Notes when choosing a mattress for babies

The article was professionally consulted by Dr. Nguyen Dac Nghia - Head of Orthopedic Trauma Unit - Department of General Surgery - Vinmec Times City International General Hospital.

Mattress, in some regions called mattress; hereinafter collectively referred to as buffer . If the family has small children, especially when it's an infant, finding a mattress for a newborn is necessary to ensure the health and development of the baby. How to choose a mattress for an infant revolves around factors such as the flatness of the mattress, breathability as well as the quality of the mattress.

According to many studies, a baby's comfort in sleep has a great influence on the development of bones and brains of young children, especially in the first years of a baby's life. Along with that, from the recommendations of medical experts, choosing a suitable newborn mattress is extremely important to limit the risk of sudden infant death while sleeping. Here are some criteria mothers need to pay attention to when choosing to buy a mattress to ensure a good night's sleep:
1.1. The mattress must be flat and strong Many mothers, because they are worried about their baby's pain while sleeping, choose soft mattresses, thereby helping their baby sleep more comfortably. However, this is a misconception that needs to be corrected!
According to a study published in the American journal Pediatrics, choosing and using soft mattresses for babies will cause scoliosis in children, or even bone deformities. Experts also added that babies often roll and turn when sleeping. Therefore, if using a soft mattress, the blanket will easily cover the baby's head, leading to suffocation and death.

1.2. Breathable mattress The second way to choose a mattress for a newborn to keep in mind is: the mattress must have good ventilation and air circulation. This will limit the risk of heat rash on your baby's skin because babies sweat easily. Moreover, for babies who like to lie on their stomach, using a breathable mattress will limit the risk of suffocation.
1.3. The quality of the mattress Many parents are still confused about which mattress is good and safe for their children. Here is the answer from an expert: Newborn mattress must be very focused on the quality of the mattress because this is a factor that has a great influence on the baby's health. Better yet, families should choose mattresses made of natural materials and have properties such as antibacterial - antifungal... and do not cause skin irritation. In this case, a rubber mattress is an ideal choice.

Your newborn's mattress isn't the only factor that affects your baby's sleep. Here are some tips to help your baby sleep better.
2.1. Mothers should not use supporting tools on the sides of the crib / crib Many mothers are afraid that their children will be hurt when they collide with the walls of the crib or crib while sleeping, so they have used soft towels and pillows... to block the side. under the child's feet. But this is not necessary and can cause trouble for your baby's sleep.
In this case, the mother just needs to use a mattress that fits the crib, insert extra padding and place the cradle high enough so that the baby can't crawl out.
2.2. Avoid covering/covering the baby's head when sleeping Blankets/blankets should only be covered with the child's chest and let the baby's hands out of the blanket to prevent the baby from moving, causing the blanket to cover the head, leading to suffocation.
2.3. Do not let the baby get hot while sleeping. Mother should dress the baby in light clothes, limit the baby's body tight and often touch the baby's skin to check the baby's temperature is too high or not. If the baby is warm, the mother should remove the blanket to avoid the temperature from waking the baby.

2.4. Adequate immunization According to a study at the Berlin School of Public Health, when children are fully immunized with diphtheria - pertussis - tetanus vaccines..., the infant mortality rate due to SIDS fertility tends to decrease sharply. Getting the full range of vaccines not only helps prevent infections, but also reduces the risk of SIDS.
2.5. Should not sleep in the same bed with children. If possible, infants should sleep separately to ensure their health. In particular, if the parent is a drinker, smoker, or uses sleeping pills, etc., they should not sleep in the same bed as the child because these substances can increase the risk of SIDS syndrome as well as the risk. suffocation of children in sleep.

2.6. Cleaning and drying your baby's mattress Most latex mattresses have a certain amount of volatile organic compounds (also known as VOCs), which are easily released into toxins if the child's body temperature is high. Symptoms of VOC poisoning can include dizziness, nausea, headaches, and eye irritation. More seriously, if exposed to VOCs for a long time, important organs such as the baby's liver, kidneys, lungs and central nervous system will also suffer.
Therefore, to minimize the risk of babies being exposed to these harmful ingredients, experts recommend that families regularly clean and dry the mattress. In addition, the door or window of the baby's room should be open to help the room ventilate.

It can be seen that sleep is one of the decisive factors for the development of infants. How to choose a mattress for a newborn needs attention and consideration so that the baby has the safest and most comfortable sleep.