Do you really need a crib mattress pad? The answer is completely up to you! But if you’re like most parents, there’s a pretty good chance that you put a lot of effort into preparing your little one’s nursery.
And since babies and toddlers spend so much of their time sleeping, you most likely tried to equip their room with all the necessities in order to help them stay comfortable and safe while asleep.
You’ve done a great job so far, and you probably thought you could check the nursery off your to-do list...until you heard about crib mattress pads.
What exactly are they? And, most importantly, are they a necessity or just a fancy accessory that you and your baby can live without?
In this article, we’ll tell you all you need to know about crib mattress pads, including the different types you can find, their benefits, and the key factors to consider when buying one.
What Is A Crib Mattress Pad?
As you look at your baby sleeping, it can be hard to believe how much of a mess this sweet and innocent human can make. But it’s true!
Your little one is going to contribute to a lot of the mess in your house for the next few years, especially in their crib.
No matter how snug you feel your baby’s diapers fit or how often you change them, accidents happen. Unfortunately, these accidents will happen quite a bit on your child’s crib mattress. That’s why you might need a crib mattress pad.
Fortunately, if you have a Newton Baby mattress, everything from the cover to the core of the mattress is washable! But once your baby turns one and those messes get bigger, our breathable crib mattress pad is a great addition.
A crib mattress pad goes on top of your little one’s mattress and doesn't retain liquids. This means that when accidents do happen, the fluids won’t soak into your little one’s clothing or ruin the bed.
So, you can think of this pad as a barrier of protection between the mattress and your little one!
Different Types Of Crib Mattress Pads
In terms of fit, there are mainly three different types of crib mattress pads you can find in stores:
- One that fits around your baby’s mattress like a sheet
- One that lays flat on the mattress and has elastic corner straps that help keep it in place
- Small pads that only cover specific areas of the mattress
While there may be different types of pads on the market, which ones are the safest for your baby?
In order for a crib mattress pad to be safe, it should always fit securely around the mattress so that there is no loose bedding in the crib. Any loose fabrics can be a suffocation or strangulation hazard for your little one.
At Newton Baby, our crib mattress pads provide a secure fit on any crib mattress. And unlike other brands, our pads are also completely washable and water-resistant, which will help messes stay on the surface. And if they don’t, you can just wash everything!
The more your little one pees or poos on their mattress, the more fluid and overall moisture seeps into it. This is not only a health concern, but it will also affect how the bed looks and smells over time.
With our breathable, waterproof mattress pads, you don’t have to worry about that anymore!
One important question you might have is whether or not to buy your baby a mattress pad from birth. We don’t recommend using our crib pads with a Newton Crib Mattress until your little one turns a year old and starts making bigger messes.
This is because the Newton Baby Crib Mattress is completely washable itself! However, if you have a traditional crib mattress, our Newton Crib Mattress Pad will add a layer of breathability and waterproof protection from the start, making a non-breathable mattress safer!
Now that you understand what a crib mattress pad is, let’s get into some of the incredible benefits of using one.
4 Benefits Of A Crib Mattress Pad
1) Protects Your Baby’s Mattress
As highlighted above, when you have a baby or toddler, you’re bound to deal with a lot of leaky messes. While these accidents can happen any time, they usually happen during the night while your little one is sleeping.
Just think, for a second, what might happen if you don’t have a pad over the crib’s mattress.
Without a crib mattress pad, the fluids will end up ruining your baby’s mattress and leave your little one soaked until you change them.
But with the right mattress pad, your baby will stay dry throughout the night. In addition, the mattress will be protected from leaks, moisture, and mold. That’s a win-win!
2) Creates A More Sanitary Space
Proper hygiene is important for everyone’s health, especially babies!
The younger your baby is the more vulnerable they are to viruses and germs, and as a result, the easier they’ll get sick. That’s because their immune system is still fragile.
Without a crib mattress pad, when your little one has accidents in their crib, the fluids that seep into the mattress may cause bacteria to grow and create an overall unhealthy environment for your baby.
As a parent, you want better for your baby!
Our waterproof crib mattress pad is a great way to prevent this because it acts as an extra barrier between the child and the mattress.
3) Offers Convenience
As a busy parent, the one thing you need from your crib mattress pad (and anything else you purchase), is convenience! With a little one around, you just don’t have the time you used to anymore.
Our crib mattress pads are great because whenever your baby pees or poos themselves while in bed, you can quickly throw it into the washer and dryer and have it clean in no time.
You don’t have to worry about waiting until the morning to sort it out.
Most parents opt to have at least two mattress pads on hand. This helps because when you’re washing one, you can quickly replace it with the second and get your little one back to sleep in no time!
Keep in mind, with a Newton Crib Mattress, the cover is water-resistant and completely removable for washing. We also sell spares so you can use an extra cover for late-night changes or switch out a pad. It’s totally up to you!
4) Provides Safer Sleep
The best crib mattress pads provide firm support. This helps to keep your little one’s respiratory tract supported while they sleep.
Now that you understand all the incredible benefits of crib mattress pads, you probably want to head out and buy one already! But before you do that, here are some of the key things to look for when buying a pad for your baby’s mattress.
What To Look For When Buying A Crib Mattress Pad
1) Materials Used
Many baby products claim to be “baby-safe,” but when you take a closer look, you realize that they use a lot of harsh chemicals and materials.
Since your little one will be spending a lot of their precious time sleeping, it’s essential to pay attention to the material of their mattress pad.
All Newton Baby crib mattress pads are Greenguard Gold certified! This means that they are low in chemical emissions and, as a result, emit minimal gases.
This helps to maintain healthy indoor air quality for your baby and everyone else around.
2) Breathability
Your baby’s crib mattress pad needs to be comfortable and breathable. Just think about all the sleeping, sweating, drooling, peeing, and pooing that it will experience!
In addition, younger children tend to get heat exhaustion much quicker because they aren’t yet able to regulate their body temperature.
At Newton Baby, our crib mattress pads are made with two layers of extra breathable 3-D material. Having airy material interwoven into the pad helps to regulate temperature and prevent your little one from overheating while they sleep.
3) Ease Of Use
Earlier on, we highlighted how there are essentially three different types of pads and they all fit differently.
For your convenience and your little one’s safety and comfort, the one you choose needs to be easy to put on and take off. Some pads have straps for you to attach to the corners, while others only cover specific areas.
Even though the latter may seem easy to handle, the problem with them is that they can move around and not give you the complete coverage you need.
At Newton Baby, our crib mattress pads fit snugly on crib mattresses and are easy to put on or take off for a quick wash.
It’s these little things that can help make your life as a busy parent just a bit easier!
Clean, Comfy Sleep For Your Baby
By now, we hope you’re clear on one thing — a crib mattress pad is not a want, but a need! While there are many benefits, one of the most notable is that it will help keep both your baby and the mattress dry throughout the night.
We also hope you understand that not all mattress pads are created equal.
It’s essential to choose one that is made with the right (safe) materials, is machine washable, and is easy to put on and take off.
With our popular Waterproof Crib Mattress Pad, which fits all standard crib mattresses perfectly, uncomfortable and soggy nights are now a thing of the past!
