One of the best parts of pregnancy is buying all that you will need to fill your nursery for your new baby. You want everything to be perfect, but also appealing to the eye. Safety is something you must think about as you shop, and also as you put together your baby's new room. If you have noticed, many of the big recalls that come up are for baby products. This is in part because there are so many tiny things that can harm a baby. They are helpless, so we rely on quality products to work as intended to keep a baby safe. This means putting thought into your crib mattress before you buy and after you bring it home.
For the most parts, all cribs are built the same and should all take the same size crib mattress. There are exceptions, of course, as there are round and oval cribs as well as special sized cribs you can buy. However, the standard crib should take a standard crib mattress safely. You can never take that for granted however, so make sure you read what comes with your crib to be sure you get the exact right size for the mattress. Any ill fitting mattress is dangerous.
The crib mattress you buy should not only fit just right into the crib, it should also be firm. SIDS or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is something all parents have to think about when buying a mattress. A soft mattress is not a good idea, though you probably won't come across many when shopping. The firmest mattress you can buy is the best for the safety of your baby. On top of that, you have to keep soft blankets and stuffed animals out of the crib. All that should be in there is a well clothed child, the crib mattress, and a fitted sheet that is an exact fit as well.
Before you can lay your newborn on any crib mattress, it is a good idea to air it out. Though many are made with natural materials that are okay for any baby, you should never assume that is the case. Buy the mattress early, and allow it to air out for a month before you put it into the crib. This allows any chemicals that may be caught in the crib mattress to be released into the air. This is a safety issue, but not usually a serious one. You don't want to take the chance though, so make sure you air it out just to be on the safe side.
A good crib mattress can be ruined by a baby that wets through. You can find sheets that have water resistant materials, but you should air them out and wash them before you use them. Make sure they too fit securely and snuggly around the crib mattress that you have purchased. If your sheets were to come loose, you have a safety hazard that can harm your baby. As long as materials are clean and safe, there is not a gap between the mattress and crib for body parts to fall into, and there are no loose items in the crib, you can feel as if you have done all you can to see your baby safely through the night.