Selecting A Safe Crib Mattress For Your New Baby Room

If you’re in baby-preparation mode, you’ve likely got a thick file of considerations on your baby to do list. Hopefully high on your list is how to find a safe crib mattress for your baby’s first sleep at home.

Choosing a safe crib and mattress is of utmost importance when thinking about how to protect your baby from things like SIDs and suffocation. Above all, you should remember that any crib you buy should be sturdy and safe. The most important consideration is the year the crib was manufactured.

According to safety standards set by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), all cribs made after 1990 should be safe for your baby. If you’re considering purchasing a used crib manufactured prior to 1990, think again. That bargain may seem cheap now, but it may not be safe for your baby. That’s because those made before 1990 cause 9,300 injuries and 50 deaths every year even today.

A safe crib will also be one that is well-designed and in good condition.

• Look for a crib that has slats no more than the width of a soda can so that the baby can’t slide through or get stuck. Likewise with decorative cutouts on the crib’s headboard and footboard.
• The corner posts on the crib should not extend more than 1/16 of an inch in order to prevent snagging of clothing.
• Additionally, look for a crib that has all of its screws, joints, and brackets in place, and all fitting snuggly.

Now let’s also consider how to purchase a safe crib mattress. Here are some things to look for:

• Your crib mattress should fit tightly in the crib. A good test: make sure that you can’t fit two fingers between the crib side and the edge of the mattress.
• Choose a high-quality mattress that will keep its shape for a long time. A sagging, malformed mattress may leave room for a baby’s arm or head to get stuck between the mattress and the crib. So choose either an inner spring mattress with 150 coils or more or a foam mattress (natural latex being the preferred choice, of course) that measures 1.5 pound per cubic foot or more.
• Again, remember that a secondhand mattress isn’t always the best investment. If it doesn’t fit your crib properly or is too well worn, look for something else.