Of course, it's not just us adults who enjoy a good mattress. Our little ones also need comfort at night, and not just to be able to recover from everyday life. After all, they are still growing, which is why a comfortable surface that provides good support for the back and spine is of great importance. Now the choice is anything but an easy task. We already know this from our own mattresses. To make the task easier, we would like to give you some tips on what you should consider when choosing a children's mattress. Then your little ones are guaranteed to get the sleep they deserve!
Buy a children's mattress - Do children need a special mattress?
The selection of children's mattresses is also very large for the little ones. You can choose a hard or soft mattress for children, with the hardness determined by the different materials. Choosing the right children's mattress obviously depends on different conditions. It can be adapted to your child's specific physical characteristics, but can also be chosen depending on other factors. For example, allergy sufferers or bedwetters need special mattresses for children. So it's not just the comfort that needs to be taken into account. Sleep can also be disturbed by other things.
Which mattress to choose for the child?
The children's mattress can be made of a wide variety of materials. There is essentially no difference compared to those for adults. Whether with springs or made of visco foam, latex or coconut, everything is included and there is hardly any difference in quality. While the foam variants are often chosen because they are cheaper without losing quality, coconut or latex are more expensive, but also higher in quality.
The right hardness
A supportive children's mattress is particularly recommended. This prevents the child from rolling while they are turning in their sleep. This prevents restless sleep and guarantees a deep and restful one. The baby bed mattress in particular should be more stable and supportive, because the bones develop particularly quickly in this growth phase. Sometimes the growth rate of muscles and bones is different. The latter and especially the spine should ideally receive additional support at night, which is not possible with a children's mattress that is too soft. The fact that the little ones often run around and jump on the bed is definitely nothing new for you as a parent. A harder mattress is the better choice for this reason too.
Stable and supportive models are the spring mattress, the latex mattress and the gel foam or visco mattress for children, although again each has its advantages and disadvantages. Also, don't overdo it with the hardness. If the cot mattress is too stable, comfortable lying cannot be guaranteed. It's best to find the happy medium and test the comfort in the store before you goBuy mattresses.
Foam, latex and spring mattresses
So, which mattress is the best for children? The foam mattresses adapt to the natural shape of the body. If your child wakes up particularly frequently during the night, this problem can be solved with a foam core. We have already covered the difference between visco and gel foam in an articlethe right pillowexplained. The level of hardness of spring mattresses is also sufficiently high, which makes them well suited as a children's mattress. The degree of bounce and therefore the hardness differ depending on the model, so you should find out more about this. These types of mattresses usually also have a comfortable filling layer. The advantage of latex is that it is a particularly breathable variant. If your child does not feel comfortable in very warm temperatures and your home is very hot, this type of mattress could prove to be a good mattress for children.
Allergy sufferers and bedwetters
The choice of material is largely a question of taste. Exceptions are allergy sufferers, who should choose filling materials for the mattress that prevent the formation or spread of allergens such as house dust mites. These are primarily synthetic materials. But natural latex, cotton, wool and silk are also included and are worth considering. If your child is a bedwetter, special covers for the children's mattress are the best solution to not only guarantee better sleep, but also to protect the new children's mattress. The waterproof bed accessories prevent urine from penetrating the children's mattress. They are available in different materials and can be easily washed even at high temperatures.
Care for the mattress properly
A new mattress smells strong after unpacking. Although these smells are normal and harmless to the child and disappear or even subside after a few weeks, good ventilation can be considered, which should last for several days. There are also a few things to consider if you want to guarantee a long service life. Mattresses should be rotated at least every six months to prevent bulges and hollows from forming in the material. If there is high humidity in the room, there is also a risk of mold formation. A slatted frame can prevent this, as the gaps between the slats allow air to circulate well. Covers and toppers made of rubber or other airtight materials should therefore be avoided, as they are not only uncomfortable and disrupt sleep, but also accumulate moisture in the children's mattress, which benefits bacteria. Also at theCleaning of mattressesthere are a few things to consider.
If you want to save money, you often consider used items. So why not also with mattresses, which are generally not particularly cheap. However, you should proceed carefully and pay attention to various things, because you should know that children's mattresses themselves do not last very long. For example, if there are stains, further use is not recommended. Stains usually also mean bacteria, which in turn can affect your child's health. You should also make sure that the children's mattress is not sagging. After all, you want to do something for your child's health with the new one and not the other way around. If the used model has already been used for a long time, it is also not advisable to continue using it.
In principle, you can decide that a children's mattress that has not been used for more than five years and is also spotless is suitable for continued use. Don’t forget the importance of support! This is extremely important in the growth phase in which the little ones are still.
