Does it really matter? Of course it does! That’s a baby and most of the time the baby will be sleeping or staying on that mattress. The baby’s comfort is essential. Take some time to figure out what kind of mattress would be comfortable for a baby. You must have given a lot of thought to the nursery and how it should look like. Keep in mind that the baby will not appreciate the décor of the nursery until after several months. Suffice to say, the nursery should be roomy and allow for sufficient ventilation. Air conditioning and heaters help keep the coolness of the room at a comfortable temperature but sometimes it is better to provide the baby with fresh air. Other furniture and decoration are secondary to the crib of the baby.

The crib is a primary concern and has to be addressed carefully since for the first year, your baby will be spending a lot of his sleeping and waking hours in the crib. The quality of the mattress is important as they will be lying down most of the time and it will affect their back and neck. The mattress should not be so hard that it does not conform to the contour of the body nor should it be so soft that it will sag from the baby’s weight. A firm mattress reduces the risk of the baby’s sudden and unexpected death, commonly known as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Although it is not proven that a mattress could cause the death, we should take all precaution to minimize the risk.
The choice then lies on whether to get a spring or foam mattress.  When determining which mattress to choose, check out its firmness, temperature sensitivity and support.

In terms of support, a spring mattress relies on a number of springs which push back your weight with equal force. Proper support might not be possible since you constantly move in the bed. You need to find a spring mattress that has enough springs strategically located to take the body weight regardless of the body position. Good quality foam mattresses distribute weight evenly regardless of the constant movement.  Spring mattresses act as a shock absorber and reduce the wear and tear on the mattress. Coil gauges determine the thickness of the spring and the firmness. A form mattress can be firm too. However, a supple mattress may be better for a baby. It offers a cradling effect.
Form mattresses are sensitive to temperature. A mattress will become warm due to the body heat. A foam mattress takes longer to become cool. Spring mattresses have some air cushion which provides some coolness to the body.

One other consideration will be the cost. Spring mattresses cost more since they tend to last longer than foam mattresses. If you plan to have several other babies in the future, it may be a good investment to get a spring mattress. Once you get the mattress, observe the baby and ensure that they are comfortable. The mattress may have some defects that only become noticeable when there is a body lying on it.