What you need to know about choosing a crib mattress

February is National SIDS Month and unfortunately, this is a subject close to my heart. Several years ago, not long after the birth of my second son, a dear friend lost her baby to SIDS. We had been pregnant together and watching her go through something so unimaginably hard was terrible. I spent many nights, laying awake in my bed just watching my baby breathe.

Her experience has made me a much more anxious parent this time around (especially since I’m coming off of a loss of my own) and during my pregnancy I spent many hours researching the possible link between SIDS and standard crib mattresses. Let’s just say the process of buying a crib mattress caused me serious, SERIOUS stress.

While the cause of SIDS is still unknown, the long list of chemicals used in traditional crib mattresses scared me to death. I bought my first crib mattress 9 years ago without giving it a second thought. This time around, it was my most researched purchase. I knew that firmer mattresses were best and that I wanted to limit chemicals, but beyond that, I had no clue where to start.

When I began my search for the perfect crib mattress, I assumed an organic crib mattress was the only way to go. There are some wonderful organic mattresses out there but you have to pay attention to what you are getting. I was shocked at how many “organic” mattresses were made up of only 10% organic material or were covered in vinyl, which is considered one of the most toxic plastics.

Hands down, the best organic mattress I found out there was the Naturepedic No-Compromise Organic Cotton Mattress. You just can’t beat Naturepedic when it comes to using materials that are safe for baby. If I had been on my first baby rather than my last, I absolutely would have gone with the Naturepedic. The only downside was the price, and I was even willing to overlook that since they make a lower end mattress that is reasonably priced, especially considering what you get for it.

Ultimately, I had to evaluate my priorities. When I was really honest with myself, I didn’t care as much about a mattress being organic as much as I cared that it simply didn’t contain any toxic materials.

I was thrilled to discover the Lullaby Earth brand, a sister company of Naturepedic. Their mattress are not organic but they are non-toxic and they are much more budget friendly. The Lullaby Earth mattress was one that I could feel good about buying for my baby.

As a first-time mom, I cared more about what I was putting on the mattress. This time around, I wanted safety. The crib mattress was the one area I was really willing to splurge on but I was thrilled to find an option that didn’t brak the bank.

Now, 8 months later, I still feel good about going with the budget friendly, but still non-toxic Lullaby Earth mattress. The clothes that still have tags on them on the other hand . . . well, let’s just say I definitely found a few things to spend that extra savings on.

 What did you look for when choosing a crib mattress?