Getting a restful sleep and waking up refreshed the following morning depends on numerous factors, such as the room temperature, exposure to light, and so on. However, you might forget the importance of a good mattress – especially when it comes to your child falling asleep.
That does not make the shopping process easy though – it can be slightly tricky to buy a mattress for our young one. Even reviews such as sleep number reviews might not necessarily help you in making a decision, because they may not fit the needs of your child. It is important to keep some things in mind before going out to shop for one. Here are some of the things to keep in mind:
Researching the different mattress types
When shopping for a mattress, you will find many types. However, you should go for any of these when you are shopping for a child’s mattress:
Foam mattresses
These are among the best for a young child because of their lightweight nature, as well as their ability to respond to temperature and weight changes. They consist of many foam layers of different densities, and they can contour to fit your specific body shape – making them very comfortable. You can also get plenty of memory foam toppers.
Since they mold themselves to the body while the child sleeps throughout the night, they can relieve any pressure points, and reduce any discomfort. Their structure also allows them to absorb movement, so the babyis likely to sleep soundly.
However, they also have a big disadvantage. The biggest complaint many people raise with them is their temperature retention. They are extremely sensitive to temperature changes, even from the body, and can make the child feel very hot at night.
In addition, the mattress canemit unpleasant smells if you do not air them regularly or when they happen to be moist – and that means removing all the beddings and taking the mattress outside to get some sunshine.
In-spring mattresses
These are traditionally the most common type of mattress. They give your body support through inner coil springs, and the structure of the coil depends on when the mattress was manufactured – many today have coils that are enclosed individually.
The benefit of using this type is its durability. The coils allow it to withstand very many years of use, and the enclosed coils will not pop out of the mattress. Additionally, they are very comfortable, as there is a range of materials that are added. These include memory foam, latex and cotton, and you can choose whatever you want.
They are also very affordable, although you need to be very careful to avoid the cheapest ones you might see. The cheaper it is, the less it is likely to give the child’s back sufficient support.
Organic
These are also very comfortable, and are made from allergen-free materials such as bamboo. If allergies are a major concern, they can be a good alternative to the conventional mattress, and are also anti-bacterial while remaining breathable and moisture-wicking.
Double-sided
Certain mattresses will have a flatter side that is firmer, and can be useful when your child is a baby until they go to pre-school, then the softer side can be useful when they are older.
Sizing should be correct
Many kids will transition to bigger beds when they turn 2 or 3 years old, so it is important to consider durability in the mattress (especially if you are planning on re-using the mattress after changing the bed itself). Therefore, it makes sense to focus on a full-size bed twin-size twin mattress or twin XL mattress.
All these mattresseswill be good news if you want to save plenty of space, so will work well for two or three children who will share one room. For the twin XL mattress, it will accommodate the child’s growth spurts when they hit puberty, and the full-size mattress will be great if you want two children to share a bed or want the child to use it as they continue to grow into adulthood.
The mattress needs to be firm and offer correct support
Children love playing – and you likely understand this very well. That means even jumping on their beds is a high possibility, so you need to select something that can withstand some abuse or prevent accidents (since they love jumping too).
One of the best items to buy is a mattress protector, as it is versatile enough to be useful for any mattress type you buy – especially when the child is very young. It will also protect against stains (especially bed-wetting incidents as they learn to control their bladder), and you can remove it easily when you want to clean it.
Choose the comfort level that is suitable
Mattresses generally have one of three comfort levels – ultra-plush, firm, or extra firm. The ultra-plush types are also known as box-top or pillow-top mattresses, and are very soft and lightweight. If your child is a side or back sleeper, a firm mattress is great for them, while stomach sleepers like using medium-firm mattresses.
As a general rule, always go for firm mattresses especially when the child is young, because their spine needs all the support it can get while they sleep. In addition, you do not want them waking up in the middle of the night because of aches in their back, and these firm mattresses will reduce chances of that.
The foundation needs to be adequate
You do not need to go complicated; for the usual children’s room, a platform bed is fine. This will also help in evading the use of box springs. If you want to go the traditional bed design route, then a solid box spring mattress helps (they also come as a set, so you won’t need to worry about whether the mattress fits properly).
Final thoughts
Choosing a mattress for your child is definitely not a straightforward process, and requires consideration of many factors. However, it is important to consider them, especially when purchasing one for the first time – hopefully, these tips will help you to do so.