New parent are extra careful about picking new objects for their babies, and rightly so.
Although babies can sleep for a total of 15 to 16 hours in the day, their sleep remains fragmented until they are about 3 to 4 months old.
Thanks to their underdeveloped sense of night and day, most babies tend to sleep on and off around the clock.
Young babies have tiny stomachs which means that they need to wake up often to receive their share of breastmilk.
Because of sleep disruptions like these, babies require a mattress that is extra comfortable to lull them to sleep easily.
However, choosing the right mattress for your baby can be a tough task if you aren’t sure what you should be looking for.
We have therefore come up with a number of handy tips that will help ensure that the mattress you pick for your baby helps maintain a good sleep health.
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#01 The Right Size
According to the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, crib mattresses in the US must have a measurement of around 51 5/8 to 53 inches in length and 27 1/4 to 28 inches in width.
To minimize the risk of injury or suffocation while sleeping, parents must ensure that the crib mattress they are picking is of the right fit.
Most child sleep experts agree that the space between the mattress and the crib frame shouldn’t exceed more than that of two fingers or 3cm.
The right mattress size therefore ensure that your baby doesn’t get stuck around the empty space.
#02 Firmness is Important
Crib mattresses that are too soft can potentially increase the risk of suffocation and may even lead to fatal conditions like sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Make sure that the mattress you pick has a density upwards of 20 kg/m3to ensure the right firmness.
This is exactly the reason why young parents are cautioned from allowing their babies to be laid on adult mattresses or any other soft surfaces.
You may even opt for dual side mattresses that have varying firmness on either side considering the needs of a toddler as well that of an infant.
These “two-stage” mattresses can be safely flipped around once the baby crosses one year of age.
#03 Ensure Proper Breathability
The mattress you pick for your baby should ensure proper breathability and help prevent any heat trapping.
Invest in a mattress that not only help redistribute the body heat thoroughly but also helps combat signs of excessive perspiration.
While selecting mattresses that are free of any toxic chemicals, you can also opt for hypo-allergenic toppers that prevent the risk of allergic reactions.
#04 Pick the Best Mattress Material
With a plethora of different materials being used for mattresses, it is easy to get confused in the technicalities.
Let us therefore glance at some of the most favorable material for baby mattresses to ease the process of selecting a mattress.
While picking mattresses for adults to sleep on, we would recommend going through this comprehensive guide that will help you compare various mattresses and select the one that fits all your requirements.
- Foam: Foam mattresses for babies generally come with the right firmness and are easy to carry because of their light weight.
- Mattresses made of foam are good at adjusting to the body contour and also help provide the right amount of support.
- Foam mattresses are usually cheaper and easier to clean which makes them a good choice for young babies.
- Innerspring coil: Coil sprung mattresses are easily one of the most popular choices as far as baby mattresses are concerned, thanks to their supportive and long-lasting nature.
- Innerspring coil mattresses are known for their ability to distribute the weight evenly and provide better edge support.
- If you are willing to spend a few extra bucks, you can also opt for the pocket sprung mattress that contain separate pockets of springs which ensure increased durability and allow better movement during sleep.
- Coir: Moving towards more natural types of material used in baby mattresses, coir can be considered an excellent choice.
- The husk of coconuts used in the mattress’s inner layer ensures that any kind of moisture residue from spills or perspiration gets easily wicked away.
- The mattress comes with a top layer of latex that is durable and water-resistant.
- Cotton: Cotton mattress are lightweight and comfortable for babies because of their soft cotton padding and insides.
- While cotton mattresses do ensure proper heat distribution and breathability, they are prone to forming lumps which makes them a less favorable choice as far as durability is concerned.
- Aloe vera: These are your regular polyurethane foam mattresses enwrapped with a covering of hypoallergenic aloe leaf extract.
- The aloe vera layer doesn’t just fight against skin irritations but can also boost the health of the skin, thanks to its antimicrobial and antiseptic qualities.
Bottom line:
Getting an adequate amount of restful sleep is one of the most important requirements during the early years of a baby.
Picking a suitable mattress for your baby can be termed as one of the first step towards ensuring a good sleep health for your baby.
We hope that the points mentioned above help both the baby and the parents achieve a restful night of sleep.