Lowering Your Baby's Crib Mattress

Baby in a crib smiling at dad nearby
  • 1 hours
  • Beginner
What You'll Need
Crib
Crib instructions
Screwdriver
What You'll Need
Crib
Crib instructions
Screwdriver

As babies get older and learn to stand up themselves, it may be no longer safe to have their crib mattress on the setting that it's at. While it is a little bit of a pain, it isn't too hard to change the setting to make it the perfect height for your little one. Here are a few steps for lowering a crib mattress.

Step 1 - Decide the Height

Picking the height depends on a couple of things. First of all, you have to look at the crib as well as the directions if you have them and see how many setting the crib even has. Typically there are about four. Then, you can decide based on the stage that your baby is at, whether or not they can stand up on their own, as well as the height of the crib. Usually the more movement the baby has and the higher it can reach, the lower you want the crib mattress so the baby can't stand up and fall out.

Note: If you aren't sure about the setting, you can check online, or even many baby books can give you a little insight as to where your baby should be around the age that they're at.

Step 2 - Take Off Sheets

Before you lower the mattress, it is easiest to take all of the sheets off right away so that you don't have to bother with them. Also, take off any mattress cover that may be on it.

Step 3 - Lower Mattress

Baby leaning over the edge of a crib

Unscrew the back screws (make sure you hold on to them) and then lower just the foot of the crib slowly to the setting that you decided upon in Step 1. Then, attach the screws back into the crib. After you are done with the foot of the crib, then move to the head. You can remove the screws from the crib and then move the mattress down to align itself with the setting you have selected. Finally, reattach these screws.

Step 4 - Test the Mattress

The best thing you can do after changing the mattresses setting is to find something that is of equal or a little heavier weight as your child and put it into the crib. This way you can test to make sure the settings are level, you screwed the screws in tight enough and your child can't fall, slide, or get hurt.

Step 5 - Put Sheets On

After you have made sure the crib is safe for your baby, you can put the mattress pad or cover back on, followed by the sheets you took off earlier.

You're done! You can rest assured your baby will get a good night's sleep and be safe in the crib you adjusted, which in turn means that you get a full night sleep too!