What to Consider When Buying a Crib Mattress

Foam or Spring?

Either is a good choice. Foam is now a much safer and more comfortable choice than it was in years past when the foam would dry up and get brittle. Foam mattresses are lighter than innerspring mattresses and aren't nearly as bouncy, so when that baby turns into a toddler, a foam mattress won't offer as much in the way of jumping entertainment.

As for innerspring mattresses, don't worry about the number of coils; really it doesn't matter. Do, however, look for border rods. According to the Expectant Mothers Guide, "The better innerspring unit is almost always the innerspring with the most amount of steel, of which coil count is only one small factor. The largest pieces of steel in an innerspring mattress are border rods which circle the top and bottom of the mattress along the edges of the mattress. Border rods provide extra edge support and... keep it from sagging."

Make sure your baby's crib mattress is very firm. Firmer than you would like yourself. You do not want to place your baby on a mattress that has any kind of pad on the top or conforms in anyway to his body. When a baby is first born, they cannot lift their heads on demand and if the baby's head is surrounded by "pillow top," there is a good chance he could smother. This is also important if you are choosing to co-sleep with your baby. Take mattress pads or feather beds off the bed. When you push on the mattress, it should snap back quickly. If it looks comfortable enough for you, then it is too soft for your baby.

According the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission, all full-size crib mattresses should by law be "at least 27 1/4 inches by 51 5/8 inches and no more than six inches thick." If you can fit two fingers or more in between the mattress and the side of your crib, then it is too small and your baby could become entrapped underneath it, or between the crib rail and the mattress. Fit your selected mattress to your chosen crib before buying either.

Ask the mattress retailer for a list of all of the layers and materials used inside the mattress. Also, find out what, if any, preservatives or chemicals (like fire retardants) have been sprayed on the mattress.