Will a crib mattress fit in a pack n play?

The play mattress pads with your pack-n-play should not be labeled as a mini crib mattress. You’ll feel wood slats in it even if you press it lightly. It resembles a cardboard sheet with a thin layer of sherpa foam.

You don’t have to use the mattress that comes with it. There are many alternatives available. These options can provide excellent support and are good in terms of pressure relief and comfort. 

But can a crib mattress fit into a pack-n-play?

In this post, we will find all about play mattresses, so scroll down to read further.

What’s Wrong with the Mattress Pad in the pack-n-play?

Each pack-n-play, regardless of your brand or size, comes with a firm pad instead of a mattress. This pad is a decent option for your baby to play on. But it is certainly not the best choice for your little one to sleep on (check 7 amazing pack n play mattresses).

This pad is hard and not comfortable. So the best thing you can do is let your little one play on it and look for other options to provide your baby with a comfortable surface to sleep on.

Get a separate memory foam mattress and fit it into the pack-n-play. A playard mattress and portable crib mattress are not too expensive, and you can easily keep them clean, so maintenance is not tough either.

Most of these waterproof mattress pads are easy to clean. If you want to refresh quickly, just wipe its waterproof washable cover using some baby wipes, water, and light soap.

You can even soak your mattress in a water tub, and some laundry soap does deep cleaning.

To keep the cleanup process to a minimum, you can use a mattress protector and some crib sheets. With this mattress topper, you will make your baby’s sleep surfaces even more comfortable.

Pack-n-play Mattress Safety

You have to be 100 percent sure that your little one is safe in the pack-n-play. So if you are adding a new mattress to it, will that be safe?

Yes, it will be safe. But you have to follow certain guidelines.

If you want to add a mattress to the pack-n-play, you must ensure that you get the right size. The mattress should fit perfectly in the pack-n-play. There shouldn’t be any gaps, and the fighting shouldn’t be uneven.

These gaps can put your baby at risk of suffocation or entrapment. Any gaps should be less than the width of your finger.

Going for a crib mattress won’t be a safe option because, in most cases, it won’t fit properly.

Use a highly breathable mattress. Your little one should be right at ease on the mattress. High breathability allows for better airflow, and better airflow keeps the bed free of any bacteria.

You also have to ensure that the baby is of the right age to be in the pack-n-play. The recommended age for this is 6 to 8 months. Babies belonging to this age group need firm mattresses. Otherwise, they won’t get enough support from their sleep surface, and it causes a higher risk of SID.

Does a Crib Mattress Easily Fit in Any Pack-n-Play?

No, a crib mattress with a standard-sized cannot fit into a pack-n-play. A standard crib mattress is 52 inches long and 28 inches wide, much larger than the measurements of a pack-n-play mattress which is 37.5 inches long and 26 inches wide.

Of course, you also have to consider the design and style of your pack-n-play as it can significantly alter the measurements when it comes to perfect fits. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you specify and measure your pack-n-play before making an order for the mattress.

What’s the difference between a pack n play mattress and mini crib mattress?

Pack n play mattresses are smaller and designed specifically to fit the dimensions of a standard pack n play. Mini crib mattresses are slightly larger and made for mini cribs. While mini crib mattresses may fit some pack n plays, they are often not an ideal fit. Stick to mattresses made for pack n plays.

Conclusion

Crib mattresses don’t fit well into pack-n-plays because they are slightly bigger. So you have to look for the right size to ensure the mattress is a perfect fit and has no gaps.

You can go for waterproofing or mattress toppers to make that much easier to clean and maintain. But going for a mattress in your pack-n-play is a much better option.