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Believe it or not, studies have indicated that what a person sleeps on early in life could have an impact on future back health and posture. That’s kind of scary, right? You have a lot to do with your child’s health in a lot of ways, but did you ever think you’d be impacting their long-term back health? Yeah, I didn’t either.
Thankfully, Sealy is pretty well-known in large mattresses, so in this Sealy Ortho Rest Crib Mattress Review, we’ll dwell into the features of the mattress, where to find it, and some decent alternatives too.
They’re affordable, and you may even be able to find one second hand. Just make sure it’s in good shape first. Don’t let a second-hand mattress give you pause, especially if money is tight. This particular Sealy mattress is actually made to be easy to clean and germ-free.
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About the Sealy Ortho Rest
The Sealy Ortho Rest is a firm crib mattress, as it’s supposed to be. To the touch, it’s much firmer than an adult mattress, because it’s made to support your baby’s head. This helps reduce the risk of suffocation and SIDS.
It also helps keep your baby comfortable until they can roll over on their own. A soft or squishy crib mattress will only allow your child to sink into it, which is dangerous for a young baby.
It’s covered in vinyl, which reduces the amount of moisture and bacteria that can creep into the inside. It’s an innerspring mattress, rather than a foam or double-sided variety, which some people don’t care for, while others don’t seem to mind.
The price is also right, at just a fraction of the cost of other premium crib mattresses. Of course, this mattress also can’t tout things like “organic” or “recyclable” so it’s up to you if that’s something you want to pay for or not. I never did.
My Initial Experience
I bought this crib mattress for my daughter is 2010, and she began sleeping in her crib immediately upon bringing her home from the hospital. She never co-slept with us, and we never had her in a bassinet in our room. I know, we’re heathens. But it’s just the way we decided to do things. And I’m so glad we did.
I didn’t buy mine second-hand, but we were on a tight budget at the time, so we chose this one because we could afford it, even brand new.
I put a waterproof mattress pad on it with a crib sheet over that. Some people don’t like vinyl crib mattresses because they tend to be crinkly, but the thick mattress pad plus the crib sheet muffled all of the sounds and made it soft.
We never had a problem with it being noisy or uncomfortable for you. And let me tell you: she slept through the night from three months old on. She never woke up in the middle of the night again. Now, I don’t know if I can really attribute that to the mattress, or good parenting, or a good baby. But what I can say is that the mattress certainly didn’t cause us any problems.
It was firm and flat across the top. It fits in the crib perfectly. It passed the gap test, and she never rolled to either edge in the middle of the night. She was always right where I left her until she learned to roll on her own. The edges are formed enough that the mattress pad and the crib sheet stayed put. I never had any problems with them wiggling loose, no matter how my daughter moved.
The mattress was also light enough that I could change the sheets without lifting it all the way out of the crib. Plus, on the rare occasion I forgot to put the mattress pad back on the mattress, the vinyl was easy to wipe down.
After Two Kids
When my daughter was 18 months old, my first son came along. We moved our daughter to a twin bed and gave the crib mattress to our son. He slept in it for two and half years with the same experience.
He was sleeping through the night at 3 months old, I was able to change the sheets easily, and he never rolled or sunk into the mattress.
We’ve now totaled 4 years of a baby sleeping on the mattress. Despite leaky diapers and both my daughter and my son dealing with a terrible case of acid reflux, the mattress had yet to exhibit any odors and minimal staining.
Although the vinyl had started to tear in a couple of places, it was still holding up nicely and hadn’t gotten brittle yet.
After Three Kids
By the time I got pregnant with my third child, we were still using the Sealy Ortho Rest crib mattress. It was unbelievable. This son was born at a whopping 9 pounds, so he was about to put it to the test.
To my surprise, we once again experience the same thing. He slept semi-wonderfully. I mean, they can’t all be winners. He didn’t sleep through the night until he was 18 months old. Given his personality these days, I think we can attribute that to him being, well, him.
The mattress held firm, even under his rapidly growing, 99th percentile body. He was a giant of a child, and the mattress only then began to show signs of a slight indentation where any of my children slept on it. He slept on it for 2 years until his baby brother came. It’s been slept on at this point for 6 years and survived 3 kids, one of which was huge. Will it survive? Let’s find out.
After Four Kids
My last son arrived three weeks early and already weighed more than 8 pounds. He began sleeping (if you can call it sleeping) on the mattress, but he had some health problems, so he didn’t sleep well. Again, I don’t think we can attribute this to the mattress.
However, after about a year of him sleeping on it, the mattress began to show some true signs of wear and tear. The vinyl dried out and became brittle. Surprisingly, it still didn’t smell, but it did show some staining.
It was also pretty seriously indented from where everyone had slept, and it began sagging to one side. Still, by now we’re up to 7 years and 4 kids. I’d say that’s a pretty good run for a mattress I paid less than $100 for.
My Honest Thoughts
I think there are better mattresses out there. If you’re looking for something that’s made of better materials, that’s organic, or that you can recycle when you’re done, then the Sealy Ortho Rest certainly isn’t the mattress for you.
But I can’t think of another crib mattress that could have given us 7 years of solid, heavy use. I also didn’t think one single crib mattress would last through all 4 of our children. I thought for sure we’d have to buy a new one for each of them.
If you’re on a budget and you don’t mind the vinyl, the Sealy Ortho Rest is perhaps the best affordable crib mattress you can buy. It’s an excellent quality mattress that only wore out over time, not because it wasn’t well made.
Where to Buy
Sealy mattresses are sold nearly everywhere. It’s a popular brand, so if you think this is the crib mattress you want for your baby, you can find it at Wal-Mart, Target, any baby store, or any furniture store that sells mattresses.
The prices may vary a bit, but probably not enough to matter. You can likely find it online as well, at any of these stores, or on Amazon. It’ll be worth it if you can get free shipping, too.
Alternatives
If you like the look of the Sealy, but you’re still not sure, here are some other options you may want to consider before making a final decision.
Graco Premium Foam Crib Mattress in a Box
The fun thing about the Graco Premium Foam Mattress is that you get to take it out of the box and watch it expand. It’s a foam mattress that’s super breathable, so your baby will get the firm texture they need with help keeping them warm or cool at night.
It’s a premium mattress that’s lightweight and easy to carry. It comes with a water-resistant, removable cover and fits any standard size crib.
You need about two weeks to expand this mattress in a room temperature setting, so make sure you allow yourself plenty of time.
Keep in mind that foam will remember your child’s body better than innerspring, so it won’t last quite as long, but while it lasts, it’s a better experience for your little one.
Bundle of Dreams Eco-Air Crib Mattress
The Bundle of Dreams mattress is made of bundle fiber, which is a safer and healthier alternative to foam. It helps protect your baby from toxic emissions and doesn’t cause any off-gassing. It has an organic cotton sleep surface and provides lots of support.
It’s Greenguard Gold certified, you can recycle it when you’re done, and it’s totally hypoallergenic. It’s the perfect choice for those who want to make more earth-friendly life decisions or have a baby with more sensitive skin.
Serta Tranquility Eco Firm Crib Mattress
The Serta Tranquility Eco Firm mattress is a bit pricier, but it is dual-sided, so you can use the firm side for your infant and then flip it around when they are a toddler. There’s a waterproof vinyl cover that’s easy to wipe down and layers of orthopedic foam.
The wire border offers extra support and the square corners ensure a perfect fit. It’s a full 6 inches thick, so it’s one of the thickest innerspring mattresses on the market.
Sealy Soybean Foam-Core Crib Mattress
If you like the Sealy brand, but you want something a bit more eco-friendly, check the Sealy Soybean Foam-Core Crib Mattress one out. It has a soybean foam core made from pure soybeans grown by American farmers.
It has a waterproof, stain-resistant cover that you can easily wipe down, so you don’t have to worry about dust, liquid, dander, or other dirt. It’s also Greenguard Gold and CertiPur-US certified.
FAQs
Answer: All Sealy crib mattresses are Greenguard Gold certified. That means you can rest assured you’ll have a healthy indoor environment for your baby, with no off-gassing. They’re tested for chemical emissions and they all pass strict standards.
They’re manufactured to be firm enough for newborns and they’re sized for the perfect fit in standard cribs.
Answer: Which crib mattress is best for you will depend on what you’re looking for. Clearly, my experience with the Sealy Ortho Rest was excellent, but if you’re looking for a foam crib mattress, it’s not going to work for you.
If you want a hypoallergenic crib mattress, the Sealy Baby Posturepedic Crown Jewel Luxury Firm crib mattress or the Bundle of Dreams Eco-Air crib mattress are both excellent choices.
However, if you want something you can recycle when you’re done, you might check out the Naturepedic Lullaby Earth, Bundle of Dreams Eco-Air, or Avocado Green.
If you want something dual-sided that you can use for a newborn and for a toddler, there are plenty of options there, too, just be aware that these tend to be a bit pricier.
Answer: The average crib mattress lasts 3-5 years. My experience may or may not have been unique. Every mattress is different. However, I never used my crib mattress in a toddler bed, so my kids never had the opportunity to jump on it or tear it up.
The lifespan of a mattress depends on whether it’s mold-resistant or waterproof, how it’s treated, whether you keep it protected with a mattress pad, and a whole lot more.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the Sealy Ortho Rest crib mattress is an excellent quality mattress that will last for a long time. It’s affordable and easy to clean. It’s an innerspring mattress with a vinyl outer layer that’s not too heavy.
It comes with a manufacturer guarantee, too. Based on my experience, it will last you for quite a bit longer than the average crib mattress if you take care of it.
If you’re looking for a mattress on a budget, it’s a great choice.
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