In our grandparents’ time, buying a mattress wasn’t much of a problem since there was only one type available — stuffed with coir. We have an embarrassment of riches, from the regular spring and foam types to the therapeutic ones. “We have a variety of mattresses, right from coir to rubberised foam. We even have orthopaedic ones for people who suffer from problems of the spinal cord. These help get rid of backaches and prevent other spinal cord related ailments,” says S. Chowdhury of Kurlon Ltd, Calcutta.

However, with options galore consumers seem a bit dazed when it comes to selecting the right mattress, especially since they do not know what to look for. “A mattress that keeps your spine in proper alignment by maintaining the optimum body curvature is the right one. Sleeping on such a mattress will not only be comfortable but help maintain your spine in the correct posture,” says Dr Ranjan Kamilya, senior consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Apollo Gleaneagles Hospital, Calcutta.

And the best way to find out if a mattress is comfortable is the Goldilocks way — lie down for a few minutes and get a feel of it. According to Dr Shabnam Agarwal, director of education at NIHS and chief physiotherapist of the Calcutta-based Belle Vue Clinic, a three-inch, high-density rubberised coir mattress with one-inch, high-density foam is ideal as it’s both resilient and comfortable. “I generally recommend a firm mattress that prevents the body from sinking,” says Dr Tanushree Basak, physiotherapist, Nopany Physiotherapy Clinic, Calcutta.

Experts feel that four key points — support, comfort, space and matching sets — need to be kept in mind while purchasing a mattress. A good mattress should gently support your body at all points and keep your spine in the same shape as that of a person with a good standing posture. Cushioning materials and an extra-soft surface impart a plush and comfortable feel. A healthy sleeper moves between 40-60 times a night, including some dozen full body turns. If you sleep with a partner, be sure to select a queen or king-size mattress — both are not only wider but also several inches longer than the standard “double” mattress. And the best way to get your money’s worth is to buy pillows that go well with the mattress.

Another thing that you should consider is the cover of the mattress, the ticking. The stitching that binds the ticking to the top padding of the mattress affects the feel of it. A large well-spaced quilt pattern gives a cushy feeling while a closer pattern with smaller diamonds will give a firm feel. It’s advisable to buy a mattress that has one-inch batting (the padding between the ticking and the top layer of the mattress) as it provides a soft feel and makes the mattress breathable. You should also check if the corners of the mattress have extra support. Since most mattresses look the same, consumers are often duped into buying ones that sag easily or develop some other problem within a year or two. So always look for a warranty. “Don’t buy the ones that come with a guarantee of less than 10 years as that is the average life span of a mattress,” advises Dr Agarwal.

If you buy a spring mattress, ensure that the spring coils are heavy; otherwise the mattress will sag very soon. Remember, however, that doctors advise against using mattresses that are too soft because they might give you back pain. But that doesn’t mean you need a therapeutic mattress for a good night’s sleep.

Most of these special mattresses are made-to- order and often exorbitantly priced. Doctors and physiotherapists say that it’s very rare for them to prescribe such special mattresses. “It was only once that I asked a chronically ill patient to go for an orthopaedic mattress,” says Dr Basak.

“It’s not like only therapeutic mattresses guarantee maintenance of body contours and better sleep. I remember a case when a friend had bought an imported one. But it sagged within a month,” says Dr Agarwal. She maintains that many a time the manufactures infuse lime with foam to make the mattress look good and soft but such mattresses sag within a year or two. “It’s always advisable to buy a branded one and it pays to confirm the constituents of the mattress,” she says.

Are orthopaedic mattresses worth their cost? “No,” says Bijon Mishra, executive director of Consumer Voice, an online consumer awareness magazine. “Manufacturers create a dream in order to sell their goods. It’s up to buyers to do some analysis before investing,” he warns. He maintains that there is no such thing as a medicated or therapeutic mattress.

“I think those with ISO grading are the best ones. For it guarantees that the manufacturers have followed the guidelines while manufacturing the mattress. This also means replacement of defective goods and if a formal complaint is lodged with the consumer grievance cell, serious action can be taken against the manufacturer,” he says.

However, the best way to ensure that you’re a satisfied customer is to shop at a store you know and trust to give you good information, good service and top quality products. Educated and well-informed salespeople can guide you through the many choices. And buy the best quality mattress you can afford. It’s worth every penny that you spend.

She’s hitting a developmental transition.

She’s just back from a trip or you’ve just had an overnight guest.

She’s had a change in environment - for instance, a light is coming through from outside or a neighbor’s dog is barking.

Because your child is verbal, talk to her about what may be happening that is translating into her nighttime sleep issue. You want to make sure there isn’t something going on emotionally with your child that is legitimately distressing her.

For instance, she may be adjusting to starting camp or preschool, or grappling with potty training, or perhaps a new baby has entered the family.

“There may be something churning inside of them that they need to process,” Waldburger says.

Sometimes, even though the child can talk, she may not be able to articulate what is troubling her. That’s where you’ll have to also examine her schedule and surroundings. “It’s really the parents’ job to look at what else is going on in their child’s world right now,” Waldburger says.

During the day, address whatever issues you think might be upsetting your child. For instance, if she just started a summer camp, you might have to validate that going to camp can be scary but Mommy and Daddy always come back. You might have to send her with a photo of the family or a special stuffed animal to help her through the day.

If you just started potty training, you might have to back off, Waldburger says. Pushing a child to progress in one area might cause her to regress in another, she says.

Meanwhile, you can have one parent sleep in the child’s room with her temporarily, on the floor on an air mattress. “It’s better to bring the support to the child’s environment,” Waldburger says. “It’s easier to transition out of that than to get the child out of your bed again. You want to be really clear. Keep reminding your child, ‘We’re just doing this for a little while to help you.’”

Then it’s absolutely appropriate to try dealing with the sleep issue as a behavioral issue again. Gradually move out of her room, perhaps literally by moving your air mattress a few feet from her bed each night until you are back in the master bedroom.

If necessary, try a rewards chart again. Waldburger wouldn’t impose punitive consequences. Kids take on shame when punished for sleep issues, she says.

Be firm, patient and loving, and your once-solid sleeper can make it through the night again, Waldburger says.

When you’re crib shopping, you may be tempted to buy the showiest model, and bumper guards and coverlets that say your nursery is fit for a prince or princess. Resist the temptation. The safest cribs are basic; they have simple lines and no scrollwork or finials–infants can strangle if their clothing gets caught in such detail work. Heeding this advice will get you a safer crib and it will save you money.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the best sleeping arrangement for a newborn is a full-size crib or safety-approved bassinet or cradle; it advises keeping your baby’s crib, cradle, or bassinet in your bedroom until she’s at least 6 months old. After that, it’s fine to move the crib to the nursery. But we think full-size cribs, which are federally regulated, are better than bassinets and cradles, for which there are only voluntary standards.

Place your baby’s crib well away from windows, window blinds, wall hangings, curtains, toys, and other furniture so that an adventurous baby can’t get at anything dangerous.

For safety’s sake, monitor your child’s development closely and stop using a crib as soon as your toddler can climb out. At that point, consider a bed with child railings or put the mattress on the floor. Don’t put your child back into the crib after the first “escape,” regardless of his age. A child attempting to climb out of a crib can fall and be seriously injured.

• To reduce the risk of SIDS and suffocation, place your baby to sleep on its back (unless your pediatrician advises otherwise) at naptime and nighttime in a crib that meets all safety standards with a firm, tight-fitting mattress. You shouldn’t be able to fit more than two fingers between the sides of the crib and the mattress at any point.
• Place your baby’s crib well away from windows, window blinds, wall hangings, draperies, and other furniture so that an adventurous baby can’t get at anything dangerous.
• Don’t put your baby to sleep on a waterbed, sofa, sheepskin, quilt, soft mattress, air mattress, pillow, or bean bag chair. The fluffy bedding materials and soft surfaces can allow a dangerous buildup of carbon dioxide from the baby’s own breathing. Rebreathing exhaled carbon dioxide has been identified as a potential cause of SIDS.
• Remove all soft, fluffy, or loose bedding and other items from your baby’s crib, including quilts, bumper pads, decorative (or any) pillows and stuffed animals. Replace loose crib blankets with a wearable sleep sack.
• Buy a new crib; a safe crib doesn’t have to be expensive.
• Don’t use a crib with loose, broken, or missing slats, spindles, or hardware, cut-out designs in the headboard or footboard, cracked or peeling paint, splinters or rough edges. And don’t try to repair the crib yourself, or jury-rig it with string or shoelaces. Regularly tighten hardware to keep sides firm.
• Don’t dress your baby too warmly. Overheating may be a contributor to SIDS. Keep the temperature in your baby’s room between 68 and 72 degrees F. Your baby shouldn’t feel hot to the touch.
• Consider using a pacifier at naptime and bedtime. Some studies have shown that use of a pacifier may reduce the risk of SIDS. If your baby is breast-fed, wait to introduce a pacifier until 1 month of age, after breast-feeding is firmly established. But if your baby doesn’t like a pacifier, don’t force them to take it. Begin weaning your baby off the pacifier after their first birthday.
• Don’t let your baby share your bed. In addition to the risk that you might roll onto your baby, adult beds pose other hazards. For example, your baby could get trapped between the bed and a wall, headboard, bed frame, or other object. Accidental suffocation in soft bedding is another danger, or your baby could fall off the bed. If you breast-feed your baby in bed, be sure to return her to the crib afterward.
• Don’t use an electric blanket, heating pad, or even a warm water bottle to heat your baby’s crib. An infant’s skin is highly heat-sensitive and can be burned by temperatures comfortable to an adult.
• Educate your parents and other caregivers who may be with your baby at naptime or nighttime about these safe sleeping tips.

As we wrote in June, the Consumer Product Safety Commission recalled 320,000 cribs made by Jardine Enterprises and sold for the past six years at retail and online outlets of Toys ‘R’ Us properties. The reason for the recall? The wooden slats and spindles can break, leading to entrapment and strangulation hazards. At the time of the recall, the CPSC had received 42 reports of crib slats and spindles breaking including four in which children became entrapped in the gap created by the broken piece. Two children were scraped or bruised.

The recall notice directed owners of the cribs to the Jardine Web site, which spells out details on getting a voucher for a replacement crib. Many parents who wrote us were surprised to see that they had to dismantle the crib and follow a multi-step process to get the voucher. Here’s what they’re directed to do after they request a recall kit:

• Remove mattress support hardware and identification label using the kit’s instructions and Allen key that is provided.
• Place the bolts, mattress support plates, identification label and signed acknowledgment form in the prepaid shipping envelope provided.
• Send the envelope to Jardine via UPS.

Those who send in the hardware and acknowledgment are promised a voucher in “one to two weeks,” a time period most parents thought was too long. As Sarah wrote, “I am an owner of one of the recalled cribs—I contacted the manufacturer immediately and am furious to find out that the process involves me shipping the bolts and screws along with the mattress supports to the manufacturer before getting the voucher for a new crib—which is stated to take 1-2 weeks. Where does the manufacturer think my child will sleep in the meantime?”

Jane, a grandparent who bought two of the cribs, agreed and added, “I purchased two of these cribs for two of my grandkids. Now, I am supposed to go through the difficult process of submitting for a voucher. In the meantime, each child will be without a crib during the delay.”

A self-described, “Annoyed Mom,” was also troubled by the fact that her baby needed alternate sleeping accommodations while she goes through the replacement process. “Theoretically we will EVENTUALLY get a new crib for our son, but it seems like we will be up to a month of “camping” in a borrowed pack and play until that actually happens! What a nightmare for an already harried household and a great way to upset our 6 month old’s fragile sleeping habits!!! Grrrr.”

We hear your frustration. Our advice: Don’t be tempted to put your little one in your adult bed while you are waiting to receive a voucher; that can be a risky practice that poses suffocation hazards. Instead, place your child in a portable crib or playyard, which will be a much safer, albeit temporary, sleeping environment.

A spokesman for the CPSC says that the agency is taking steps to guide parents through the process. “From the day the recall was first announced, CPSC has strongly advised parents to not place their babies and toddlers in those Jardine cribs that were recalled,” said Scott Wolfson.

“To help parents deal with the challenge of finding a safe alternative sleeping environment for their children, CPSC partnered with a non-profit organization that is helping economically disadvantaged families that are desperately in need of a free crib. Parents can contact CPSC Public Affairs at 301-504-7908 if they face this situation,” he said.

“Additionally, CPSC worked with Toys ‘R’ Us and Babies ‘R’ Us to ensure that all of their stores would accept the Jardine vouchers for reimbursement, if a family went out today to buy a new crib, Wolfson said. “This also applies to online purchases of new cribs. Ensuring that babies are placed in safe cribs is among our highest priorities.”

This recall involves the full size 2nd Nature Built to Grow cribs, model number 353-14-220. Model and serial numbers are located on the headboard.

The crib is natural maple in color. Only the following serial numbers are included in the recall: 353-14-220-L-01, 353-14-220-L-02, 353-14-220-L-03, 353-14-220-L-04, 353-14-220-L-05, 353-14-220-L-06, 353-14-220-L-07, 353-14-220-L-08, 353-14-220-L-101, and 353-14-220-L-103. The recall does not include cribs sold after December 2007.

Consumers can contact Stanley Furniture at 888-839-6822 Monday through Friday to determine if the crib is subject to this recall, and if it is, to receive a free replacement crib headboard or visit www.youngamerica.com.

Restonic’s promotionally priced, 70th anniversary ComfortCare™ innerspring line includes a cashmere Euro top plush mattress (shown) that features a RestoFoam™ and Quiltflex™ comfort quilt and a RestoFoam™ and Dunlop latex comfort layer.

Simmons’ Natural Elite mattresses feature Talalay latex made from biodegradable materials that are resistant to dust mites, mold and mildew; a layer of soy-enhanced base foam; and soy-enhanced foam edge support. Other features include Simmons’ smooth-top EvenLoft construction, a natural knit cover made from wood fibers and a Triton® foundation made from 100 percent sustainable wood and up to 80 percent recycled steel. Pikes Peak (shown) is one of the collection’s four mattress models.

Englander is going to market with a back-to-basics strategy in an attempt to make the case for two-sided mattresses. Englander’s American Spirit Collection might be promotionally priced, but it provides posh presentation possibilities, with its clean white ticking and woven-basket border. The pillow-top model is shown.

Natura World’s Eco Transcend mattress features all-natural Talalay latex atop ash wood dual slats for a supportive feel that adjusts to the body’s curves. The removable cushion top is filled with 2 inches of natural latex and a layer of organic Natura Grow Wool™ for a temperature-controlled sleep.

Sealy will debut its new Posturepedic line, PurEmbrace, at the Las Vegas Market, July 28-Aug. 1. The line features Sealy’s Pressure Relief Inlay system and proprietary, hypoallergenic Smart Latex™. The Angelica Falls model (shown) features a cushion-firm Euro top, microsuede and cotton-weave border, and a lush knit surface.

• Keep your bedroom cool, dark and quiet. Eliminate distractions such as TV, computers and ticking clocks.

• Avoid trying to sleep. The harder you try, the more awake — and anxious — you’ll become.

• Hide the clocks in your bedroom to avoid checking the time obsessively in the middle of the night.

• Don’t eat or drink too much before bedtime. Avoid alcohol because it may initially make you feel sleepy, but it can cause frequent wakings and restless sleep.

• Take time to relax before bedtime. A warm bath, snack or massage from a partner may help prepare you for sleep.

• Make sure your mattress is giving you the right support and comfort you need. Many mattresses become saggy after 5-7 years.

• Don’t spend too much time in bed. If you aren’t sleeping, get out of bed. You can’t force yourself to sleep by lying in bed.

• Use sleeping pills only as a last resort, and check with a doctor before taking any sleep medications.

In this day and age when families usually comprise of a mother and father, many a times a nanny, and little or no guidance from elders, this doubt is further compounded. First-time parents have no clue on the best ways to look after their delicate newborn.

“Newborns need special support while being held, because they lack the muscle strength and motor control to hold their heads until they’re two to three months old,” says Dr Chadamas Juljerm, a neonatologist at St Louis Hospital.

The key to holding your newborn is a “gentle touch”, as physical contact between parent and child is important for development, she says.

Always approach your baby with confidence in your ability to hold the child and provide the child with the comfort and safety it needs. If you find yourself afraid of holding your baby or lack the confidence to do so, neither of you will enjoy being close, as babies are sensitive to touch.

What is shaken baby syndrome (SBS)?

The main reason of SBS is when a baby is forcefully shaken in an attempt to stop it from crying. Injury can also occur when the care-giver is too rough while playing with the baby. This action can bruise the brain causing severe blindness, brain damage, or in some cases death.

How to cope with a crying baby?

Dr Chadamas says that one way of coping with a baby’s crying is to hold it and walk around the room. Never shake the baby, as such an action will not help in stopping the baby from crying and may aggravate the situation. If you shake the baby, it may result in shaken baby syndrome.

Use only smooth, gentle and gliding motions when picking the infant up or putting her down. Avoid any sudden, rough, or jerky movements.

A baby hammock can be used, but do not forget to sway your baby in gentle movement.

All infants have periods of fussiness during their first few months, perhaps because they have an immature neurological system. And some babies are more sensitive to various noises, smells, and certain sensations.

One of the greatest parenting skills is “being patient”.

Above all, love and affection is the most important thing for your newborn. Babies need as much physical attention as possible in their first year.

Recreate the environment of your baby’s first home

Newborns could also be “fussy” if they miss their “home” (womb), and therefore, creating of an environment that is similar to the womb would help calm them.

Some techniques:

- Swaddle your baby in a blanket with her arms down. This duplicates the feelings of warmth and protection, and the “tight fit”, in the womb.

- Hold her while she is on her side or stomach rather than her back. This will decrease the baby’s sense of falling and keep her calm.

- Stimulate the whooshing noise, which is caused in the womb due to blood flowing through the mother’s arteries by running a hair dryer or fan.

- Gentle rhythmic swaying also resembles the movement of the womb.

There are many different ways to hold a baby, for both comfort and security. With careful practice you can become an expert handler of your newborn.

The Cradle Hold: One of the most natural and simple ways to hold a newborn baby. Put the baby on her back with her head against your elbow, providing support for his back with your free arm. This is a good position for talking to the baby or looking at it.

The Shoulder Hold: Rest the baby against your shoulder, with your hand on her neck and head for support. Put your other arm against her back. This position will allow her to hear your heart beat and breathing. Babies also sleep well in this position.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (Sids)

There are so many things to worry about as a new parent, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or “crib death” is one of them.

Many studies have found that babies who are put to sleep on their stomachs tend to suffer from Sids, and many baby experts recommend putting a newborn on their back.

However, Thais still put their babies to sleep on their tummy or on their side. Dr Chadamas recommends parents who do this should monitor their newborns often and never leave them alone.

Make sure there is no soft bedding underneath the baby. Use a mattress that fits the crib tightly. If you can fit more than two fingers between the edge of the crib mattress and the side of the crib, the mattress is too small.

An infant can suffocate if its head or body becomes wedged between the mattress and the crib sides.Never use a crib that has loose or missing slats. Be sure that all slats are securely fastened and the space between slats is no more than 6cm to avoid head entrapment/strangulation.

Bedding should not be too soft: It shouldn’t rise up around or cuddle around the child. Soft mattresses seem like a good choice from an adult perspective, but babies need a more solid sleep surface since they can’t lift their heads out of soft mattresses if they get turned over.

When your child reaches the age of two, she or he should sleep in a bed.