What Is The Best Crib Mattress
Which Is The Best Crib Mattress
All the information you need to choose the best Crib mattress for your baby
Size
The current recommended EU Standard is that there should not be more than a 3 cm gap between the crib bars and the side of the mattress. This is to ensure that an arm or leg does not get trapped.
Comfortable Supportive and Durable
Foam
The majority of crib mattress are made from a thin layer of foam 3 or 4 cm and a polyester cover the foam will be the minimum needed to pass the British Standard. As your baby will weigh on average between 8 and 16 lbs during the time it is in the crib mattress these mattresses will be adequate.and will be OK for one use only
There are available 5 cm deep crib mattresses made for a heavier duty foam that give much better support and this mattress will last for several babies.
Foam and Pocket Springs
These crib mattresses offer the ultimate in support comfort and durability and will probably last as long as the crib. Are they over spec for the job in hand? Well put one of these 5 cm deep pocket sprung or heavier duty foam crib mattresses next to a basic foam crib mattress, press down on it and ask the question which one do i want my baby to sleep on?
The phrase of the future will be Re-use and Recycle and the crib and the mattress will both tick this box.
Fibre Instead of foam
Fibre has an advantage over foam that it is not so hot, does not have a petroleum smell, more breathable and made from recycled plastic bottles and cheaper.
Normal fibre is cheaper than foam, but it is not as comfortable, or as durable as foam and does not give the support of foam.
There is however a new heavy density (HD) fibre. This HD fibre has all the excellent features and benefits of basic fibre and it will give good support and be durable. While it might be better for your baby and the environment, there is no cost saving. High density fibre is similar price as top quality foam. it needs a top layer of lambswool to add comfort to durability. At the end of the day quality costs more.
Natural Coir and Lambswool
Generally speaking quality coir with a good depth of lambswool will be as supportive and durable as a good quality pocket spring crib mattress. The comfort will be dependent on the type and depth of lambswool used. Of course you are helping the environment with a natural mattress, sustainable purchase, easily biodegradable. foam free and not a petro-chemical product.
Easy To Keep Clean, Hygienic, Waterproof Protection, Breathable.
This is the responsibility of the covers. Choose machine washable breathable covers where the waterproof protection is under the cover and over the mattress core.and perhaps a spare cover (one for the wash).
Here is an example of how this can be done :- The Easychange® mattress has a waterproof cover to fully protect the mattress. This cover has a perimeter zip that takes toppers. The toppers hold a considerable amount of air and are fully breathable and offer temperature control.
So along comes the untimely night-time accident, unzip the topper, if necessary wipe the crib mattress protective base cover and zip on the clean topper, pop the soiled one in the wash, easy!
If you buy a crib mattress with no built in waterproof protection you will need to buy a waterproof protector
if you put the waterproof cover over the crib mattress cover, your baby will be lying on a non or partially breathable cover. Consider siting a protective cover under a breathable mattress cover for maximum breathability
Natural cotton covers for natural coir crib mattresses
Cotton covers are supplied with many coir and lambswool natural crib mattresses, but they are not waterproof.
If you want a fully waterproof mattress you have to get some form of non-natural cover. There is a fabric called Outlux, fully waterproof, 93% natural, but not totally breathable.
There is a compromise; consider "The Easychange® Cover System" over your natural crib mattress core.