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With your baby
spending a lot of time sleeping on his or her crib mattress and using the
mattress until about the age of 3, a good quality mattress not only makes your
baby more comfortable, it more importantly provides the proper support for
growing bones.
Types
of Mattresses:
Foam:
-
Made
of polyether or polyester
-
Weighs
less than innerspring mattresses (makes changing sheets easy)
-
Usually
do not last as long as an innerspring mattress
-
Usually
do not keep their shape as long as an innerspring mattress
-
Are
sometimes less expensive that innerspring mattresses
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Key
to a quality foam mattress:
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The
higher the density of the foam the better
-
Thicker
foam does not mean better; be sure the foam is denser.
-
The
denser the foam means more support and more firmness.
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Innerspring
mattresses:
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Usually
last longer and keep their shape longer than foam baby crib
mattresses
-
Heavier
than foam mattresses
-
Usually
more expensive than foam mattresses
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Key to a
quality innerspring mattress:
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The
innerspring unit should have a high number of coils or springs,
usually 150 or more. The
higher the count of springs results in a firmer mattress.
The firmer the mattress the better.
-
The
mattress should have an edge rod to prolong the life of the edges
and mattress.
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The
mattress cover or “ticking” should have multiple layers
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Features
to look for when buying a mattress:
-
If
considering a foam mattress, make sure the foam is very dense to
provide the best support for your baby.
-
If
considering an innerspring mattress, make sure of a high coil count,
which makes the mattress firmer.
-
Keep
in mind firm is best! (Unless your doctor tells you differently)
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Be
sure the mattress is fire-retardant.
While the major manufacturers make all current mattresses on
the market fire-retardant, old secondhand mattresses may not be.
This is a good reason to always purchase a new mattress and
not buy one used or secondhand.
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Be
sure the mattress is the right size.
While most standard cribs measure 51 5/8 x 271/4 inches and
almost all mattresses are a standard size, older cribs may be a
different size. You
should not be able to put more than two fingers in between the edge
of the crib and the crib mattress.
-
The
more vents on the side of the mattress the better.
These vents will keep the mattress smelling fresh by venting
out odors.
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As
a final Note
Always
send in your product registration card. This
is how you will be notified in case of a recall.
Other
Helpful Buying Guides:
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