Babies are just like us, they want a warm comfortable bed to sleep in. Unlike us they cannot roll over to get comfortable. In fact it can be many months before your little one is strong enough to roll onto their fronts. This in many ways is a good thing because if they do roll over onto their front you can be sure they won't be able to roll back.
If you ask your parents they will tell you that they probably laid you on your front or more commonly your side. The official advice is to now lay them on their backs. As they cannot move themselves they will be in the same position for a long time so you want to make sure they have a decent moses basket mattress to lay on. The baby mattress is probably most parents biggest concern for a couple of reasons for which we will take a closer look at.
Your baby will need a mattress that provides good support, does not sag and provides good airflow. As your baby will pretty much be in the same position when in their cot it is important that the mattress that you buy does not sag after use. They will be laying with their feet at the bottom of the moses basket so the same part of the mattress will get lots of use. This is why it is important to get a quality mattress that meets British Standards.
There are a couple of things that you should look at when buying new. What filling is being used? It may be foam, spring, hair or other materials. What type cover is used to protect the filling? Common covers include plastic, rubber, polythene, other permeable and not permeable covers. The cover may be just over the lower half to protect against wetting. This is the actual covering of the mattress itself rather than the moses basket covers that cover the actual moses basket.
The FSID states that there is not one particular type of mattress for your moses basket that is better than others. It only states that you should buy a mattress that is firm, does not sag and fits the basket without gaps.
You can buy mattresses where the filling is made of natural materials including hair or more commonly coconut fibre. They are popular among parents who are worried about synthetic man made materials. They are usually use latex as the protective cover although you should consider the possibility or a latex reaction, not just for the baby but for you as well.
These are probably the most common type sold and tend to be the cheapest and most widely available. The denser the foam the firmer it will be, they also tend to be aerated for ventilation. Generally the thicker and more firmer types are better for giving good support and not sagging. The covers tend to be PVC.
Allergies can be a problem and with a new baby you do not yet know if they are allergic to anything. You might want to take a look at hypoallergenic mattresses if you are worried about asthma or allergies.
You also have the option of getting a spring mattress for your baby. These are very similar to the type that adults sleep on and are usually topped with a foam layer. Springs can provide a good even level of support which you will need as the same mattress may be used frequently for at least 6 months.
The advice from the Scottish Cot Death Trust is that “ More research is continuing on this subject but meantime you may choose to avoid any potential risk by buying a new mattress. ”. There does not seem to be any clear advice for other types of moses basket bedding.
There are no particular mattresses that have been scientifically proven to be better for your baby than any other. You may however want to look at several types and brands as moses basket mattress prices do vary. Look for types that have desirable features such as a dense and firm filling for support. Good ventilation, there are different trademarked designs including Ventiflow. Other features should be considered such as wipe clean covers, anti bacterial, anti fungal, are permeability and anti dust mite.
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