Next, I looked at the mattresses ticking, or its outer layer. Some crib mattresses are covered with cotton brushed with food-grade plastic; others have a waterproof vinyl cover. Three-ply vinyl ...

Once you choose your mattress and put it in your crib, it should be covered with a fitted sheet only — no blankets, pillows, or lovies, for example. In fact, your baby, placed on his or her back ...