Simmons Baby Beautyrest Backcare VII Mattress -- I don't need a bed of roses...
Written: Aug 23 '06
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Affordable, 231 individual coils, 15 gauge steel wire, 9 gauge border rods, moisture/stain/allergen/microbe resistant, comfortable!!
Cons: You can only find it at Toys R Us or Babies R Us stores
The Bottom Line: If you're looking for an infant mattress, you definitely want to check out the Simmons Baby Beautyrest Backcare VII Mattress... even though it hates the Bottom Line.
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| gatorgirlie's Full Review: Simmons Baby Beautyrest Backcare Vii Mattress |
I have a bad back.
I have had one since my teens. With both a mild case of scoliosis and a weak lower back, I know what back pain feels like... and I also know how bad for you a crappy mattress can be. Before I found the mattress I'm currently using, I would wake up with neck and back pain so severe I could barely walk and migraines virtually every day. Then, one bright, shining day I finally coughed up the money on a fantastic mattress and said goodbye to pain. I was amazed that a good mattress truly can make all the difference in not only how your back, neck and head feels in the morning but also how rested you feel.
When I discovered I was pregnant, I was determined to do whatever I could to purchase a good mattress for my son. Your child’s mattress is perhaps the second-most important baby purchase you can make (right behind a good car seat). Remember, your child will spend the vast majority of their time on the mattress and they are growing at an exceptionally fast rate. The type of mattress you choose can impact your child’s spine, posture and how much effective sleep (ie: quality of sleep) they are getting each night. This translates into meaning you definitely want something that will support their growing bodies. It’s really not a marketing gimmick when they tell you that a large amount of the pain and tiredness you feel in the morning can be attributed to the mattress you are using at night.
That being said, I was shocked at the lack of information on infant mattresses. Very few manufacturers offer specific information (such as gauge of the wires) and very few organizations will even talk about what you need to look for. I discarded many mattresses I found online because all it would give you was the coil count, nothing more. Some of the brands wouldn’t even do THAT for you. Shopping for a baby’s mattress is completely different from shopping for an adult one… a too-soft mattress can impact their posture and growth, pose a suffocation risk and increase the possibility of SIDS. You want something firm and supportive, but not hard. Many people equate firm with hard, and that’s not necessarily the case. Remember, you need your baby to actually WANT to sleep on the bed so it also needs to be comfortable.
I can honestly say I spent roughly a week researching mattresses. Most of it was spent in futile efforts trying to gather information on what I should be looking for, but it was well worth it. I think I went to Babies R Us about 10 different times trying to compare the models, then driving to Target and trying to figure out how the models there compared. My husband would have shot me if we owned a gun. Finally, all my digging, researching, traveling and comparing finally yielded a mattress I wanted to purchase (I believe at this momemt my husband fell down and kissed the ground). I feel the Simmons Baby Beautyrest Backcare VII Mattress is the essence of everything you're looking for in a crib mattress. It has firmness, support, comfort, safety, durability and a few bonus features thrown in for an affordable price.
First things first... What to look for in a mattress
This section is a piece of advice on what to look for when you are purchasing a mattress for your newborn. The reason I'm including it is because there isn't near enough information on what goes into a mattress purchase to be found online. Shoppers should be informed! I had the hardest time finding out this information -- god forbid if you actually want to find out the gauge of the border rod... you're out of luck unless you call the manufacturer. I went to quite a few different websites while trying to piece together this information, so I thought it'd be beneficial if I wrote it down here. If you want mattress specific information, please skip down to the next section. Also, since this Simmons mattress is an innerspring I won't be touching on foam. If you want info on foam mattresses, Google is your friend.
Ok, the most important aspect of your mattress is how well it fits your crib. The vast majority of mattresses fit the standard 27 X 52" crib opening, but you really should measure to be sure. If you can fit two fingers in between the mattress and the crib, there is too much space and you need to find a better fitting mattress.
Now you know the mattress fits... what about firmness and support? Many sleep organizations recommend a 150 coil mattress made from 13.5 gauge steel wire with 9 gauge border rods.
Whoa. What?
First, let's address those guidelines by looking at each component. First, the coils. Obviously you would think the higher the coil count the better, but this isn't always the case. You need to look at if the coils are continuous or individual. Individual coils reduce the mattress movement and provide better support since they better mould to the body. They also have a tendency to be more durable. The gauge of the wires also plays a large part in support. The gauge of steel is the diameter of the wire -- the higher the number, the thinner the coil. Look at it this way... let's say someone offered you a 400 coil mattress. Sounds pretty good, right? Now let's say the gauge of that wire is 25 -- those are pretty thin coils. Would that be better than a 200 coil mattress with 13.5 gauge wires? Probably not. So neither the number of coils nor the gauge of the wire can be looked at separately – you must look at the combination of the two to truly tell how firm your mattress will be. This can be tricky since some companies don't openly publish the gauge of their wire, you may have to do some digging.
Two more great ways to check for the support and firmness (besides checking the coil count and steel gauge) is to check the weight and push on it. To test the weight, pick up the mattress (duh) -- the heavier it is, the more steel they used and thus more support. Compare the weight of mattresses in the same vicinity, which feel heavier? You also want to press down on the mattress (both the center and the edges); that will tell you how much "give" it has. You want something that will give slightly but also seem firm and supportive to your hand. Again, by pressing on a few different mattresses, you'll get the hang of what seems soft and what seems firm. As a note, put the mattress on the floor when you do this. You won't get any helpful information if you press on a mattress that is in an upright position. Your child won't be sleeping on it like that (hopefully not anyway), so don't test it in that position. The border rod is what provides the edge support, adding to the durability and overall support of the mattress. Again, the highest gauge for border rods you should see is a 9 gauge steel wire. The stronger the edges, the better the mattress. To test, squeeze the edge of the mattress. This should be a fairly firm surface and resist your efforts.
Ok, now what about the comfort? You have to look at the coils and gauge of wire, of course, but the primary contributors to the comfort level are the types of padding used, the number of layers of padding and the quality of the material. Do they use foam? What other kinds of padding? The higher quality mattresses will have two and even three layers of padding (make sure it's not too soft). You can get a good feel for the comfort when you're pressing down on the mattress. If you can feel the coils, you can be assured that your child will be able to as well.
Then there are other factors, too.. Does it have ventilator holes on the sides? Do you have to flip it periodically? Is it anti-microbial/stain resistant/flame retardant/durable/non-allergenic? Is the cover durable? How thick is it? What is the warranty? These are very important questions that should be answered before you purchase the mattress because they all impact the quality, safety and lifespan of your mattress.
Ok… so now I know the technical jargon and what to look for when buying a mattress… how does the Simmons Baby Beautyrest Backcare VII Mattress stack up?
You know, that’s one long name for a mattress.
Anyway… After trying to compare and making those trips to Babies R Us, I finally settled on this mattress. I feel it has the best combination of convenience, comfort, hygiene and support for the price.
First, lets talk about size. At around 27.25” X 52", it fits my crib like a glove. I can barely fit one finger at a side, nevermind two. It also has a depth of 6” which provides a better sleep surface than thinner mattresses that clock in at 5” or less.
Next, specs. The mattress has 231 individually pocketed coils that utilize the “Beautyrest” contour coil system – this means that each coil will conform to your body independently, thus reducing motion and supporting your spine more efficiently. It is supposed to provide a more comfortable sleep surface in addition to being more supportive. The coils are made out of 15 gauge tempered-steel wire. I would have to say that if you take the number of coils and the gauge of wire, this would put it about equal with a bed that has 150 or 180 coils of 13.5 gauge wire. Again, the best way is to check the weight and compare it to other mattresses in the vicinity because this method of estimation is fairly imprecise. The mattress does have a 9 gauge, continuously-welded border rod for extra support and durability.
Finally, comfort and safety. The Simmons Baby Beautyrest Backcare VII Mattress has two layers of padding – a layer of polyurethane foam (they call it “Maxipedic superfirm”) over a layer of polyester fabric. The cover is triple-laminated vinyl that is stain-resistant, non-allergenic, anti-microbial and features the MoistureBan which is designed to keep the mattress clean and resist wear and tear. The stiching is reinforced and the mattress features an “Edge-Guard” system to enhance the lifespan of the mattress. This Simmons mattress features a lifetime guarantee against defects. It conforms to the California fire standards (meaning the strictest in the nation.. MAKE SURE your mattress conforms to these standards) and has ventilator holes on the sides which allow the mattress to continually refresh itself (thus eliminating a potential mold/mildew breeding ground). This is also a “no flip” mattress, meaning you can leave it on one side indefinitely.
So… what exactly are my thoughts on this mattress? At first I was worried because Aidan wouldn’t sleep in his crib… but then I realized he wasn’t rejecting the mattress, he was suffering from severe reflux and needed special sleeping arrangements. Once we managed to get the reflux under control we moved him into his crib and never looked back. He sleeps so peacefully and always wakes up with a huge smile on his face. He doesn't have trouble tossing and turning and rarely wakes up in the middle of the night. Even when he does, it's only briefly and doesn't seem to ever fully wake up. Whether this is attributable to his nature or the mattress is not a question I can answer, but I wanted to let you know. It's very hard to give "personal" experience with an item I can't personally experience, but I'm trying.
I love knowing it has a few extras like the ventilator holes and the reinforced edges… I love the lifetime guarantee… I love the security of knowing that the mattress conforms to the strictest fire safety guidelines in the nation… and I love knowing that the mattress is guarded against moisture, stains, allergens and other various microbes. Thinking about those protections, especially after seeing how often Aidan will wake up wet (either from drool or a leaky diaper), makes me realize that those are more necessities than options. I love the durability that this mattress portrays through the triple laminated vinyl covering and the reinforced stitching. I love the no-flip design.
But, above and beyond all this.... what sold me was what I saw and felt in the store. This mattress is heavy, there’s no doubt about it. It was one of the heaviest mattresses that Babies R Us stocks. This has turned into a slight inconvenience for me because it’s hard to move the mattress around when changing his sheets, but I can live with it. When you press on it, it gives… but only a little. I loved the way it felt when I pushed on it. Other mattresses seemed like rocks, absolutely no give at all. By the same coin, it is not as “squishy” as other mattresses were, either. This mattress has the firmness and support that is a requirement without sacrificing the comfort level babies need to fall asleep.
Another thing that sold me was the comfort level. You can almost feel the quality of the foam and padding used to cover the coils – it is thick with the perfect amount of softness. You can tell it is a very comfortable mattress simply by pressing and feeling the padding beneath the cover, yet it isn’t soft enough to pose any sort or SIDS or suffocation risk. The edges are strong, and overall the mattress simply seems high quality and well-made.
In addition, I think the price is fantastic. I paid $119.99 for this and that really isn’t bad when you are looking at a quality crib mattress. I’ve seen them going for as much as $300… Heck, I’ve seen mattresses in the $150 range that don’t have the quality, comfort and support that this Simmons does. The only problem is the fact that it is a Toys R Us exclusive – meaning you can buy it online from Toys R Us or you can find a Babies R Us store… but you won’t be able to find it anywhere else.
Also, I wanted to note this last... Since this has a strong vinyl covering, you may want to cover it with a mattress pad so it won't make your baby sweat. Sometimes when skin is in close contact with vinyl (even through a sheet), it can make bother a child. Most people use an infant mattress pad anyway, so it's no big deal.
Quick Summary and Overall Opinion
Yes, this was a long one. Thank you for reading. I hope you’ve learned a little bit about not only this mattress, but also about shopping for an innerspring in general.
Honestly, for the money I think the Simmons Baby Beautyrest Backcare VII Mattress is the best on the market. Heck, regardless of the money I think this is one of the best mattresses available. It offers a fantastic combination of comfort, support and features that is unequaled among its competitors. If you’re in the market for a high-quality crib mattress at a decent cost, you should definitely check this one out.
Pros:
*231 individually pocketed “Contourflex” coils
*The individual coils mean it will conform to the body better, thus providing a better sleep surface
*15 gauge tempered steel wire
*9 gauge tempered steel, continuously welded border rods
*Triple laminated vinyl cover
*Moisture and stain resistant
*Non-allergenic and anti-microbial cover
*Conforms to the strict California state fire standards
*Lifetime warrantee
*Ventilator holes on the side
*Two layers of padding (including a foam layer) for comfort
*Reinforced stiching along the edges and borders
*No flip design
*This is a well-made and high quality mattress made by a reputable company
*The length and width fits many standard size cribs
*6” depth means a nice, thick mattress
*The price is very reasonable at $119.99
*Meets (and perhaps even exceeds) the minimum recommendations for the firmness and support of a crib mattress
*Heavy weight indicates a good quality mattress
*My son sleeps on it like an angel
*Passes my push test – meaning the edges stay strong and the center of the mattress gives a little under pressure but stays firm enough to support your child
Cons:
*Can only find it at Toys R Us
*Not too much information online about it
Recommended:
Yes
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gatorgirlie
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