Soon-to-be parents often spend months deciding on the perfect crib and the cutest bedding and then purchase the crib mattress as an afterthought. The fact it, while those sheets with dancing teddy bears are fun to buy, the crib mattress is a very important purchase decision since it’s where the majority of a child's growth and development will occur. An infant will spend up to 70% of his or her time on the crib mattress and a toddler can spend up to 50% of his or her time on the crib mattress. This coupled with the fact that the child will spend the first three to five years of their lives sleeping and playing on this same crib mattress are the most important reasons to buy a quality crib mattress.

The size for all standard crib mattresses is regulated by the Federal government.  The size is 27 ½” x 52” and not being thicker than 6 inches.  Cribs too are regulated, but their interior dimensions have a “plus or minus” tolerance from the standard 28 x 52 rectangle.  Therefore depending on the specific crib and mattress combination, the mattress may be very snug or moderately snug. The Consumer Product Safety Commission sets the standards for crib and crib mattress sizes and how the combination should fit.  At Colgate, we abide by all government regulations.  If you would like more specific information, please refer to the CPSC website, requirements for full-size baby cribs.

Here are three particular things to consider to identity a better quality foam crib mattress:

1. Total weight of the mattress (also referred to as density) - generally, the heavier the mattress the better the mattress.
2. Firmness - most medical experts recommend that you put a baby on as firm a mattress as you, the parent, feel comfortable putting them on.
3. The reputation of the manufacturer of the mattress and not just the name on the label.

An innerspring crib mattress is more complicated internally than a foam mattress. Here are some important things to consider before you purchase:

1. The total number of layers in the mattress - Generally, the more layers the better.
2. The quality of each of the layers inside the mattress - This is the most complicated and important step.
3. The reputation of the actual mattress manufacturer, not just the name on the label.
4. The reputation and quality of the retailer from whom you are buying the mattress.

The layers in an innerspring crib mattress are: 1. The innerspring unit - It is not just the number of coils that is important, but it is also the amount of steel. Buy a mattress with the thickest and greatest number of coils, but even more importantly, buy a mattress with an innerspring unit that has a border rod that adds firmness and extra edge support. 2. The insulator - This is the layer that prevents the soft cushioning layers from sinking into the coils. The best insulator is a coir fiber pad made from coconut shells. This is far superior to a fiber pad or cloth pad, especially over the long term. Besides the coir fiber pad, some better quality mattresses offer a permanent insulator that reduces the gap between the coils and some manufacturers even offer two insulators. 3. Cushioning layers - These usually consist of one layer of foam. Sometimes there are two layers of foam and some manufacturers offer a layer of foam and a layer of 100% all natural cotton batting. 4. The cover - Triple layer nylon reinforced vinyl is the best.

Most consumers are unaware that many crib mattresses with brand names identical to those found on national adult mattresses are not made by the same companies. They are usually just names licensed by, or shared with, a crib mattress manufacturer from the adult mattress company so they can take advantage of the name recognition to increase sales. Another tactic by questionable manufacturers is to buys its foam on the close out market. It feels heavy, it feels firm, but it doesn't hold up over time because it’s a type of foam that is not designed for crib mattresses. It’s very important to choose a reputable manufacturer.

Colgate makes custom sized mattresses and pads when purchased from an authorized Colgate retailer. Talk to your local Colgate dealer about ordering a custom size product.

Colgate's website only lists mattresses and other products that are part of Colgate's regular product line. Private label mattresses and other products made exclusively for specific retailers are not listed on the website. Also, we are constantly adding new products to our lineup and some of these may not have made it onto our website yet. If you have questions regarding a specific mattress not on the Colgate website feel free to contact us.

Your best resource for purchasing our premium products is your local authorized retailer. To find one conveniently located near you visit our Store Locator. If you have a problem locating a dealer, please e-mail us at info@colgatekids.com and we will make sure to find a way to accommodate you.

Colgate has such an extensive line of crib mattress models, it’s impractical for any one store to carry them all. Generally our authorized retailers will carry 4-5 units that meet the needs of their local market but they will gladly order the Colgate product you want and have it shipped to the store.

Effective January 1, 2005, the State of California enacted Technical Bulletin 603 (TB 603).  This regulation addresses an “open flame” test for mattresses.  This is a more stringent regulation regarding flammability than the previous Federal standard (CFR- 1632).  The Federal government adopted a slightly more stringent standard on July 1, 2007. All of our standard innerspring mattresses were already compliant with the new code without any changes needing to be made. In addition,  we use a flame-blocker barrier fabric on all our foam mattresses. The safety of your child is of the utmost importance to us.

While all of our crib mattresses have wetproof covers, many parents still choose to use an additional wetproof mattress pad. Not only will a mattress pad extend the life of your mattress so it can be converted to a toddler bed/daybed, but also. a waterproof mattress pad can be thrown in the washing machine for easy cleaning.

All of our materials are Non-toxic. While there are specific Federal regulations that manufacturers must meet with regard to the chemicals used in raw materials, our approach has always been to not only meet, but to exceed those regulations. For additional information on this topic, please refer to the “Health and Safety” section of our website.

When it comes to infants, the crib mattress is more than a sleeping surface, it’s their growth and developmental center. In fact, infants will spend up to 70% of their day on a crib mattress. They need a firm, flat, even surface to maximize this development. This firm surface is particularly important during periods of sleep but also when the infant begins to become more active in the crib. They need the firm surface to provide the resistance as they begin to push up, turn and eventually stand in the crib. A solid base provides the resistance necessary for developing and strengthening muscles. Ask yourself this, “Is it easier for an adult to walk on a wooden floor or a waterbed?” Firmer is better.

While there are industry standards for the size of cribs and crib mattresses, ironically there are none for crib sheets. Some lower-quality crib sheets are not manufactured to fit a quality, firm mattress like ours. Read reviews online and be sure to check the return policy before you purchase crib sheets. Here are the quality crib sheets that we would recommend.  

Consumer Product Safety Commission International Sleep Products Association Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Alliance The Consumer Reports buying guide First Candle