Compare Crib Mattresses

Ensure crib mattresses fit snugly inside the crib to prevent entrapment hazards.

A baby's bedding is important to his health -- and comparing crib mattresses is the first step in ensuring his safety as he slumbers. Crib mattresses come in several different materials, sizes and depths. Some materials provide more cushion than others, and what's right for each baby depends on his parents, sleeping habits and special needs. As with all baby products, check for recalls through the Consumer Product Safety Commission before purchasing a crib mattress.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure

Instructions

1. Measure your crib. Crib mattresses should fill the crib with no more than a 1/2 inch of space left on any side, according to Heidi Murkoff, author of the "What to Expect" series. Additionally, crib mattresses should be no thicker than 6 inches.

2. Read the measurements on each crib mattress label to ensure it will fit into your crib.

3. Note the make and model of each mattress you consider. Check with the CPSC to ensure that no recalls have been issued for any models you have chosen. The CPSC publishes recall notices to alert parents that certain crib mattresses that may be hazardous to their children.

4. Press the palm of your hand into the center of the crib mattress. Determine whether it is excessively soft or excessively hard. Mattresses that provide too much cushion can pose a suffocation hazard to babies. Hard mattresses may cause discomfort. Feel for protruding springs, dips and sags in the mattress. These are possible health hazards that may also cause a baby discomfort.

5. Feel the mattress cover. If you are concerned about leaking diapers, bottles or other liquids, ensure the mattresses you consider have a waterproof cover. A good mattress cover fits snugly over the entire mattress with no pleats or wrinkles. Mattress covers that zip or button together at one end prevent bunching, which can be hazardous to babies.

6. Determine where the crib mattress was made. Countries outside the United States are not bound by the same safety regulations. U.S. crib mattress manufacturers are required to use fire-retardant chemicals, according to the CPSC. Manufacturers outside the U.S. may apply other chemicals that could be hazardous to a baby's health.

Tips & Warnings

• Never purchase a crib mattress that is on the CPSC's recall list. Crib mattresses are recalled because babies have been injured or endangered while using them, and the mattresses have been proven to create significant risk.

References

• What to Expect: "Crib Safety"; Heidi Murkoff
• Consumer Reports: "Crib Mattresses"; April 2007
• CPSC: Results for Crib Mattress
• CPSC: Standard for the Flammability (Open Flame) of Mattress Sets; Final Rule

Resources

• What to Expect: "Family Bed to Crib"; Heidi Murkoff