Crib Mattress Height - When Should I Change It?

Updated on December 05, 2006
S.F. asks from Charlotte, NC
12 answers

My son's crawling well, but not yet pulling up - he sits up and crawls independantly. I'm wondering when should I adjust his mattress height and should I do this one step at a time, our crib has 3 or 4 height adjustments. He loves playing with his crib toy at night (projector,music,lights,etc) and soothing himself to sleep, and then in the morning playing with it quietly! How did you guys do this, and did your baby have some sleep disturbance or adjustments to make once you changed things? Thanks in advance for any positive feedback or suggestions.

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So What Happened?

Thanks everyone! I've decided to combine your advice and do this slowly! We have dropped it 1/2 way as of this week, and he's just now showing some ability to pull up, so we'll wait 1-2 weeks and drop it all the way! Thanks so much!

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J.S.

answers from Lynchburg on

I lowered the crib mattress to the lowest setting as soon as my son could sit up and it didn't seem to bother him at all.

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J.W.

answers from Norfolk on

I changed it when my son learned how to pull himslef up to stand. And I lowered it all the way because I figured I would have to do it two more time eventually, and he talls enough to look over the railing so he doesnt care. If any of your sons bedtime toys can be moved up and down the railing, go ahead and move them, and since he sits up put them at a height where he can play with them sitting up. ( and myabe one just out of reach to help with crawling?) My sons moblie has a mirror on the side and I can adjust the height the mobile so I left it but he still plays with it! It didnt change anything in his schedule. I just have to remember to lower the side when I take him out so the nest time I put him in there i dont have to "drop him in."
~Jenn

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S.M.

answers from Huntsville on

I moved ours down when they started sitting up by themselves, and sleep routine was the same.. Nothing changed just the height of the mattress.

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J.

answers from Spartanburg on

I found my little girl (almost 6 months) standing up in the crib yesterday. she has been sitting for a while, not yet crawling so i had only lowered it 1 notch. i pulled her out and lowered it all the way. You might as well lower it all the way because there is no telling when your son will pull up. she had no problems sleeping in the crib last night.

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B.H.

answers from Montgomery on

if he is crawling and sitting up it is time to lower it all the way cause he can pull up at any time and u don't want that to be in the middle of the night and u not know it and he gets hurt...

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C.C.

answers from Charlotte on

As soon as my son was able to sit up, I lowered the bed all the way down. It made no difference to him. He slept the same. I lowered it because you never know how fast of a pase that your little one will learn new things like pulling up and I didn't want him to lean or fall over the rails. My son has a toy in his crib that he still plays with and he is 10 months. You can leave it in.

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A.W.

answers from Baton Rouge on

if you think its an issue then just lower it we used our at the highest when our boy was a baby and when he started getting active and such we lowered it all the way. its not gonna do any harm if its all the way down and you wouldn't want to take any chances

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S.C.

answers from Killeen on

As long as if you stand your baby up the top of the rail comes to about midway between his nipples and shoulders, he'll be safe if he does start pulling up. Drop it all the way, or do it as he grows. He won't notice, he has that awesome crib toy!

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S.

answers from Spartanburg on

We lowered ours when our daughter was 6 months old. She also decided to crawl, sit up, and pull up all within two weeks of each other. She had no problem with sleeping or the height difference. You may consider actually lowering it a couple of notches now in case he decides to surprise you and pull up some morning in his crib. He should be fine though and not really notice a difference after you lower it. It is the same bed, the same mattress so he should be fine.

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D.R.

answers from Asheville on

Adjusting the height will not disturb sleep patterns, at least it didn't with my 2 kids. As soon as mine were able to sit up I lowered the mattress. Since I am short I put it down 1 notch at a time, depending on their individual height. I know with my son it was down all the way in no time cuase he was very tall. I figured if it was chest height then it needed to be lowered. With my daughter she never got all the way down before she was put into a toddler bed. She was very short until now. It depends on the individual.

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A.D.

answers from Charlotte on

We have five children and when they could sit up, the mattress was lowered all the way! We have a great schedule also with sleeping and the adjustment did not bother them. Although they did not really play with their musical toy on the side like your baby does. I would suggest moving your mattress down however much that your son will not topple over if/when he decides to pull up. Put him in the crib on each adjustment and figure the level out that suits him best. For the toy try putting the straps around the side bars instead of over the top bar, but tie it to the bottom of the crib so he can't lift it and the toy slide back down and hit his body anywhere. Good Luck!

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E.D.

answers from Asheville on

We lowered the mattress all the way as soon as my boys could roll over. You just never know when they will pull up, and you don't want to find out the hard way! I never experienced any disturbance with the lower mattress, and you'll sleep better knowing your baby is safe.

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