The Complete Guide to Crib Mattresses

Decisions, decisions - where do I sleep my baby? Moses basket, crib, next-to-me crib, cot, or cot bed?

There's lots for new parents to think about. You'll be offered advice from all sorts of friends and family, midwives, and even more from the internet and AI!

All of these options have more positives than negatives, and the biggest factor is that your decision may be affected by your lifestyle and your purse. Let's investigate stand-alone cribs (different from next-to-me cribs).

The History of Swinging Cribs

Swinging cribs were all the rage until 2014, when the next-to-me crib was launched. The next-to-me crib ticked the boxes of having your baby in the same room as you for the recommended first 6 months - or you could move the swinging crib into the nursery and begin to get your baby used to sleeping alone.

Just a funny note about swinging cribs: when they were first made, there was no restriction on how much you could rock the cradle. One enthusiastic dad, rocking it with his foot, gave the cradle a bit more boot and the cradle flew round - and the baby fell out! He was fine (I mean the baby). The dad was distraught!

The British Standard was changed. Now, with the new design, you can only rock the cradle about 35° each way.

Mothercare sold hundreds of thousands of these. Many were stored in the loft after use, and they're appearing again for the next generations. They're lovely - why throw them away when all you need is a new mattress? And of course, they have all the sentimental value and a story to tell.

What to Look for in a Crib Mattress

You're looking for a crib mattress that offers: good support, excellent breathability, a welcoming comfortable cover that's washable, and somewhere in the design, waterproof protection so the wee doesn't get to the mattress core.

Beware: NOT "water resistant" - this is NOT the same as waterproof.

Avoid Marketing Fluff

When you search for a crib mattress, you'll get a lot of marketing blurb trying to sell you a mattress using flowery, meaningless phrases - like the overuse of "hypoallergenic".

Here's an example: "Constructed with high-quality, nursery-grade hypoallergenic foam. Reduces allergies, provides excellent support and pressure relief for your little one."

Just meaningless twaddle! The word "hypoallergenic" is not regulated - anyone can use it!

The Gap - Most Important

Let's look at one of the most important considerations: the gap between the side of the crib and the mattress. If you push the mattress to one side, you should not leave a gap larger than the width of your two fingers.

Please don't get paranoid about the gap because you want it tight to the edge all the way round (looks nicer). When you lie your baby down, they don't move for the first months. They're not going to get anything stuck in a 4cm gap, and you'll need to get your fingers down the side of the mattress to lift it out for maintenance.

Mattress Core Options

Your choice of crib mattress is about two components: the base or core, and the cover. Think about waterproof protection to the core and breathability.

Fibre

Fibre is cheap. Its plus points are that it's made from recycled plastic bottles and is slightly cooler than foam. That's where the advantages stop!

Fibre gives little support, has very poor recovery, and dips easily. It also attracts cheap covers to maintain a cheap price point. You won't find any investment in waterproof protection in cheap fibre mattresses. Some companies will embellish the name and call it "ECO fibre".

Foam

There are lots of different qualities of foam that affect the price. A good-quality foam mattress should state the weight of foam offered - something in the region of around 30 ILD. This will give firm support, comfort, and durability.

Don't be fooled by the generic term "Nursery Foam" - it means nothing. The foam could have poor quality of 20 ILD hidden by the term "Nursery Foam".

A good-quality base will generally attract a quality cover - perhaps a well-quilted microfibre, CoolMax, or bamboo - and hopefully a waterproof barrier. The cover will have a zip, be machine washable, and be 5cm deep.

Coir and Wool

If a company is manufacturing this product, price is not at the forefront of their mind. Their focus is on quality, comfort, safety, and durability. This natural mattress will have a firm, quality base with quality wool either side, held in with stockinette, then waterproof protection and a quality machine-washable cover.

Perhaps an opportunity to buy a spare cover for when the nappy fails at the normal inconvenient time. Look out for Outlux or Moulton fabric for a natural mattress.

Longevity

Cribs are in use for approximately 6 months - as soon as your baby can sit up, you have to move them to a cot.

A good-quality mattress will last years, and because it's washable, you can use it again and again. When you're done with it, you can loan it out or save it for the grandchildren. Lots come out of the loft with all the sentiment and a story to tell!