With so many choices and so much technological and environmental terminology it can be a confusing business choosing a cot bed mattress. Safety and hygiene will be your main concerns, but with sleep being so important to a baby you also need to consider the level of comfort and support that a mattress will provide. If your baby is not sleeping well then everybody is likely to suffer the consequences.

Given the importance of a mattress to a baby most health experts advise that you buy a new one. If you are considering the non-new route then the mattress should be firm, clean, and dry. It should fit snugly into your baby’s cot and not have any tears, cracks or sagging.

SIZE

SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS

Ventilation
This is extremely important as you need to ensure that your baby has a constant flow of air around his head. As the recommendation is to sleep a baby in the ‘Feet to Foot’ position it means that the mattress should have ventilation in both its head and mid section.

Good Fit Inside the Cot
So that your baby can come to no harm by getting stuck in unnecessary gaps inside the cot it is important that the mattress fits snugly within its frame. When the mattress is gently pushed to one side there should be no more than a 4cm gap to the rails. You should also be able to securely attach the mattress to the head and foot boards.

Semi-Firm
A semi-firm mattress has been recognised as providing the best level of support for a baby’s fragile body. It combines the right level of support for their upper body with the comfort that they require for their lower body. This type of mattress also provides the right level of mobility for your baby.

THE CHOICE OF MATTRESSES

Foam
This is the least expensive mattress option. Typically the foam will be made of a specially developed grade of polyurethane designed for nursery products. You will find the greatest array of ventilation with these mattresses and it is our recommendation that you stick to a top brand provider to ensure that all safety standards have been met.

Spring
These are very much like adult mattresses with coil springs in a foam surround. They are very supportive and good for your baby’s posture. These mattresses also tend to be very durable.

Natural Fibre
These make the most of natural fillings such as coconut and wool to provide an environmentally friendly mattress. They tend to be the most expensive type but they do provide excellent air flow thanks to the breathable filling. The filling material also tends to have a natural springiness and resilience which means that they are harder wearing. This will be useful when your child grows and starts to bounce up and down on their bed.

THE MATTRESS COVER

Mattresses from CotbedKids

• All of our mattresses are from top brand manufacturers
• They meet all required safety standards
• Every mattress that we sell is the correct fit for everycot bed that we sell
  

See our range of specially selected cotbed mattresses