When To Lower The Crib Mattress: A Thorough Guide

Forbes

2 days ago

Wouldn't it be nice if there was an exact age to lower your baby's crib mattress? Like most things in parenting, there is some nuance to this decision. Once your baby's milestones or skill level make the current crib height unsafe, it's time to lower it. To learn more about safe sleep and when to lower the mattress, we interviewed a pediatrician and reviewed safe sleep guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
Lower the crib mattress when your baby's skills make their mattress height unsafe.
Keeping your baby safe in their crib is about more than just mattress height. 'Generally, the more basic, the better—babies should sleep on their back, alone on a firm surface with a fitted sheet, and in a location with four walls (like a bassinet, crib or play yard). Nothing else,' says Dr. Christopher Culler, associate chief of pediatrics at Nemours Children's Health in Orlando, Florida. The best crib mattresses are firm, according to the AAP safe sleep guidelines, which help reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Choosing the right crib mattress size can also help ensure your baby doesn't get trapped between the sides of the crib and the mattress.
Though it can be tempting to add crib bumpers, pillows or blankets, these items are not safe for babies. Even once your baby suddenly becomes a toddler when they turn 1, most crib manufacturers advise parents not to place any extra items in the crib while it's in crib mode.
As for lowering the crib, it's imperative to do it at the right time to prevent your baby from falling out of the crib. 'The mattress should always be kept low enough that the baby or toddler cannot climb out,' says Culler. When in doubt, there is no harm in lowering the crib mattress earlier than you think you need to. The higher height setting simply makes it easier on your back when picking baby up or setting them down.
Most cribs have three mattress settings. The highest setting is ideal for newborns, because you don't have to bend down so far to get them in and out of the crib. As they achieve new abilities and surpass milestones, the crib height should be lowered to keep them safe. Make sure you're moving the crib mattress down when your baby shows they can do these things anywhere, not just when they do them in their crib. If they can pull to stand on the side of the couch, they can do it in their crib.
Once a baby can up or get onto their hands and knees, move the crib mattress from the highest to the middle height setting. Typically, this happens between 6 and 9 months, though it can happen sooner, so keep a close eye on your baby's skills.
If your newborn is using a bassinet versus a crib, you may need to switch over to a crib before 6 months. Most bassinet manufacturers recommend parents switch babies to a crib once they are able to roll over. Once in the crib, they can stay at the top mattress setting until they can sit or get onto their hands and knees.
Somewhere around 9 months, many babies begin to pull to stand, and the crib slats often provide an ideal place for them to practice. At this point, move the crib mattress down to the lowest setting so they don't topple out when they pull themselves up.
Eventually, your baby will outgrow their crib. For many little ones, this happens around 18 to 24 months. As soon as they start to try climbing out of their crib, it's best to switch them to a toddler bed, floor bed or big kid bed. Your crib might even convert into a toddler bed with the removal of one side. You don't want them to get injured trying to climb out.
Even if they're not trying to climb out, you may need to move out of the crib around this age. Most crib manufacturers recommend that toddlers move out of the crib once they reach 35 inches tall or when the top rail of the crib is at or below nipple height when they're standing in it.
Once you get the mattress to the lowest setting, it's important to keep it there. Unless specifically approved by your crib's manufacturer, it's not safe to put the crib mattress on the floor. Sometimes parents want to do this to extend how long their baby can stay in their crib, but it often simply isn't safe.
For the best advice on how to lower a crib mattress, follow the directions in your crib's instruction manual. In general, here are the steps you'll take:
At What Age Can Babies Sleep On A Softer Mattress?
Generally, it's recommended that babies sleep on a firm surface until 12 months. After that, your toddler may use a softer mattress. Some crib mattresses have a firm side for babies and a softer side for toddlers.
Is It Safe To Incline A Baby Mattress For Congestion?
No, it is not safe to incline your baby's mattress. Instead, to relieve congestion, try using nasal saline and suction with a bulb syringe or nasal aspirator. You can also try sitting in a warm, steamy bathroom with your baby before bed or running a cool-mist humidifier in their room. This can help clear their nasal passages.
What Is The Best Crib Mattress?
After testing 21 models, we found the best crib mattress to be the Naturepedic Organic Breathable Ultra Baby Crib Mattress (2-Stage) Innerspring. It's durable and has quite a few certifications: EWG Verified, Made Safe and Greenguard Gold. It also has two stages, so you can flip it to the softer side when your toddler is ready.