Sleep is a crucial element in aiding growth, development and overall well-being in children. Depending on the age of your child, they will need between 10 and 14 hours of sleep every night. This is why it is vital that your child’s mattress is comfortable and provides support throughout the night.
A good children’s mattress will:
- Promote correct posture
- Support healthy growth
- Provide a hygienic night’s rest
From all the types of mattresses available to the products that will protect the mattress from accidents and spills, our comprehensive guide will give a parent all the information needed to make the right call for their child.
“What Age Should My Child Move to a Children’s Bed?”
Most toddlers move across from cot to bed between eighteen months and three years. But, there’s no specific time frame; every child is different.
A good barometer for when the switch should be made is when your toddler is able to climb out of the cot, or grows too tall to enjoy a comfortable night.
Making the change means that your child won’t be at risk of falling from the cot and hurting themselves, but it means they will be able to get out of bed and move around independently, so their bedroom should be toddler-proofed.
What Types of Mattresses Are There?
A high-quality mattress is very important and should support your child’s stages of growth. There are many different types of mattresses, and below we have put together a guide to help you decide the right course for you and your little one.
- Open Coil – Open coil springs work in unity to spread the weight evenly across the mattress surface. They provide great support and are good for spinal alignment.
- Pocket Sprung – Pocket sprung mattresses use springs wrapped in cloth. These mattresses are more sensitive to weight and movement than standard sprung options.
- Memory Foam – The memory foam moulds to your child’s body shape and reduces tossing and turning during the night.
- Latex – These mattresses are hypoallergenic and breathable. They’re ideal for kids that get too warm during the night.
- Reflex Foam – Reflex foam mattresses use a solid foam block that provides superior support for growing kids.
| Mattress Type | Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Open Coil | Great Support,
Lower Budget Friendly |
Unresponsive to Shape |
| Pocket Sprung | Tailored Support,
Hardy |
More Expensive Option |
|
Memory Foam |
Reduces Tossing & Turning,
Hypoallergenic, Hardy |
Can Get Very Warm |
|
Latex |
Supportive,
Hardy, Hypoallergenic, Environmentally Friendly |
More Expensive Option |
|
Reflex Foam |
Light Weight
Supportive Good Value |
Non-Tailored Support |
Is Second Hand an Option?
Unfortunately, it’s all too common for children to be given old mattresses and beds to sleep in. If someone gives it away, it simply isn’t good enough for your child. And this is why:
- Reduction in Support – Over time a mattress begins to lose its support levels and this affects your child’s comfort and ability to sleep soundly.
- Hygiene – Every year, we lose nearly half a pint of water from our body and shed a pound of skin during sleep. The build-up of dust and moisture can lead to increased bacterial growth and mould. This obviously creates a less than healthy sleeping environment for your little one.
Of course, some mattresses are expensive and just aren’t suited to everyone’s budgets, but when you shop around there are always options that suit all budgets and still offer the quality that your child needs to make bedtime a pleasurable experience.
When Should I Replace My Child’s Mattress?
This really depends on their age and growth patterns. Below are the suggested guidelines:
| Age | Frequency |
| 3-10 Years
|
Every Three Years
|
| 10-16 Years
|
Every Five Years
|
How Much Should I Spend?
Like with anything that you purchase, normally the more you spend the longer it lasts. This applies to mattresses – more money normally leads to better quality fillings and a longer lifespan, which could actually save you money in the long run.
But, it’s certainly worth shopping around as there’s also something to be found in each range that will suit all budgets.
How Can I Create a Hypoallergenic Environment for My Child?
If your child suffers from sensitive skin, allergies or breathing difficulties, such as asthma, it might be necessary to create an allergy-free zone. Purchasing products such as mattresses, pillows, bedding and mattress protectors that are manufactured specifically to promote an environment where dust mists aren’t able to thrive will create a better sleeping scenario for your child.
Here’s what you’ll need to create the complete hypoallergenic package:
Hypoallergenic Mattress:
Allergies, asthma and sensitive skin, can be an awful thing to suffer with, and it is especially difficult for children and can really affect their ability to rest comfortably since their bodies are changing so rapidly. Allergies can cause a runny nose, itchy eyes and headaches, which make getting to sleep that much harder and will often play havoc with a child’s sinuses even after they do drift off.
Medications can often create some temporary relief, but the best thing to do is to remove the source of the problem, which is often the mattress.
Dust mites are a nightmare for allergy sufferers. There are millions of them living and feeding within your mattress. Over the course of its life, an average mite can produce up to 200 times its body weight in waste which triggers allergic reactions.
Hypoallergenic mattresses contain microcapsules that release natural, friendly bacteria into the mattress to reduce moisture build-up. These types of probiotics are used for their ability to soak up the moisture in the mattress so dust mites are left dehydrated and simply can’t thrive and thus, mould cannot grow.
Hypoallergenic Bedding:
Hypoallergenic bedding works to eliminate dust mites by utilising tightly woven fabric. The fabric design and small pore size mean that it’s almost impossible for anything to push through the material.
Hypoallergenic Materials:
When it comes to fitting out your child’s bed with hypoallergenic bedding, certain materials work much more effectively than others. Keep an eye out for the following:
- Bamboo
- Thermo-Regulating
- Silk
- Cotton
- Down
- Hypodown
- Wool
- Latex
How Do I Protect the Mattress From Spills & Accidents?
Bedwetting and spillages are commonplace when it comes to children – particularly younger ones. These can be rather troublesome to clean and by giving the mattress the protection it needs, you are helping to safeguard the life cycle of the product whilst remaining within warranty.
Most mattress protectors are fitted with elasticated edging to ensure a firm fit around the top and sides of the mattress. Waterproof bedding has a bad rap due to the misconception that it can be noisy or uncomfortable to sleep on – however, most mattress protectors are manufactured with a soft cotton top to avoid crinkling that will keep the whole house awake.
Hopefully, our comprehensive has provided with all the information you need to make an informed choice safe in the knowledge that you have ensured that your child is getting the best possible product for their ongoing development and wellbeing.