | 53.5 x 30.5 x 33.5 inches | 56.7 x 29.8 x 42 inches |
| Material Type | Wood | Wood, cherry | Wood, cherry | Wood | Wood |
| Additional product features | Sustainable materials | Convertible | Sustainable materials | Convertible | Convertible |
| | | | |
Special Crib for Your Baby: Da Vinci Kalani
You know what they say, the older it is, the better it will become. This is quite true for Kalani. I’m impressed by how it’s able to cope up with the times. It’s now a better baby crib than it was ever before.
If you’re after tweaking your cribs here and there, this just takes the cake. It comes with a height adjustment modification allowing your baby to find an upmost comfortable sleeping position. It makes it one of the best cribs.
I understand why it has a Greenguard Certification along with other awards. This is a small baby crib and my baby loves it, we love it. The price is pretty reasonable, too! Overall, pretty amazing brand with commendable baby crib product.
Stork Craft Valentia Review:
Design wise, this already takes the cake away. It look pretty in its solid wood construction. For some reason, we can’t take our eyes off this baby crib product.
When we’re looking at cribs, we’re sure to look at our baby’s safety. This doesn’t only meet the safety standard – it exceeds 8it as well! You can always expect something neat from Valentina’s baby crib products.
If you don’t have to spend on a toddler bed as well. This automatically shifts from your regular infant bed to a toddler bed right away. The best part? You can make this a regular bed, too! It’s definitely a recommended small baby crib.
DaVinci Jenny Lind Review:
Honestly, when it comes accessibility, this is probably the best baby crib we’ve had. It’s true though, that its style of slats are quite unique. Fair enough, this baby crib product the nursery room a bit livelier.
The entire crib is from a pretty neat wood construction. More than anything else, it has snagged a couple of awards. What got us the most is its medium-height profile, I’ve seen a lot of cribs. Like, small baby cribs and round baby cribs. But this baby crib product is the best.
You’re in control, this has 4-level mattress which makes a good impression on your baby. It lets save on time, money, and effort on finding some other half-baked cribs in the market.
Union 3-in-1 Convertible Crib Review:
There’s one thing we can derive from experiencing this one. It’s a complete hassle-free experience in assembling. There are times where it takes us an hour just to figure out how everything is done.
With this one, you’ll need a bit of your time. Apparently the rumors are true. This is a great baby crib product for making everything quick and easy.
Just by looking at it, you can tell that it’s pretty durable. I even like how the makers were kind enough to make it non-toxic.
You’re able to control with this baby crib product up to 4 levels of height. You can’t go wrong with this one. Be sure to partner it up with the best baby crib mattress.
Graco Benton 4-in-1 Convertible Crib Review:
In particular, this doesn’t cost much. It’s pretty great to have a crib which is budget-friendly and is of good quality. The construction is just the way I like it, a solid wood material. It’s one of the best cribs out there.
I don’t know how they do it, but it seems the government has taken a liking to this one as well. It has met the standards of ATSM, JPMBA, and many more. It’s a known baby crib product.
Also, the veneer that it comes with is nice. It gives you a better picture of the crib. Little details count, as usual. This one’s pretty easy to reach out to your baby. The best part of this baby crib product is that it keeps your baby safe as well.
Conclusion
Putting the effort in to find the perfect crib for your child is time well spent. Remember that a comfortable baby is a happy baby. And the more sleep your child gets, the more sleep you will get too.
In turn, if you are looking for the bassinets, I found a great list of best baby bassinets online. Hope that helps!