Hi Sarah,

Thanks for your comment about mattresses for children.

When it comes to choosing a mattress for a child the main thing is to find a mattress that can tolerate a weight range so it's still suitable as your child turns into a teenager. You're best off looking for a two-sided pocket spring mattress.

Pocket Spring mattresses are the best for children:

Usually, the best way to ensure this is to choose a medium gauge pocket spring but then have much softer comfort layers on top of this pocket spring unit. As a 6-year-old they will barely use the spring unit but softer deep upholstery layers on top will provide both support and comfort.

As they get older and heavier the pocket spring system will kick in.

Choosing a 2 sided mattress means that it can be turned and rotated each year vastly extending the life of the mattress. Meaning with good care a child's mattress can last 5-10 years depending on the quality of the mattress chosen.

Why memory foam mattresses are not recommended for children:

The issue with boxed foam mattresses and memory foam is that the foam layers simply are not built to last longer than a couple of years before they start to dip and sag. They also retain a lot of heat which can be an issue for children over heating at night in bed.

Lastly, they are entirely synthetically made from foams which some people prefer to avoid due to offgassing and other chemical concerns.

Decades ago solid foam mattresses were recommended for children as they have been vulcanised with a rubber waterproof cover. ie they were totally sealed and waterproof. However, they really don't last the test of time, mainly a couple of years before they turn lumpy and can cause night sweats.

Some of the IKEA mattresses use similar methods of childrens mattresses. ie a solid block of foam but these are more of an entry level mattress for a couple of years.

We recommend using a water repellant removable cover instead which can be washed and allows you to have a far better mattress underneath that will last longer.

The Best Children Mattress:

The best mattress for children is our Origins Comfort 1000. This two-sided pocket spring mattress has a 1.4 medium gauge pocket sprung support unit. It has a deep soft upholstery layer featuring 1250GSM (grams per square meter) of fibres such as super soft polyester and some support foam layers lower down. Allowing this mattress to be far more breathable than solid foam or memory foam.

Origins Comfort 1000

1: 750GSM VERY SOFT POLYESTER

2: 500GSM POLYESTER PAD

3: ONE INCH FOAM INSULATOR LAYER

4: 1000 SPUN BOND POCKET SPRINGS

TOTAL: 1250GSM

DEPTH: 30-33CM

If you have any more questions please get back in touch with us on 0161 437 4419.

All the best John & Ryan