BTDT moms--how should a crib mattress fit?

At our infant care class, the lady said it should be super super tight, almost like its too big for the crib

Ours is very snug on the length (the longer sides of the crib)

but its not that tight on the shorter ends...


Is that ok? Will baby fall in there if its not super tight?

I also should add, this is how it is with NO mattress pad on or crib sheet on, so obviously it will be more snug then

Re: BTDT moms--how should a crib mattress fit?

I don't know that I would say our crib mattress fits like it's too big for the crib but it's snug enough to all sides of the crib. There is NO way possible DD could get caught between the mattress and the crib rails. Honestly, I don't know that you have to worry too much because as far as I could tell when we were shopping for crib mattresses they all seemed to be a standard size so I'm sure your mattress is perfectly fine.

Re: BTDT moms--how should a crib mattress fit?

When you put the sheets on, it will probably suck the mattress in more, creating a larger gap. I would test it with the sheets and see. If the gap is more than 4cm, I would get a new mattress.

My crib has a gap at the head or foot (depending on how you shift the mattress). I thought it was the crib, the CPSC came out to inspect it. Said the crib was regulation and that it looked like the mattress was compressing at the ends because of the snug fitting sheets. Totally made sense because it wasn't like that when she was a newborn and the crib mattress was brand new.

Now my mattress was a cheap Sealy $75 one from Target, so maybe that's why. I have always used the bumpers so I don't have an issue. They fill the gap, and my DD is 2.