How to Find a Good Portable Crib Mattress

A portable crib mattress is excellent for those occasional situations where you cannot take the home crib with you. These typically include outdoor excursions, travel, and overnight visits to friends and family. Portable crib mattresses are often sold as part of a portable crib set, but sometimes the cot mattress that is included within the set does not match the ideal standards of quality that might be required by your child. In this case, knowing a few things about portable crib mattresses can help you to make a better decision when you head out searching for one.

What are the different kinds of portable crib mattresses that are available?

There are numerous portable-style crib mattresses available for parents to choose from. The only major difference between a portable crib mattress and a regular crib mattress is in terms of thickness. Portable mattresses tend to be much smaller than their counterparts at home, as this makes it easier for them to be effectively stored in situations where space is a relevant issue. As far as the material design is concerned, most portable mattresses are made from synthetic latex or memory foam, with a generously large percentage of mattress models featuring air bed and water bed designs.

Which portable cot mattress should I choose?

Here is where things get a little tricky. Finding a mattress that conforms to the size requirements of your portable crib is usually not too difficult, as most cribs feature a universal size that corresponds to almost all of the crib mattresses currently sold on the market. However, it would still be a good idea to take some measurements of your portable crib and compare these to the measurements of the mattress model. This will keep you from being caught unawares purchasing a mattress that is too small or too large for your baby's crib.

If you choose to purchase a crib mattress made from memory foam, you might want to consider going for a higher density. Low density memory foam mattresses are usually too soft for very young children, making it difficult to move around during, before, and after sleep. Babies like to move around a lot, and if they find themselves laid out on a surface that makes it difficult to move, they will likely return you the favor by unleashing a cacophony of tears. Additionally, an exceptionally soft mattress could be dangerous for very young children by making it difficult for them to move out of face-down positions. Avoid these problems by sticking to firmer mattresses that are more supportive. Air beds and water beds should do the trick quite nicely, but high density memory foam and elastic synthetic latex can work as well.

In conclusion, finding an appropriate portable crib mattress for your child can be made easier if you know exactly what you are looking for. Sheer convenience is usually not enough for most parents, and those who have safety concerns should stick to crib mattresses that are fairly firm and supportive.