Don't worry about crib-mattress warranties

Paige writes: "Do I need to worry about a warranty when buying a crib mattress?"

When you’re crib-mattress shopping, you may notice that some mattresses offer a warranty, whether it be 1 year, 7 years, or even a lifetime. Our advice: Don't worry about them, pay attention to them, or pay extra for a crib-mattress warranty. “Warranties are mostly a marketing tool to entice the consumer to spend more,” says Dennis Scheutz, director of marketing for Colgate Kids, a manufacturer of juvenile mattresses, in Atlanta. In general, you can expect any quality crib mattress you buy to last as long as you’re going to use it, says Scheutz, provided that the cover hasn’t become ripped or torn and that it’s been used properly (for sleeping, rather than for toddler tumbling practice, for example).

For more information, see our reports on crib mattresses, cribs, sleep gear not to use, and new mattress-flammability standards.