How to choose a mattress for a newborn? Dimensions and firmness of the mattress for a newborn

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

The appearance of a baby in the family completely changes its way of life and makes new parents look at many things differently. First of all, they are concerned about the comfort of the crumbs, for which they are ready to spend large sums of money, acquiring newborn items and clothes, widely advertised by television and friends. However, these things are not always the best, and the topic of choosing a mattress in a crib for a newborn raises especially many questions. This accessory is considered one of the most important acquisitions, because the baby in the first year of life will spend most of his time on it. Therefore, the purchase of this item must be taken with great responsibility and seriousness. Today we will talk in detail about how to choose a mattress for a newborn and what materials should be discarded in order to maintain the he alth of your crumbs.

A few words on the topic

Caring moms and dads want to buy the best mattress for a newborn, but often do not know what characteristics to focus on. In addition, they get lost in the recommendations received from relatives and friends. Grandmothers actively advocate for the baby to sleep on something soft and comfortable. Friends advise a lot of newfangled cocoon-type mattresses, the purpose of which is not always clear to parents. And they themselves simply cannot stop at something specific, having got into a children's store and listening to the comments of sales managers. In reality, asking yourself the question "how to choose a mattress for a newborn", you need to focus on just a few basic characteristics:

• size;
• degree of hardness;
• filler;
• price.

Other nuances can be considered as additional nuances: ventilation, orthopedics, hypoallergenicity and the presence of a mattress cover. All of these characteristics are decisive, so when buying a mattress, parents should compare them with each other. We will talk about these nuances in as much detail as possible so that readers can decide for themselves which mattress is best for a newborn.

Size range

The sizes of children's mattresses can be completely different, so before going to the store, be sure to measure the crib of the future crumbs. Don't think there is a single standard. Baby's sleeping placemay have at least four common sizes (cm):

• eighty one hundred and sixty;
• sixty one hundred and twenty;
• sixty-five one hundred and twenty-five;
• seventy one hundred and forty.

Any of the listed sizes of children's mattresses will be comfortable for the baby, but keep in mind that it should be approximately two centimeters smaller than the bed itself. In this case, it will be convenient for you to get the mattress out of the crib if necessary and change the mattress pad.

Some parents think it's okay to be a little bigger than a bed. However, this is an erroneous opinion, because if the mattress is larger than the bed itself, then it will sag, and the baby has every chance of earning a curvature of the spine. In addition, the baby will worry and sleep poorly, which means that rest of the family will not see peace either.

Don't choose a mattress much smaller than a crib. From the movements of the crumbs, he will fidget, and a curious child can stick his finger into the gaps and harm himself.

Hardness

When thinking about how to choose a mattress for a newborn, parents most often experience great difficulty in determining the necessary rigidity of the product. Grandmothers usually oppose rigid models and actively condemn their children, who are ready to put their beloved child on something solid. But experts in the field of pediatrics unanimously advocate the rigidity of the mattress for a newborn. Moreover, the baby, just born, should sleep on a harder bed.surface, after six to eight months, the crumbs can be transferred to a different mattress. But it should not be soft either, otherwise the child will have a lot of problems:

• down mattresses, which grandmothers advise, often become an excellent habitat for ticks that cause allergies;
• a newborn has a very soft skeleton and is distinguished by the absence of a muscular corset, so the soft surface causes scoliosis;
• there are known cases of strangulation of the crumbs with an overly soft mattress when turning over on the stomach.

The most comfortable mattress for a newborn is one that has medium firmness. This category includes some spring products, as well as latex and coconut mattresses. For newborns, combined models are also excellent, in which one side is slightly stiffer than the other. In this case, the mattress will serve you for several years. A quality product can last up to five to six years.

Choose filler

How to choose a mattress for a newborn? Naturally, it is necessary to carefully evaluate all possible fillers. This topic is the most difficult for parents to navigate, because manufacturers offer a large number of options.

The stores offer standard foam and felt models, expensive latex and coconut coir, as well as with polyurethane foam filler. This characteristic primarily affects the price of a mattress for a newborn. It can range from three to twenty thousand.rubles. And this is far from the limit. Therefore, a little later we will talk in more detail about the most popular fillers, describing their advantages and disadvantages, forming a kind of rating of mattresses for newborns.

Breathability of the mattress

In the store, be sure to ask the seller about the fabric used in the product. It should provide good ventilation, which ensures hygiene and prevents the development of harmful microorganisms.

Some manufacturers sew a special breathable mesh into the mattress. It performs its function perfectly and thus supports the fragile immunity of the crumbs.

Orthopedic products

Most adults prefer orthopedic mattress models. And this is not surprising, because they have a special design that allows the body to take the correct position and allows the muscles to completely relax. An adult suffering from a number of problems with the spine, no doubt, needs such products. But for newborns, an orthopedic mattress is useless.

The light weight of the crumbs absolutely does not involve the mechanism of the product, so in no case should you overpay for such a model. The orthopedic effect will not be noticeable until the age of four.

Therefore, if you do not plan to use a mattress for a newborn for so long, an orthopedic model is not worth buying. This choice is justified only in cases where parents plan not to change the mattress for as long as possible.

Questionhypoallergenic

Unfortunately, in today's world, allergies have become the most common disease even in the smallest children. Therefore, the mattress in the crib for newborns should first of all be as hypoallergenic as possible. Since the immune system of the crumbs in the first months of life is not yet formed and is subject to various influences, the choice of filler must be taken very seriously. In this case, coconut coir is considered the best filler among specialists.

Does a newborn need a mattress pad?

In the period of preparation for the birth of a baby, parents quite often forget about such trifles as a mattress pad. It seems to them that this accessory is not so important, and therefore does not belong to the category of necessary ones. But, in fact, this thing greatly facilitates the care of the mattress and prolongs its life.

Keep in mind that the mattress pad must be waterproof, non-absorbent, and antibacterial. In addition, it is desirable that the product be made from natural fabrics.

If all the described conditions are met, then you can always easily remove the mattress cover and wash it. This will keep the product unchanged for many years, because no childish surprises will be fatal for him.

Which mattress is best for a newborn: considering the pros and cons

Each model presented in children's stores has its own advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, we will talk about the most popularproducts and describe them. So, first of all, mattresses are divided into two categories:

• spring;
• springless.

Spring mattresses are not very favored by parents, especially products with dependent springs. They bend under the body of the crumbs and do not support it. This leads to a curvature of the spine and cannot provide the baby with a restful sleep. But mattresses with independent springs that work autonomously are quite suitable for newborns. They easily adapt to any position of the baby, support his spine and, moreover, do not make noise when the child begins to spin. But such mattresses also have significant drawbacks. They are quite voluminous and have a large height, so the grown-up baby may fall out, rising above the side of the crib. In some cases, negative effects on children due to the formation of magnetic fields have been observed.

Springless mattresses consist of several layers of filler interconnected. They can be completely natural or alternate with artificial layers. There are quite a lot of similar products on sale, so we will consider the most popular and popular:

1. Coconut filler.

This option is very popular with parents and experts agree with them. This material does not cause allergies and meets the required rigidity. At the same time, keep in mind that coconut coir must be impregnated with natural latex. Such a layer does not crumble and the product will last as long as possible. Do not be too lazy to read the quality certificate before buying a mattress, so youyou will be sure that the manufacturer used natural latex. There are quite a few advantages of such a product:

• hypoallergenic;
• good ventilation;
• baby-friendly firmness;
• does not absorb odors;
• does not rot and is not a habitat for mites and other harmful microorganisms.

Of the minuses, only the high cost of such mattresses can be noted. Depending on the manufacturer, it can exceed twenty thousand rubles.

2. Horse hair.

This natural filler is pressed and impregnated with latex. For mattresses, hair from the mane and tail of an animal is mainly used, which is considered identical in properties to coconut fiber.

Among the advantages of such mattresses for newborns, the following nuances are noted in the reviews:

• high hygroscopicity;
• elasticity, making the product strong and durable;
• orthopedic functions.

The disadvantages include the very high cost of such products. They belong to the elite category and are often sold in specialized stores. Horsehair mattresses can often cause allergies in an infant, so you should think twice before buying this model.

3. Latex mattresses.

Latex refers to natural materials and is made from the sap of the Hevea tree. In factories, it is foamed and a resilient and hypoallergenic material is obtained, which is often used in the production of bedroom accessories.

However, for newbornsa mattress made entirely of latex is not suitable due to insufficient rigidity. Therefore, for a baby, it is best to choose a model with a combined filler.

4. Products made of foam rubber and batting.

Such models are outdated and not recommended for babies. The listed materials are synthetic, they absorb all odors and liquids, and therefore, in the literal sense of the word, they are a breeding ground for harmful microorganisms. In addition, foam rubber is too soft for a fragile child's back, and batting has the ability to gather into lumps and turns sleep into a real torment.

Of the minor advantages of such mattresses, only their low cost and ease of transportation can be noted, since the product is easily twisted and bent.

5. Polyurethane foam.

This modern material is often used as a substitute for expensive latex. Polyurethane foam may not be too cheap, but it is more affordable than hevea foam. Mattresses with this synthetic filler have a number of advantages:

• strength;
• durability;
• no deformation even after prolonged use;
• do not crumble;
• easy to transport;
• suitable for middle-income shoppers.

It should be borne in mind that a mattress consisting only of polyurethane does not have sufficient rigidity for a baby. Therefore, parents should choose models with a combined filler. Coconut products proved to be the bestfiber and polyurethane.

Top Sellers

In order to make it easier for readers to navigate the products presented in children's stores, we have prepared the TOP 3 best mattresses suitable for newborns. The following list shows manufacturers and models in descending order of popularity:

1. Bottlenose Dolphin. This Russian company produces one of the best models of mattresses for babies - "Bayu-bay". This product has a combined filler that combines all the advantages of natural and artificial materials. The mattress can please with a removable cover, stitching of all internal layers and several sizes.
2. Italbaby Jolly Plus. If you prefer models of foreign manufacturers, then take a closer look at these Italian mattresses. They are made of polyurethane and combine all the main advantages of this high-tech material. Dust never accumulates in such products, ticks do not start, moreover, they dry very quickly and instantly restore their shape. The only drawback is the price of the mattress, Italbaby Jolly Plus cannot cost less than six thousand rubles.
3. Lapsi Cocolatex Lux. The mattresses of the German company belong to the premium category and consist only of natural materials. Only natural latex and coconut fiber are used as an interlayer. The mattress cover is always made removable, and its material consists of various natural fibers, providing durability and hypoallergenicity of the product. It is worth considering thatThis model is quite expensive and not affordable for many parents. In addition, the size of the mattress is not suitable for all cribs.

Some tips for caring for baby mattresses

We hope that you have already decided on the choice of product, but even the most expensive and high-quality model requires some care. A child's mattress should be aired regularly and vacuumed once a month. It quite often accumulates dust flying around the room and settling on bedding. In the future, it can cause allergies in crumbs.

To ventilate the mattress, it is best to leave it outside all day. However, in the case of a newborn, this will be quite difficult, because the baby sleeps a lot. Therefore, a children's mattress should be aired for at least two to three hours.