Choosing a mattress for children
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Choosing a mattress for children

Choosing a mattress for children

Children need a good night's sleep more than any other age group. Constantly growing both mentally and physically, night time is when a child's brain brings together everything it's learned through the day, and it's at this time when the body as a whole – including the bones, hormones and the physical makeup of the brain – develops most rapidly.

Picking the best mattress for your child is really important, so here's everything you need to know when shopping for one.

What is the best mattress for a child?

The best mattress for a kid largely depends on the needs of the individual, for example, if they tend to fidget in the night, or if they have allergies then the best mattress for them may differ.

Best Mattresses for children with allergies

If your child suffers from allergies, choosing the right mattress can really help to alleviate their symptoms and grant them a far more restful and comfortable nights sleep. The mattress should be hypoallergenic which inhibits the spread of dust mites, preventing them from causing issues for allergy sufferers. Memory foam is naturally hypoallergenic and is, therefore, a great mattress solution for any child who suffers from allergies at night.

Our Sleep Sanctuary One Life Memory Pocket Mattress is the perfect mattress option for kids with allergies

Best Mattresses for Children who Fidget

Fidgeting through the night can reduce the quality of your child's sleep significantly, so finding a mattress that can help reduce fidgeting is key. Foam mattresses are great for kids who fidget or move around alot through the night as they provide enough support to help keep your child steady and comfortable which reduces fidgeting.

Our Flex Slimline Reflex Foam Single Mattress is the perfect mattress for kids who fidget and even comes with a soft Coolmax cover which keeps them cool in the warmer months.

Best Mattress for Growing Kids

No matter what age your child is, getting a good night's sleep is highly important to their development and ability to function in their day to day lives. As kids get older they may find a firmer mattress more suitable, especially as they enter into their teenage years. Having a supportive mattress can prevent aches and pains through providing enough support to keep their spine and bones aligned.

Our Sleep Sanctuary Ortho 2000 Gel Memory Mattress is a great firm mattress choice for growing kids

Children's Mattresses FAQs

1. What are the best types of mattresses for Kids?

As with adult mattresses, children's mattresses come in open-sprung, pocket-sprung, memory foam and latex foam varieties, each offering various benefits to different sorts of sleepers.

2. What are the most supportive mattress types for kids?

The most supportive varieties are pocket-sprung, memory foam and latex, though each features aspects some children will benefit from more than others. Pocket-sprung mattresses often feature comfy tufted covering layers, while memory foam mattresses, being dense and body-forming, will reduce how often restless children wake up during the night. Latex foam mattresses are very breathable – great for warm homes and kids who hate hot temperatures come bedtime.

When looking for a sprung mattress, it's important to check how high the spring count and coil gauge are. Higher spring counts mean more support, while lower gauge numbers indicate thicker coils and a firmer mattress as a result.

3. How is the firmness of a foam mattress measured?

Foam mattresses – latex and memory – are measured by density. Quality memory foam mattresses usually have a density of four to five pounds: the higher the number, the firmer the sleeping surface will be.

4. What other mattress materials are good for allergies?

Children who have allergies may benefit from synthetic mattresses as their fibres are less likely to attract bacteria and mites, although the same effects can be gained with natural latex, cotton, pure wool or silk – these are naturally hypoallergenic, so if your bed doesn't contain them, think about using these in the future.

That's not to say open and pocket sprung mattresses are a no-no for children with allergies though – antibacterial, hypoallergenic mattress protectors will also stop symptoms in their tracks.

5. My child wets the bed, what should I do?

If your child wets the bed, then purchasing a mattress protector and washable bed pads will help to protect the mattress underneath and ensure that your child can continue to use the mattress when they’ve eventually grown out of the phase.

6. What type of mattress will suit my child?

There are all sorts of things to bear in mind when picking a mattress for a young one, from how firm it is, to whether it helps with particular issues your child might have – bedwetting or allergies, for example.

7. What is the best mattress for a 3 year old?

The best mattress for a 3 year old is a memory foam mattress. Their hypoallergenic properties mean insects and dust are not attracted to them and the foam is no fun to jump on, meaning they will not break down the mattress by jumping on it!

8. Does the type of bed frame matter?

If buying for babies or toddlers, these bed frames will require smaller mattresses than usual. Given how quickly children of this age grow, it can often make more sense – especially from a cost perspective – to skip these varieties all together and go for a single-sized bed.

Most mattresses have a lifespan of around ten years, so by regularly flipping and rotating the mattress every six months, you'll get the most restful nights for your money, setting the scene for a change when they hit double figures.

9. Are there any large cost differences?

There are also a few price differences between the different types of mattresses – a very important thing, bearing in mind how speedily children grow.

At the most expensive end of the scale are pocket-sprung and latex mattresses. Prices here are mainly impacted by how many springs make up the pocket mattress, and whether or not the latex is natural.

The middleweight mattress is memory foam, being synthetic yet very comfortable, while the cheapest options available are open coil and futon mattresses. These final two are cheap, but not particularly durable and sometimes uncomfortable.

Buying a mattress for your child isn't a quick decision to make, but we hope this guide helps you to buy the right thing for you and your kids.

10. What mattress firmness is best for a child?

Medium-firm is largely considered the best mattress firmness for a child. This provides a good amount of support while allowing them to move and switch sleeping positions through the night.

Best Mattresses for Kids

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