Crib mattress?

[I'm a red panda]

Any thoughts on how to decide which crib mattress to get?

They seem to range from like $30-$300....

I don't think I want the cheapest mattress available, and I certainly don't want the most expensive; but I assume they all meet a minimum safety standard, right?  So how do you choose?  Should I just try to hit a $100 price point, which seems reasonable-ish? Is that too expensive?

We are getting most things used, but a mattress seems like a good idea for a new purchase...

[little_brown_dog]

I think we paid about $100 for our serta crib mattress. Some people get all freaked out about "chemicals" in the mattresses and go all organic, but the only important mattress considerations regarding safety have to do with firmness and fit. All standard crib mattresses should be very firm and pallet like to reduce the risk of accidental suffocation during sleep. The mattress we bought has a very firm "infant" side and a slightly softer "toddler" side for when the child gets old enough to sleep on a softer mattress. We chose this one as our crib converts to a toddler bed. All you have to do is grab a mattress and press on it with your hand - it should have almost no give and feel more like a pallet than an actual mattress.

As for fit, it just has to be very snug next to the sides/bars of the crib, no gaps or shifting. Most mattresses are standard crib size and should work fine.

I would invest in a cheap, zip on waterproof cover (even the best diaper jobs sometimes leak at night). Forget the soft pillow top mattress covers...those can bunch under the sheets and kindof undo the safety intent of putting the baby on a very firm, smooth mattress.

[KCM5]

Apparently used mattresses are a SIDS risk, so good idea to buy used. I myself bought a used mattress without knowing this fun fact, so there's that. (Kid's fine!)

If you're concerned about off-gassing, buy it now and let it air out for a while.

Unfortunately, I can't help you with the price point. For the record, I don't think the baby is going to find one mattress more comfortable than another. They're supposed to be hard. Also, my toddler has never complained about the comfort of her mattress, so I'm going to say as long as you find it to be a firm, safe mattress, with a water proof cover, you're good to go as long as your kid will fit on the mattress.

[ForeignServiceWife]

We skipped the crib mattress and the crib. She slept in a pack n play or in our bed (there is lots of evidence to show that cosleeping can be done safely and we were comfortable with it). When it came time to move her to a big girl bed around 16 months, we bought a twin mattress and put it on the floor in her room. She loves it because she can get in and out of bed by herself. I'm a fan of floor beds for toddlers.

Just a perspective you might consider. We were glad we skipped the expense of the crib and mattress. But if you do decide to go with one, just get one with good reviews that is made to fit snugly in your crib. And I would say get two good quality waterproof mattress covers. One night, when you least expect it, stomach flu will hit and you will go through both of them in less than 45 minutes, then your baby will be sleeping on a towel on the mattress and throw up on that too. Then you'll spend the rest of the night both sleeping naked on a towel on the couch, until that gets puked on too.

I've looked, but so far I haven't been able to find a zip up, waterproof whole-interior-of-the-house cover.

[KCM5]

ForeignServiceWife does bring up a good point. Our kid has always had a queen size bed in her room. It's great for any middle of the night wake ups! Seriously, I think this is what allowed all of us to sleep at night. A twin would probably do it, but we had an extra queen that we just never moved out of her room.

She didn't sleep in the crib until she was 6 months - before that she slept in a rock n play sleeper by our bed (wouldn't sleep in the crib, rock n play was great). Then the crib by our bed until a year (with queen in the other room for the not on call parent, should the wake-ups be too much to handle at the time). Then the crib in her room for a year, then the queen bed until present (4 years old).

[I'm a red panda]

We plan on using a pack and play bassinet (or pediatrician strongly discourages rock and plays unless there is a medical need to have them not flat) in our room until she grows out of it; but if possible would have her nap in her room in a crib- so our room isn't "off limits" during the day, since it is where our bathroom is, and we are in and out of there all day.
  The baby room isn't big enough for a crib and even a twin size bed, it's one or the other.  Though we did originally try that so I wouldn't have to be on the floor if I'm staying in there over night :)  The crib actually converts to a toddler bed, and then a full size bed if we want.

We will definitely get mattress protectors!

[brycedoula]

We bought a crib & mattress from IKEA - specifically the VYSSA VINKA mattress for $89.99 CDN. Our daughter slept in both our bed & a wheeled bassinet for the first 3-4 months, and then we transitioned her to both napping & sleeping in her crib, in her own room.

To me, her mattress seems REALLY comfortable. Not too soft, but a much more comfortable sleep surface than the bassinet. We also have a playpen with the bassinet insert (acquired used for travelling purposes) - not as nice as the crib mattress but way nicer than the stand-alone wheeled bassinet.

Our crib (SUNDVIK crib, $169.99 CDN) converts to a toddler bed, so it will last us awhile - BUT the weight limit is 50lbs, so I'm not sure how long that will be (she is quite tall for her age).

Seconding what a previous poster said & get at least 2 mattress covers. You don't need your crib mattress getting ruined because of vomit or a leaky overnight diaper. We bought the LEN mattress protector from IKEA for $9.99 CDN, and it's definitely been $ well spent!

$100 new is likely a reasonable amount to spend, to answer your question. Unless it's really important to you to have organic cotton covering your mattress then you won't have to spend more than that.

[frugalfinancehippy]

Personally I'd splurge a bit on the mattress to avoid the flame retardant chemicals (ours was Naturepedic brand) and save on the crib. You could always start with a bassinet for the first few months too.

[jac941]

If I could do it all again, I would skip the crib entirely and just get a pack n play, no extra mattress. Both my kids liked the pack n play better and happily slept in it until they were big enough for a regular bed (2-3 yrs old). Neither of my kids were bothered by the small size - my son was longer than the thing and still wanted to sleep in it. Also the pack n play traveled with us so they truly had heir own bed when traveling.

I spent $200+ on the crib & mattress combo and $10 on a used pack n play. Guess what was used more.