Choosing the Best Mattress for Your Child

If your baby is between the age of 18-36 months, then the chances are that you’re going to be thinking about moving your baby to a big boy/girl bed pretty soon.

Switching from a baby’s cot over to an adult bed should be an exciting time, even though it is a reminder on how fast your children are growing up (boohoo!).

However, rather than the bed frame itself, buying the mattress online really should be the main focus as it will help with the child’s spinal growth and development. I spoke to Joy Richards, sleep specialist at Happy Beds, who helps to pair parents with the best mattress for their children.

Here’s what she had to say:

The Difference Between Children’s Mattresses and Adult’s Mattresses

“Adults always opt for the comfiest mattresses, the sort of ones you lay on and feel as though you’re sinking right to the bottom of. However, due to a child’s spine growing up to 1.5cm a night, the mattress firmness really should be the top of the lists when it comes to priorities as it will have a huge impact on comfort and development.”

How Does the Right Mattress Help?

“The spine and neck should be fully supported as a child rests and they should be held in a neutral sleeping position. While you of course want your child to be as comfortable as possible, especially in their new bed, you also want them stay in the same position throughout the night as much as possible, to help with the growth of their spine.”

“The reason why memory foam isn’t such a great idea for toddlers is because staying cool at night also contributes to your child’s development and memory foam beds stores body heat to contribute towards the moulds. This is great if you have a very cold house, but just remember how hot the bedroom can get during summer. “

So, Which Mattress is Best?

“The pocket sprung mattress is the best that you can get for toddlers, as it has the perfect combination of spinal support and comfort. The optimum firmness helps the child’s spinal development and certainly doesn’t lack on comfort.

It is a lot firmer than memory foam and latex counterparts, and the fact that it doesn’t mould to your child’s shape is great for their spine, as it needs consistent firmness to develop properly.”