When choosing a mattress for a bassinet, the dimension of the mattress are critical. The mattress must fit within a bassinet frame. If the mattress is too small, the baby could roll into the gaps between the mattress and the bassinet.
Also, if the mattress is too large, it will not lay flat on the bassinet frame. You must avoid these risk of a mattress that is either too small or too large when purchasing a mattress for a bassinet. To determine the proper size for the bassinet, measure the interior of the bassinets bottom and subtract one inch from each side of the measurement to allow for the mattress to fit tight against the sides of the bassinet.
How to Choose and Care for a Bassinet Mattress
The thickness of the mattress is another important factor to consider when buying a mattress for a bassinet. Bassinet mattresses should be no thicker than one and a half inches. Furthermore, the mattress should be firm to provide adequate support for the baby’s airways and prevent the newborn from sink into the mattress.
To test the firmness of the mattress, simply press the center of the mattress with your palm. If the mattress return to its original shape, it is firm enough for a baby. Soft mattresses can mold to the baby’s body, which presents a suffocation risk for the infant.
Only ever use a single sheet on a bassinet mattress. Never use extra blanket and pillows in the bassinet due to the increased risk of the baby suffocating. Mattresses come in a variety of size for bassinets.
However, most will range in size from fifteen inches to thirty-six inches in length. Some bassinets are specifically design for small spaces within a bedroom, and these small bassinets require small mattresses for the babies that sleeps in them. The dimensions of these small mattresses are often around fourteen by twenty-two inches.
Other bassinets are larger in size, and the mattresses for these larger bassinets are often closer to the standard size for cribs. The manufacturer may have weight limit and age ranges associated with them. Additionally, the mattresses within these bassinets are only for babies up to twenty pounds in weight and up to four months of age.
After the baby learn to sit up on their own or once they reach twenty pounds in weight, they must be moved to a crib. Cribs require a thicker mattress for support for the baby when they are sleeping. Maintenance for the bassinet mattress is necessary for ensuring that the mattress is safe for the baby while he or she sleep in the bassinet.
You should spot clean the mattress with mild soap and allow it to air dry flat. Mattresses with removable covers can be washed in the washing machine at thirty degrees. The cover should not be placed in the laundry machine with the bassinet to prevent shrinking of the cover.
You should inspect the mattress each year for sag or tears in the mattress. Should the center of the mattress begin to dip, the mattress should be replaced. Additionally, use the two-finger rule to ensure the mattress fits proper in the bassinet; if more than two fingers can be inserted between the mattress and the bassinet frame, the mattress is not properly fitted to the bassinet.
Finally, never purchase second-hand mattress for a bassinet; these mattresses may contain wear that is not visible to the buyer of the mattress, and thus, may not be safe for the sleeping baby.
