As you know a mattress does not come with the crib and must be purchased seperately. Well shopping for a crib mattress is not as easy as I thought it would be. There are a lot of choices out there.
In all my research it seems an innerspring mattress is generally more durable than a foam mattress. And never, never use an air mattress for a baby's crib..this can be extremely dangerous for the infant if the mattress begins to lose air and may potentially cause a suffocation problem.
Most of the consumer reports recommend innerspring mattress with anywhere from 135 to 150 coils and about a 15 gauge wire for the coils, however the mattresses that I researched all started with 220 coils.
So what exactly do I need to look for. Here are a few points that I listed:
is it the right size for your crib
is it firm enough
is the covering sturdy and waterproof
is there venting along the sides
is it hypoallergenic or has a hypoallergenic layer
is it certified
how much does it cost
Consider comfort, durability and then cost in that order. I mean most babies sleep in their crib the first three years of life.
Try to select a crib mattress that senses your baby's movements and it responds with increasing support and correct support.
It should have waterproof surface and binding for easy cleaning. Keep in mind you will need to lift and manipulate the mattress when you change the sheets so you don't want anything to heavy.
Your mattress should meet or exceed the current phthalates standards set forth by the CPSC and meet federal flammability standard 16 CFR 1633
I prefer to buy made in the USA and most of the ones I researched are made in the USA.
Check to see if your mattress has a lifetime warranty or at the very least most come with a 20 year warranty which should definitely see your baby through the crib and toddler years.