Your baby is the most precious gift you have ever been given, so it is of vital importance that you do everything in your power to see to his/her protection.
While we all know about 'baby-proofing' any room a child will be crawling or toddling through, many of us aren't aware of the fact that it is of vital importance to provide that baby with a crib mattress that is safe and meets or exceeds federal regulations for safety.
Just as we wouldn't allow our children to play with plastic bags that could suffocate them or with strings or ropes that could strangle them, so too should we provide them with a sleeping area that is devoid of the known mattress dangers.
One of the very first things to consider is size.
Prior to 1974 there were no federally legislated standards for crib sizes, as a result, loose fitting mattresses causing many a child injury or worse when getting caught underneath a loose fitting mattress.
The second thing to look for, and equally important, is whether or not the mattress meets the federal flammability standard as set forth in 16 CFR 1633.
All crib mattresses manufactured and/or sold in the United States must conform to standards set by the CPSC and meet federal flammability standard in 16 CFR 1633.
Beyond that, 'hidden' mattress dangers would be if the mattress was not padded well enough to protect the child from injury from springs, and if the mattress is manufactured with a non allergenic material.
Your baby depends on you to be his/or her protector, and this includes being aware of crib mattress dangers.