A dual-firmness infant mattress should be flipped when the baby turns about 12 months old, moving from the firm infant side to the softer toddler side. A single-firmness infant mattress is never flipped.
Infant Mattresses
When to flip infant mattress?
Many infant mattresses are two-sided, with one firm face for newborns and a softer face for toddlers. Flipping them for wear is optional, so check the manufacturer's label before turning the mattress. Foam mattresses with a single firmness gain nothing from flipping, and a baby's light weight rarely creates body impressions that would justify it.
- A dual-firmness infant mattress has two sides, firm for infants and softer for toddlers, and the switch is usually made at about 12 months.
- A single-firmness infant mattress has one sleep surface and is not designed to be flipped.
- An infant mattress is a foam or innerspring construction, and foam types most often carry CertiPUR-US certification.
- Most mattress guidance says to replace a mattress about every 7 to 10 years, and an infant mattress is often outgrown sooner.