How to choose a children's mattress: types, age characteristics

An orthopedic mattress for a child is not a luxury, but a necessity. There are a great many options for orthopedic mattresses on the market, with different prices, from different materials, different looks and, of course, with different mechanical properties. It's easy to get confused with such a variety. In order to choose a children's mattress that is right for your child, you need to consider all the features of this product.

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All mattresses fall into two main categories:

• Spring loaded. Inside these mattresses, as the name suggests, are springs. Moreover, these springs are of two types: interconnected, or dependent ("bonnel" block), and independent - each spring is packed in a separate case, and reacts to the load independently, independently of the others. If you prefer box-spring mattresses, you only need to choose independent blocks for a child's bed, "bonnel" has very weak orthopedic properties, and besides, it quickly loses them.

• Springless. As a filler in such mattresses, instead of springs, elastic materials are used, both of natural origin, for example, latex, and artificial. Springless mattresses last longer than spring mattresses, have a wide gradation of degrees of rigidity and pronounced orthopedic properties. Pediatricians recommend them as the best option for babies from the first day of life.

Filler

When choosing a children's mattress, one of the most important issues is the choice of filler. The filler material can be different, sometimes very exotic, but the most common are the following:

• latex;
• coconut (coir, shavings, fibers);
• buckwheat husk;
• polyurethane foam;
• thermal fiber;
• combined materials of polyurethane foam-coconut, latex-coconut);
• linen;
• cotton;
• seaweed.

As a rule, for the manufacture of a mattress, not one material is used, but their combination. In order to choose the right padding for your baby, you need to make sure it provides adequate orthopedic support. In principle, all of the fillers listed above have the necessary qualities, but in some they are more pronounced.

Coconut fiber, for example, contains lignin, a natural elastic substance that allows coconut fibers to evenly distribute mechanical stress, and also protects them from moisture and prevents putrefactive processes. Another excellent property of such fibers is a sufficiently large distance between them, which allows it to “breathe” and be easily ventilated. In hot weather, such a mattress will not be stuffy, and in winter it will be cold.

Artificial filler In some cases, a mattress for a baby bed works no worse, but better than other natural materials, so there is no need to be afraid of them. Modern polyurethane foam (PPU), modified with various additives, perfectly “breathes”, keeps its shape well, is durable, environmentally friendly, non-flammable, and does not cause allergies. In addition, polyurethane foam can also have special properties uncharacteristic of natural materials, for example, the memory effect, which makes sleeping on such a mattress even more comfortable.

Cotton (wadding) not suitable for a children's mattress: it is too soft material, it easily absorbs moisture and creates an environment for the growth of harmful bacteria and linen mites. It will be hot on such a mattress, the child will sweat, he may develop allergies.

Age features

The choice of a children's mattress is also influenced by the age of the child. Each period of development of the baby has its own characteristics, and they must be taken into account.

1. From birth to one year. During this period, the best filler is coconut fiber. It perfectly supports the spine and is hypoallergenic.
2. From one to three years. After a year, it is better to replace the coconut fiber with a softer filler, such as latex. Its thickness should be at least 5 cm, and no more than 12. Softer materials are not suitable, as they do not provide the necessary support and can cause poor posture.
3. Three to seven years old. Good orthopedic support is still needed, but in addition to springless mattresses, sprung mattresses can be considered.
4. Over seven years old. For a healthy child who does not have problems with the development of the skeletal system, springless mattresses based on polyurethane foam are a good choice, their thickness should not be less than 14 cm.If the child has problems with the spine, the filling for the mattress should be selected based on the doctor's recommendations.

Whatever the filler, the mattress cover for a baby bed should be made only of natural materials.

Recommendations

• An important selection criterion is the height of the mattress. For springless models, it fluctuates between 7 and 17 cm, for spring models - between 12 and 20. In addition to age recommendations, the bed model affects the height of the mattress. Be sure to pay attention to what thickness is recommended for your model.
• In order for the mattress to perform its orthopedic functions and to be well ventilated, it must be laid on a special base consisting of stacked slats.
• There should not be more than 4 cm between the side of the bed and the mattress, otherwise injuries are likely.
• As a material for a mattress cover, jacquard fabrics are ideal: they wear out less than others, wash easily, “breathe”, have significant strength and do not cause allergies.
• If a mattress is bought for a baby, buy a mattress topper, it will not be superfluous. If the child spills liquid on the bed, the mattress itself will not suffer - it will be enough to remove and wash the mattress topper.
• Winter-summer mattresses provide more comfort than conventional mattresses. The winter side is usually covered with wool, under which a layer of latex is laid. This “cake” retains body heat well. The summer side is covered with jacquard fabric, under which a layer of coconut fiber is laid. This combination makes it easier to ventilate the mattress and makes it comfortable to sleep in hot weather. Note that the “winter” side will be softer than the “summer” side.

Choosing the right children's mattress is only half the battle. It is very important to take proper care of him. During operation, every three months, unless otherwise specified in the instructions, it is necessary to turn the mattress over. This will extend its life and improve hygiene.