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Pad Mattress

Why A Concerned Mom Should Not Take Crib Mattress Pads for Granted

There are many compelling reasons for using crib mattress pads. While these crib accessories serve an aesthetic purpose, there are other and more important benefits to be had by using them.

Similar to covers, crib mattress pads provide ventilation and support

You will find pads made of many types of materials from fabrics to rubber. In the great majority of instances, they will be filled with batting or foam. Alternatively, if they are made of rubber, the type of rubber used will be airy and fluffy. They are great accessories for camouflaging the defects of the mattress as far as feel (softness and hardness is concerned). In fact, if you have the right kind of pad, any mattress is a good for your baby. Besides improving the feel of the mattress, these pads also allow air to circulate under the baby's body, giving him a fresher feeling.

Crib mattress pads also protect the mattress from getting wet

All moms know how destructive moisture is for mattresses. The liquid seeps into the material and becomes very difficult to dry out even under the sun. And even if baby doesn't wet on the mattress or it has never been spilled on, the baby's sweat little by little soaks into the mattress. Once the mattress is moist inside, fungi and bacteria begin to consider its cavities as their home. Fungi can combine with chemicals to cause Sudden Infant Deaths. Bacteria can infect the infant in many ways. Using good crib mattress pads, you can prevent moisture from accumulating in the mattress itself.

There are also 'under' crib mattress pads

Although pads are normally found on top of a mattress, there are those which are placed under the mattress. This type is not as ornate as the pad that is displayed on the mattress. Normally, it is just a layer of foam. It acts as a cushion for the mattress itself. The effect of this type of pad is to reduce the squeeze on the mattress by providing it with its own fluffy layer of support.

Mattress pads that double as bed sheets

Although the name 'pad' indicated that this item is placed on the mattress, there are crib mattress pads that can be tucked in under the mattress like a bed sheet. This prevents the pads from moving when the baby wriggles in the crib. It is also safer to use than pads that you place on top of the mattress because the baby can't get under them if they are firmly tucked in.

Mattress pads for the winter

In the cold season, using food-grade plastic pads keeps the baby warmer since they absorb and retain his body heat. You may also find rubber pads that serve the same purpose.

Crib mattress pads can both enhance the appeal of the crib and protect your baby from harmful microbes. They also contribute greatly to the comfort of your baby by adding another cushioned layer to his mattress and allowing the air to flow under him.

About the Author

Eddie J. Prosser focuses on publishing reports on the subject of crib mattresses. You can look at his website about crib mattresses which describe the best crib mattress pads and teach ways to choose them to have sure the child is safe and comfortable in his mattress.

Can anyone recommend a crib mattress pad that will add comfort or has enough padding?

I want to add some padding for my 2 year old as she isn't ready for a bed yet but has a hard mattress. I want to find a mattress pad that adds some cushion for her, but am hesitant to buy online without getting to touch it myself.

While Tempur-Pedic does make some good stuff and some people like them, I find them just too "tacky" not in a fashion sense, but in a stick-to-it sense. You'll find that it comforms to the body all right, by making a sort of nest or bowl that's hard to roll out out of. I think they're too confining, but you may hear other opinions.

Instead, I'd go with a good old Sealy mattress pad. At the bottom of this, I'll give you a URL with some comparisons so you can see a lot more details than I have room to give you.

Our little one is not so little anymore (five now) so my knowledge is about three to four years out of date, but we went with a Sealy crib pad. They make a quilted one that's available in most baby departments. They also offer others with different features like ten year stain resistance and other nonsense. Who needs a crib pad for ten years?

Even their regular stuff is hypoallergenic and easy to clean. Just make sure it fits well, which it will if you have a standard sized crib mattress.

One thing I'll mention, though you didn't ask about it. Your question says the mattress your two-year-old has is too hard. Why do you believe that it is? If she sleeps fine on it, I wouldn't worry about it. Babies are remarkably resilient, and while you might think the mattress is too hard, she probably doesn't really care. I can well remember shopping for cribs and being dismayed by what I thought were rock-hard mattresses. However, our pediatrician said (and it's apparently true) that a good firm mattress is better for babies. I don't know if that's a SIDS thing or not, and with a two-year-old, you're well past any concerns about that.

Not that I'm trying to talk you out of a mattress pad, just mentioning that your little girl would probably be fine no matter what you got. Anyway, we were happy with the Sealy brand. Here's a link to a comparison of several. Good luck:

http://shopping.msn.com/results/shp/?bCatId=6894

Electric Heated Mattress Pad 100% wool

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 13th, 2009 at 12:04 am and is filed under bedding. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.