You probably only want the best for your child if you're a new parent or find yourself buying bigger sneakers for your child virtually every week. One thing you can do to improve your child's sleeping patterns and encourage healthy growth is to educate yourself on how to buy the best mattress for a child.
- When selecting a mattress for your child, there are specific features you should consider, just as when buying your own mattress. Your child's sleep patterns and your sanity may be affected by your knowledge of the warranties that are available, the appropriate size, and how simple it is to clean the material.
- The ideal mattress for a child will vary depending on their age and sleeping patterns, among other things. If your child is still a nighttime wetter, choose a mattress that is more resilient and think about getting a mattress protector for added protection.
- Children are typically light enough that a firmer mattress will be more comfortable for them than one that is too soft. You might want to think about getting a bigger mattress and adjusting the hardness based on your child's preferred sleeping positions for kids who are going through significant growth spurts and adolescence.
Features To Consider When Choosing Mattress For Your Growing Child
Your child will benefit from getting the restful, deep sleep they require to support healthy growth if you choose the right mattress for them. Once you've decided on the mattress size you want, you should think about features like firmness, construction, and materials.
Firmness
- Experts concur that when picking a mattress for a baby in particular, firmness is crucial. While it could be more relaxing, a soft, pillow-like mattress or topper could be quite dangerous for a newborn. "It's crucial for babies to have hard mattresses while they're still in a cot.
- In order to prevent SIDS, it is highly advised to put your infant to sleep on a firm sleeping surface covered by a snug-fitting mattress without any blankets or pillows.
- If you're getting a new mattress and putting your kid in a bed, go with one that's a little softer. Mattresses for older kids don't have to be quite as firm, according to experts. You should often go for a mattress with a medium hardness to support your child's neck and spine while still feeling soft enough for them to sleep well.
Construction
- Cheap memory foam mattresses typically have a soft, cozy (but still firm) surface. Contrarily, innerspring beds, or those constructed with a support system of coils, are reasonably priced and will be more springy and slightly firmer. When you combine the two, you get a hybrid mattress, a premium mattress that will cost more but be more resilient.
- There are many options available if you're seeking an all-natural, non-toxic mattress made of latex. According to one study, latex mattresses distribute body pressure more evenly than conventional mattresses, which may help children—especially young ones who aren't yet utilizing a pillow—sleep more comfortably.
Material
- You might want to think about using organic materials while making your child's mattress. When buying a mattress, I also seek organic materials, says Mitchell. She continues by saying that organic mattresses are less likely to contain potentially harmful chemicals in addition to being more breathable.
- A 2019 study discovered that the release of potentially dangerous chemicals (known as volatile organic compounds, or VOCs) from commonly constructed mattresses can be triggered by body heat. However, some of the concentrations did reach levels that were dangerous for newborns and young children, according to the researchers, even if the amounts emitted were not sufficient to harm adults. Selecting a mattress made of non-toxic, organic materials can reduce this risk.
Water Resistance
Even though it won't necessarily improve your child's sleep, selecting a mattress that is water-resistant or getting a mattress cover that is water-resistant will make your life as a parent much simpler. We are all aware of how common those first-year blowouts are. Cleaning up after diaper or bed-wetting accidents will be significantly easier if your mattress or cover is water-resistant.