Why Do I Need a Crib Mattress Pad, and Many Do I Need?

Kids, especially babies, can be messy at night, and this means all kinds of fluids can be spilled on their bed. Here’s why you need a crib mattress pad.

Mattress pads are essential to keep the crib mattress clean and make the bed much easier to clean. They help prevent bacteria growth and dust mite allergies. Also, they extend the lifespan of the mattress so you can use it from the crib to the toddler’s bed. Here’s why I recommend you even get 2 mattress pads!

This article will cover:

1. What is a Crib Mattress Pad?
2. Is a Crib Mattress Pad Necessary?
3. What Are Crib Mattress Pads for?
4. Do I Really Need to Add a Waterproof Pad on a Waterproof Mattress?
5. Is a Crib Mattress Pads Safe?
6. Do I Change the Mattress Pad Every Time I Change the Sheet?
7. How Many Crib Mattress Pads Do I Need?
8. What is the Best Crib Mattress Pad? 
9. Takeaway

Seeking for the perfect baby crib, but you’re unsure where to start? Check out this list I created of the best baby cribs to buy.

What is a Crib Mattress Pad?

A crib mattress pad is a protective layer place between the mattress and the sheet. By covering the mattress, it makes it so much easier to clean an accident during the night, and it prevents fluid from ruining the entire bed. Moreover, it creates an extra layer of comfort for your child.

What is the difference with pad, protector, and topper for a mattress?

The mattress protector is a thin waterproof layer that protects the mattress without altering the feel of the bed. Their primary intention is to preserve the mattress from fluids and bed bugs.

A mattress pad protects the bed from spills, but it also provides more comfort to your kid. This is the most convenient option with a crib mattress or a toddler’s bed.

On the other hand, the mattress topper is a thick foam layer, solely meant to make the bed more comfortable. For a kid’s bed, I wouldn’t recommend using a mattress topper without a protector. The main objective here is to protect the mattress from spills and make it easy to change at night.

Is a Crib Mattress Pad Necessary?

No, it’s not necessary, but it will make your life so much easier. Especially at 2 AM, you’ll be glad your kid’s bed was protected. I’m sure my grandmother, who had 7 children, would have appreciated not having to clean the whole mattress after one of her kids wet their beds.

Here’s why I think every parent should get at least one crib mattress.

What Are Crib Mattress Pads for?

Compared to a protector or topper, a mattress pad has all the benefits you’ll want for your child.

1- It keeps the crib mattress clean

Babies are messy and leaky accidents occur more often than you imagine. All of those fluids will go through the sheets and into the bed. After a while, the mattress will stain and start to smell. 

Adding a pad to your crib mattress will simply provide that sanitary sleeping surface your baby deserves.

2- It helps prevent bacteria growth and dust mite allergies

Another side effect of body fluids soaking into the mattress is the spread of bacteria. A waterproof mattress pad is an excellent protection for your baby. 

Moreover, dust mites live where they can find dead skin cells, and over time, a mattress can be full of it. Dust mite allergies are well-known to cause sneezing, runny nose, and shortness of breath. Therefore, the pad keeps the bed extra clean by acting as a barrier between the sheets and the mattress.

3- It makes the bed easier to clean

After an accident, you simply take out the sheets, plus the pad, and toss them in the washer. Don’t worry, most crib mattress pads are machine washable and dryer friendly. 

Without a mattress pad, you’ll have to take out the mattress from the bed, wipe it, and then clean the surface with antibacterial soap. Besides, your kid won’t have a dry mattress to sleep on for hours. At that moment, you’ll be disappointed in yourself and ask why you didn’t get the pad.

4- It protects the mattress warranty

The expensive bed you bought came with a warranty, but it could be voided if the mattress has a stain. 

5- It extends the lifespan of the mattress

The added protection from the pad will increase the lifespan of the mattress. Without it, you could have to replace the mattress sooner. With the protection, you’ll be able to use the mattress from the crib into the transition bed.

6- It makes the bed more comfortable

The extra quilted padding creates a soft and cushy layer for your kid to sleep through the night. Also, it separates your baby from the cold plastic mattress when it’s time to fall asleep. 

On top of that, some mattress pads are manufactured with specialized fabrics, such as organic cotton, to provide better absorbance capacity.

Do I Really Need to Add a Waterproof Pad on a Waterproof Mattress?

Sure the mattress you bought is waterproof, and your thinking you don’t need a waterproof pad after all. In this situation, the benefit of the pad is more about the convenience and the easy to clean aspect. 

This is where you need to imagine yourself waking up at 2 AM, your baby busted his diaper, and you need to change the whole bed. With the extra padding, you simply take the sheets and the pad off the bed before putting fresh ones. Without the pad, you need to find your cleaning material and wipe the mattress before changing the sheets. 

Those extra actions will keep you and your baby awake longer, make it difficult to fall back asleep. Trust me, you need to optimize the time of those middle-of-the-night operations.

Is a Crib Mattress Pads Safe?

Mattress pads are safe in general, but you need to use them correctly, especially with a young baby. 

However, you shouldn’t put your newborn baby to sleep on a mattress pad, because they could roll over and suffocate. For the same reasons, you don’t add any blanket, pillow, or plush toys with your newborn.

Here’s how you can keep your child safe:

1. Make sure the pad fits the mattress perfectly, without any loose section.
2. Secure the pad into the bed by using the straps if possible.
3. Always check if the pad has move or slide during the night and make the adjustment if necessary.

Do I Change the Mattress Pad Every Time I Change the Sheet?

You don’t need to change the mattress pad every time you change the sheets, except when spills occurred. 

On the other hand, if you are lucky enough and 2 months have passed without any messy accidents, I would recommend changing the pad. The sheets will absorb most of the average moisture and dust, but after 60 days, the pad should be clean too.

What about the lifespan of the mattress pad?

A good mattress pad will have a longer lifespan, as the sheets catch most of the wear and tear. I have personally been using the same pads for the last 7 years.

How Many Crib Mattress Pads Do I Need?

You’ll never have too many mattress pads, especially if you have more than one kid. I would recommend a minimum of 2 per child, and here’s why.

From my experience, children can have multiple “accidents” during one night. Especially if they are sick, you might have to change the bed 2 or 3 times. Every parent can tell you how they change the bed every hour when their kids got really sick.

Some of my friends are so adapted to this kind of situation, they use the sheet over pad over sheet over pad technique. Basically, they are doubling the layers on the mattress when their kid catches a stomach bug. That way they simply, clean their kid, take the first layer off, and go back to sleep. They have master the art of taking care of a sick kid at night.

The bottom line, you’ll need a backup plan, so make sure you have at least one spare.

What is the Best Crib Mattress Pad? 

When you start looking at a mattress pad for a crib or a toddler’s bed, you’ll notice the following types:

1. The fitted pad that wraps around the mattress as typical sheets.
2. The pads cover only the surface and tie to each corner using elastic straps.
3. The basic pad is very similar to a changing pad.

All 3 categories are functional, but I would recommend the fitted pad or at least the one with the straps. These pads will stay in place, and you won’t have to reposition time (almost) every night. 

The fitted pad, such as this one sold on Amazon, offers the best protection against spills. And if you want the best crib pad for your kid, you should check out the Naturepedic Waterproof Fitted Crib Pad. It’s my favorite because it’s made in the US with non-toxic materials.

Takeaway

Mattress pads are great because they make a safe and comfortable bed for your child. Moreover, you’ll be able to easily clean the bed when needed.

My mattress pads are still a great help, even if my kids are not babies anymore. I think every kid’s bed needs it, and you should also get a second one in case you need a backup plan during the night.