Mattress for newborn

The birth of a baby is a joy for most parents. And in order for the baby to grow up healthy and for his skeleton to develop correctly, you need to know how to choose a mattress, the composition and quality of which determines whether the child will sleep sweetly or his sleep will turn into a nightmare not only for him, but also for his parents.

How to Choose the Best Mattress for a Newborn

When choosing, it is necessary to be guided by a number of nuances that are of no small importance for the comfort and convenience of the baby. The determining ones among them are the material included in the filler, the size of the product and the presence of an orthopedic effect.

1. When choosing a mattress for a newborn, many parents believe that it should exactly match the dimensions of the cradle. However, in this case, it will be inconvenient to place it on the bottom of the crib. It will be optimal if the length and width are 1-2 cm less than the bed.

   

2. As for fillers, they are quite diverse, and you need to familiarize yourself with the advantages and disadvantages of each.

   

3. The orthopedic effect may be important if the crib is to be used for several years. When the cradle is purchased only for the infancy period, this parameter does not play a significant role, unless indicated by doctors.

   

Types of mattresses for newborns

The variety of products for babies may not always please buyers: it is very easy to drown in this “sea”, especially since their abundance is not always a guarantee of quality. In order not to make a mistake with the choice, you need to know what types of products are presented on the market. Among them:

• spring;

  

• springless;

  

• double-sided;

  

• cocoon mattresses;
• for a stroller;
• for bathing.

Each of them has its own characteristics, depending on the filler.

Which mattress is better for a newborn: with or without springs

There are many options for choosing a mattress, and choosing the best one is not so easy. One of the questions that arise when buying is which mattress is better for a newborn, with springs or without them. Both types can be found on sale, and for the comfort of the newborn, who will spend a sufficient amount of time in the crib on it, it is important to know about the features, their positive properties and disadvantages.

Many parents believe that the mattress should be soft, like a cozy "nest", so that the baby feels warm and cozy on it. This is their main misconception, since too soft a bed conceals dangers for the baby's not yet formed bone tissue. Sleeping and waking on it can lead to curvature of the spine.

But even a hard spring mattress is not always able to live up to expectations if it has a certain spring connection pattern, which can lead to it sagging even from a small child’s weight.

Spring mattresses for newborns

This type of product has its own design features that directly affect the level of comfort. Two types are available for sale: with dependent and independent spring blocks.

The first ones are connected to each other, and under the weight of the body they bend and compress not only themselves, but also deform the springs located nearby, which leads to the subsidence of the structure and deformation of the spinal joints in the baby.

Independent blocks provide a flat surface, and if one of the elements is pressed through, the others remain intact and safe.

Spring products are thick and heavy: for some this is a plus, for others it is a minus.

Springless mattresses for newborns

The "family" of this type of product is diverse: various types of materials and fillers are used for production, providing different degrees of rigidity. How to choose a mattress for a newborn, because this includes all products with the composition already listed in the table.

It is especially worth mentioning about double-sided mattresses. They are lightweight and have different degrees of hardness, so if desired, it can be varied, which in certain situations will be very useful.

They use combinations of spring blocks, polyurethane foam, coconut fiber, latex. They can be used in different seasons: in hot weather, the harder side is more appropriate, in winter - the one that is softer and warmer. In addition, the combination increases their service life.

Orthopedic mattress for newborns

A newborn baby, as experts believe, does not need this type of mattress: a hard surface that will not allow the spine to bend is important for him. But it will take a little time, and orthopedics will have to be remembered.

Mattresses with coconut flakes filling are considered the most suitable for babies. It has high performance characteristics:

• does not rot;
• not susceptible to allergic reactions;
• has antimicrobial properties;
• strong and durable.

Its main advantage is rigidity and elasticity, due to the use of natural latex impregnation, which together contributes to the correct formation of the spine.

The coconut mattress is considered ideal in orthopedics, but it is very expensive.

Bathing mattress for newborns

The appearance of a baby in the house brings many additional troubles, most of which are pleasant. However, caring for a baby requires caution, since the delicate skin and its fragile bones are exposed to great danger during various procedures, including bathing.

To avoid harm to health and to avoid accidentally dropping it from your hands, it is recommended to use a special mattress.

It is made of non-woven hypoallergenic materials and filled with polystyrene balls, which allows it to take the shape of the child's body, and the baby to lie freely on the water. At the same time, his arms and legs are free. In this position, water procedures are convenient.

However, partial immersion in water can cause discomfort for the newborn: it is easy for him to get cold, so the body will need to be doused with warm water.

Cocoon mattress for newborns

The variety of mattresses offered by the market is great, and the opinion of pediatricians and their recommendations are not the least important in their choice. Most of them advise buying a hard mattress for a newborn baby, on which he will lie flat.

Against this background, the appearance of a cocoon mattress was interesting. It has an unusual shape, and the baby in it takes a position similar to the intrauterine one. The attitude to this form is ambiguous. But many pediatricians believe that it is convenient when nursing premature babies. Its use creates the most comfortable conditions for their adaptation period after birth. Among the advantages, manufacturers highlight:

• ergonomic shape;
• hypoallergenic material;
• verified rigidity that does not create discomfort;
• prevents the occurrence of flat head syndrome;
• high sides for safety;
• can be installed in a stroller or on the parents' bed;
• waterproof cover and pleasant to the touch insert sheet.

As a disadvantage, those who have used the cocoon note that it is very hot for the baby in the summer.

Mattress for newborn in a stroller

Fresh air is no less necessary for a baby than kind mother's hands and proper feeding. If parents decide to harden the child from birth and take him out in a stroller to the fresh air during sleep, they cannot do without purchasing a mattress. A blanket or bedspread will not be able to provide the proper level of comfort. The following properties are important for it:

• firmness, the same as the bed mattress;
• filler;
• environmental friendliness;
• ergonomics.

Requirements for a mattress for a newborn

Selecting products for babies is a responsible matter, because the main thing is not only beauty, but also quality, safety, and convenience. A mattress is one of those items that you can’t do without. It allows the baby to be actively awake and provides him with sweet sleep, which in the first days can reach up to 20 hours a day.

It is not surprising that requirements have been developed that it must meet:

• hypoallergenic;
• moderate hardness;
• good air permeability;
• ease of care;
• reasonable price.

It is also important that the product is provided with a removable cover made of environmentally friendly material that can be washed quickly and easily.

When purchasing an orthopedic mattress, the declared quality and comfort will be confirmed if the product is supplied with a document on hygienic safety and a certificate of conformity.

Children's mattress with polyurethane foam

What has long been known to us as foam rubber, in the new generation of materials has acquired the name polyurethane foam and has begun to be used to make children's mattresses. Against the background of a democratic price, it has many positive properties:

• different thickness and density;
• is characterized by elasticity and resilience;
• used in spring and springless products;
• has good air permeability.

It is safe, lightweight, but difficult to clean. It is destroyed by chemical and thermal exposure.

Mattress size for baby crib

If the product is purchased in a store together with a crib, you don’t have to worry about its size: it already meets the required parameters. If it is purchased separately, it is worth knowing that there are standards for this type of product. Domestic ones have three indicators: 80x90 cm, 120x60 cm and 120x65 cm. Imported ones are presented in two sizes: 140x60 cm and 140x70 cm. An important feature of the selection is to take into account that the mattress should be 1-2 cm smaller than the surface of the bed.

Children's mattress made of batting or foam rubber

Some parents prefer "good old" batting to all modern materials. Others prefer foam rubber. In any case, the right to choose remains with the buyer, but it is necessary to consider the positive and negative sides of both.

1. Foam rubber is affordable, elastic and soft, easy to transport: it can be bent, folded, rolled up. But it can release harmful substances, bends and does not "hold" the spine, too soft for baby sleep.

   

2. Wadding is a natural material, elastic, holds its shape well, and has a long service life. It is cozy and comfortable to sleep on. The disadvantages include lumping, which leads to fragmentary pressing of the surface. It does not allow air to pass through well, which can cause the appearance of harmful microorganisms.

   

Having weighed all the pros and cons, you can choose the most suitable mattress for a newborn in all respects.

Video: How to choose a mattress for a newborn

Photo gallery of children's mattresses - spring and springless: