BEST MATTRESSES FOR KIDS (Part 1)

29 Jun BEST MATTRESSES FOR KIDS (Part 1)

A mattress guide for kids

So much of a child’s health, wellness, performance in school and sports, and stamina in other activities relies on the quality of his or her sleep. While most parents monitor this in many ways, limiting screen time at night and enforcing a strict “lights out,” it’s easy to overlook the condition of your child’s mattress. A mattress can have lasting effects on a child’s health and sleep quality, but often goes overlooked in the day-to-day business of raising a family.

We know that creating a safe and non-toxic environment for your family comes first, and the same goes when shopping for a new mattress. So, we’ll cover the challenges of finding the right mattress to work for a growing family, and the potential effects of different mattress materials and components on your child’s sleep.

The importance of sleep for children

According to the National Sleep Foundation, sleep has a direct impact on both the mental and physical development of your child at any age. There’s no wondering why when you see the statistics. The NSF explains that children by the age of 2 have spent more time asleep than awake, and that children on average will spend 40% of their childhood sleeping. Clearly, paying attention to the quality of your child’s sleep and their comfort and safety while sleeping is critical.

The sleep guidelines endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends anywhere from 8-16 hours of sleep per day for children, depending on their age. This recommendation includes 12-16 hours for babies and 8-10 hours for teens.

Adequate and quality sleep, according to the AAP, impacts the following:

• Attention
• Behavior
• Learning
• Memory
• Emotional regulation
• Quality of life
• Mental health
• Physical health

In light of these recommendations and guidelines, it’s clear that the right mattress does have an impact on your child’s overall well-being. A quality, well-made, and comfortable mattress can definitely help your child get the right amount of sleep. It will also ensure that during the hours they spend sleeping they are supported physically, sleeping soundly, and kept safe from harmful substances.

What children need in a mattress

In some ways, finding a great mattress for a child is much the same as shopping for an adult. However, a few features will likely take center stage when choosing the best options for children. If present, these features will help your child get a good night’s rest while giving you the peace of mind that you’ve made a great investment

• Comfort and support: Children, like adults, need proper support and spinal alignment during sleep. A mattress that sags or has body impressions is problematic because it won’t evenly support your child’s growing body. In this situation, extra pressure is placed on the lower body and the lumbar area is shifted out of alignment. The firmness level of a mattress is a matter of personal preference, so take advantage of the trial periods offered by many direct-to-consumer companies and see how well your child sleeps. Some options allow you to adjust for more or less firmness by flipping the mattress, so be sure to test out both sides in this case.
• Room to grow: It can be tempting to save money by going with the smallest mattress for a small child, but consider the big picture. Children grow quickly, and the ideal mattress will be one with a long lifespan that can adjust to a child’s needs as he or she gets bigger. To avoid having to go through the process again in just a year or two, it’s best to buy the highest quality you can afford with the long-term in mind.
• Durability:  Kids are hard on their stuff! A mattress, in particular, can take a beating. From rough-housing to slumber parties to beloved pets and bouts of the flu, any kid’s mattress will go through the ringer. Again, the highest quality mattress you can afford is often the best way to go. Factors that impact a mattress’s durability include the type and gauge of the coils in an innerspring mattress, the thickness and density of the foam in a memory foam mattress, and the materials used in covers and mattress toppers.
• Quality of materials: A mattress basically consists of several layers of either foam, latex, wool or other fabrics, and coils or springs. It truly is the sum of its parts. At each layer, the quality of the individual components adds up to the quality of the overall product. For an innerspring mattress, you’ll want to look at the quality of the coils used, rather than the coil count. Know that pocketed coils allow for more airflow than the simpler coil constructions. For foam and latex mattresses, the manufacturing process can be important as well as the density and origin of the foam material used.
• Standards of safety and non-toxicity met: Our top picks for the best mattresses for children meet safety guidelines and a few of them go above and beyond to provide eco-friendly and all-natural materials. Consider the amount of time your child will spend in close proximity to the mattress and be sure to check for features such as CertiPUR-US certified foam. All-natural wool offers a non-toxic alternative for traditional fire-retardants. It is not advisable to purchase a mattress without understanding the materials used in its construction.

Source: https://mattresshelp.org/