Baby Mattress Sizes

Babies need to have their own bed for sleeping especially babies under a year old not only to make them more comfortable when in bed but also for safety purposes.

A crib or a cot provides a safe place for the baby when sleeping, feeding from the bottle or romping.

Just as it is important to look at crib and cot sizes, again for comfort and safety purposes; it is likewise important to consider baby mattress sizes.

While most cribs and cots already come with a stock mattress, sometimes the mattress is not of the quality that is acceptable to parents.

This is where information on various baby mattress sizes will come in handy.

What Size Mattress is Available?

There are actually several baby mattress sizes that are widely available in shops selling baby beds and beddings. You may soon discover however, after looking at various options, that the sizes do not differ that much from one to the next.

This is because crib dimensions are based on a specific set of standards to ensure that the baby will always be safe inside the crib.

Now, for specific measurements of baby mattresses, you will find that the dimensions indicate the length, width and thickness of the mattress. The values may be indicated in centimeters or inches, depending on the preference of the manufacturer.

Baby Mattress Dimensions

Generally, crib mattresses measure approximately 51 and five-eighths inches long, 27.25 inches wide and 6 inches thick.

However, you can find baby mattresses in other dimensions as well.

A cot mattress for instance, can measure approximately 112 centimeters in length by 53 centimeters in width. The thickness for this mattress size is usually about 10 centimeters.

A longer mattress can have a length of 124 centimeters and a width of about 55 centimeters. The thickness is still at 10 centimeters.

Most manufacturers peg the maximum length of the cot mattresses at 127 centimeters and the maximum width at 64 centimeters. Thickness is usually kept at 10 centimeters no matter the width and length measurement.

Soft or Firm?

Lastly, when choosing baby mattresses, you should also look at the firmness of the mattress. While adults may prefer a soft bed mattress, this type is not recommended for babies and toddlers.

This is because the baby may suffocate in their sleep if the face gets “buried” in the mattress as they turn in their sleep. A firmer mattress eliminates this risk.

You can check the firmness of the mattress by pressing down on it with your hand.

If your hand feels a resistance from the mattress as you press down, this is a good indication that the mattress is firm enough to keep the baby safe.