A crib is a symbol of one of life’s most beautiful blessings. Having a baby is a beautiful time for expecting parents, and it can be one of the most challenging experiences, too. When you’re ready to set up a pleasant sleeping environment for your baby, the first thing parents usually ask is what size is a crib mattress?
For the first few months of a baby’s life, your baby will need the comfort and security of a crib. He or she will be spending most of the time asleep – a normal part of a baby growing up. That is why it is important to get the right crib or baby bed for your little one so he or she can have a good sleep.
Finding The Right Crib Mattress Size For Your Baby
If you are wondering what size is a crib mattress, it should be between 3 and 6-inches thick. When you’re choosing a mattress for your infant, you will need to find one firm, made of lightweight materials, and high in density. Always remember these thickness guidelines.
It should be thick enough to provide support and comfort for a sleeping baby but not too thick that it may allow your baby to crawl out of the crib.
Find a mattress that is between 3 and 6-inches thick. The standard mattress being sold is usually a little less than 52 x 28-inches in length and width. This size fits the common crib. As long as the mattress you bought fits the crib that you have, that should be just about right.
What’s The Difference Between A Toddler’s Bed And A Baby’s Bed?
So what size is a crib mattress for toddlers? Crib mattresses are actually the same size as toddler mattresses. They can have the same thickness and crib measurements. But there are a few differences between a toddler’s bed and an infant’s bed:
- A crib is enclosed while a toddler’s bed is not. If you’re looking for the right type of mattress for a toddler, the 3 to 6-inch measurement is still a good guide to follow.
- Another difference is that baby cribs do not have sheets and pillows that may be unsafe for the baby. Toddler beds can have small pillows and comforters.
This makes it easy for parents to convert a baby’s crib into a toddler’s bed while they transition from rolling to crawling and walking. They can still fit the same size mattress until they grow out of it.
Choosing A Crib Mattress: Safety Concerns
An expecting parent should be prepared to spend a lot of their time in the nursery. Parents should also be well prepared as a crib should also be a safe place for the baby. Choosing a crib and knowing what size is a crib mattress are the first steps. These are factors and types you should consider when it comes to the safety of a mattress:
- Firm Foam Mattresses – A mattress should be firm, as mentioned earlier – 3 to 6-inches thick. By making sure it is firm, it will reduce the risk of suffocation and at the same time provide stable support for a sleeping or crawling baby. Do not mistake the firmness of a mattress as quality. It does soften up later on, but a quality mattress will stay firm over several years of use. For infants, the firmer the mattress, the better. On the other hand, toddlers would appreciate a softer bed, but a firm foam is still a good transition piece.
- Innerspring or Coil Crib Mattresses – This traditional mattress has steel coils inside that make it sturdy. Above the coils are layers of cushioning materials like cotton, polyester, or foam. Over time, if the cover and layer material are both not made of good quality, they may lead to exposed coils. It is also heavier than a foam mattress.
How To Check For Firmness?
As a parent, you want to make sure that the mattress is safe for your baby. To test for firmness, push down on the crib mattress with your hand. You can use your body weight on the mattress if you want to be sure. Push down for a good few seconds and let go.
If the mattress immediately springs back into place when you pull your hand away, you can tell if it’s firm enough. You can measure the time it takes for a foam to spring back, too. Some foam may return to its original faster than others.
Other Things To Know About
Aside from firmness, you should also check for the following when buying crib mattresses:
- Breathability. – The mattress should be made of breathable material. Usually, sheets aren’t placed over the foam for infants. Checking if the material is breathable can lessen the risk of suffocation.
- Water-resistant. – Mattresses will get friendly with a lot of stains and spills. The mattress should be water-proof and mold-resistant.
- Fit. – You should not be able to fit more than two fingers between the crib and the mattress. There shouldn’t be any space between the mattress and the crib frame to minimize the risk of injury inside the crib.
- Baby-safe Materials. – Your mattress should also be free of harmful chemicals.
Conclusion
Knowing what size is a crib mattress to look for and how to make sure it’s safe for your baby will require a lot of thought and foresight. You’ll want to make sure you cover everything that is essential. The baby will spend a lot of its time sleeping on the mattress, and while you’re away from busy preparing milk or taking a nap, you want to make sure your baby is safe in the mattress you have chosen. We hope this article has helped you in your hunt for the mattress. Always remember to test for firmness! Get more tips on cribs.