Parent's Guide: 6 essential things you'll need in baby's nursery

The Mattress that you should buy!

You were sleeping comfortably in your bed when you heard your baby cry. When you look upon it, you see that the limbs got stuck on the mattress.

With this in mind, finding the perfect mattress for your baby. would not result in a sleepless night. Always remember that there should be no more than a 3cm gap around the edges or sides, so you can tuck your baby in comfortably, with any blankets no higher than around their shoulders.

Don't worry, Mommy! Many cots are sold with mattresses that are designed perfectly fit to the cot size. Some have a sticker on them, so you will know the size of the cot beds.

Your mattress will need to be at least 8 to 10cm deep to support your baby while he sleeps, although your crib mattress or mattress for your moses basket will be thinner.

There are companies that will have a service providing a customized mattress for your little one if you can't find any mattresses that will fit your baby's cot.  Make sure any mattress your purchase conforms to both BS 7177 1996 for flammability and Part 10 1997 for safety and performance.

The Breathability

In buying a mattress, make sure that it has good breathability to help your baby regulate their temperature because research has shown that overheating is associated with an increased risk of SIDS.

A breathable mattress will allow any perspiration to remove from your baby, so the mattresses and the baby will stay dry.

If asthma or allergies are a concern in your family, you may want to choose a hypo-allergenic or anti-allergenic cover for your mattress, which can be washed at 60 degrees to remove dust mites that may cause allergies.

The material of the mattress that you should consider

There are many types of good mattresses. Follow the guidelines from The Lullaby Trust who gives advice on what is the perfect match for your little angel so that she can have a firm, flat, and in a good condition mattress, with no signs of rips or tears or any sagging.

• Foam: Cheapest material of the mattresses. Foam mattresses are lightweight and provide good support. They often have a PVC wipe-clean material on one side so they are easy to clean. Perfect for neat freak moms. But the downside of this, it can lose shape as time passes, so is better for short-term use in a moses basket or crib.
• Coil Sprung: For sure, we are all familiar with this! These are the top things that mom always bought. A popular material for mattresses. For this reason, they have layers of foam or felt padding that allows for increased airflow and has supportive features that will keep their shape well over time.
• Pocket sprung: Similar to coil sprung mattresses, each spring in these mattresses has a pocket to provide better support and longevity. On the other hand, this is quite expensive, unless there are instances that you will use this for a very long time or you will give it to your other child. Then, that is quite affordable for the price. 
• Double-sided: Do you want a firmer and flatter side of a mattress? Then this is for you! It will have a firmer type and flatter side for use from birth to pre-school, with a softer side to use when your child is older.
• Organic: Made from chemical and allergen-free natural materials such as bamboo, natural mattresses are good for families where allergies are a concern. They will also offer good support and be naturally anti-bacterial, moisture-wicking, and breathable.

Specialist retailers also sell different types of covers such as anti-fungal, anti-allergy, and anti-bacterial covers, organic covers, and heat-regulating and moisture-wicking covers to prevent your baby from overheating. Of course, the perfect mattress will depend on your budget and choice.