Mattresses-Foam

Back again....
So foam mattresses.....
Here's what I know.....
A) Colgate Classica 1-If it's a firm mattress you are looking for and only the firmest will do, this is it. You can stand on this and it won't depress beneath your weight.
1. FIRM...pediatricians will tell you that firm is best. You should not be able to press your hands together when squeezing the mattress.
2. SQUARE CORNERS...eliminating any space between the mattress and the crib. No extra space and your sheets will fit better.
3. HIGHLY RATED....Consumer Reports has rated this the number one mattress for the past 10 years, give or take. Not bad.
4. LIGHTWEIGHT....this mattress weighs about 8 pounds. Not bad at 2 in the morning as you're trying to blindly change a sheet after an especially nice diaper blowout. FUN. BEEN THERE, DONE THAT...TOO OFTEN.

B) Colgate Visco Elastic-This is technically the mattress I own. He's rarely slept on it...he likes our bed better but I love this mattress.
1. 2-STAGE SYSTEM...this mattress has two sides. The first side is the same density as the Classica. Extremely firm. The second side is 2 inches of Visco foam, otherwise known as memory foam. This foam makes the second side much softer for the older baby. You shouldn't flip the mattress until the baby is older...my estimation is about 9 months but maybe a call to Colgate is in order for the exact timeframe.
2. THICKER THAN THE CLASSICA 1....that means your sheets will fit better and not be too bunchie.
3. SQUARED-EDGES...still fits snugly inside the crib without leaving room side-to-side or in the corners.

C) MOONLIGHT SLUMBER SUPREME...the manufacturer is based in Illinois. This specific product is the number one seller in our store. Awesome product. I wouldn't hesitate to say that the overwhelming majority of our staff or their grandchildren own this product. That might be quite telling.
1. Completely water-proof, stain-proof, germ-proof and anti-bacterial and anti-microbial.
2. Great product for babies with allergies and asthma.
3. This product is not sewn shut or glued shut. It is heat-sealed. Nothing can penetrate the cover to cause cross-infection later.
4. Dust-mite proof.
5. two-stage system. The first side is a firm foam, high density for the newborn in your life. The second side has memory foam that is of a softer consistency. Memory foam conforms to the babies body.
6. two inches of extra firm foam borders the mattress to keep the baby from hitting the sides of the crib. Do I know if that works? Nope....but it is certainly a fine selling point.

The manufacturer would tell you that a waterproof mattress pad is not necessary for their product. I am here to tell you that though it may not be necessary, it sure is a nice thing to have on their mattress at 2 in the morning after an especially bad night. I don't know anyone who wants to wash down their mattress at 2, 3, or 4 a.m while their baby is screaming and the parents themselves can barely see straight. It's much easier to remove a mattress pad and throw another one on instead. I cannot see myself scrubbing down a pishy, poopie or pukey mattress if all I have to do is rip off the pad.

That's all I have for now, friends.
Check back later for my chit-chat on organic crib mattresses.
If there is a mattress you are thinking of that I haven't talked about, please ask and I will do some research for you.
The Baby Planner.

My credentials

Good evening, All!
I was told it would help if I gave my credentials to those of you reading this blog.
I started my foray into the baby furniture/accessories world in 1991, working for a large juvenile franchise until 2002. In 2003 I started working for an established family-owned baby furniture store in the Chicagoland area. That is where I am and hope to stay for many years to come. It's a great place to work and sometimes I feel closer to the people I work with than some of the people who surround me in my day-to-day life. It's a true family there. We all respect each other and I, for one, love to come to work. It's something different every day. No monotony here, folks. So, on with the show. Next blog? Mattresses. I know I said that last time but next time...is next time.

And so it begins.....

So I've always said I wanted to do this. I wanted to help people figure out what they needed for their babies. To help them pick out the things they need and want.
I have been doing it professionally for about 18 years. I couldn't even begin to count the amount of strollers I've folded, the crib sides I've dropped, or the bedding I've folded...the dust ruffles I've straightened. It would seem, to some, a monotonous job. Something boring or unfulfilling.
Those things couldn't be further from the truth. Think about it. A couple come into the store. They are expecting their first child. The happiest times of their lives are ahead of them. Their lives are about to change more than at any other time. And they have...no...idea...what's...ahead.
It's my job to show them the way. To help them choose their furniture, to show them strollers suited just for their lifestyle, to explain the features and benefits.
And I love every silly second of it. Yes, sometimes I get burned out. Sometimes I don't think I can fold one more stroller or explain one more time how the Mustela breast pump works.
But then a customer will walk through the door and she won't have any idea what a burp cloth is for or how many uses it has and I will get excited all over again. Am I a dork? Yes, but I'm okay with it if you are.
Tomorrow...mattresses. Colgate or Moonlight Slumber? Organic or not?