How to choose a mattress for a child from 3 years old?

Spring mattresses for children from 3 years

Steel springs for children's mattresses are formed into blocks that provide an orthopedic effect: in those places where the body weight is greatest, the springs should bend, and those where it is less should provide support. The principle of operation is the same as in products for adults, however, there are differences.

The body weight of the child is much less, therefore, to achieve the desired effect, the springs should be softer and smaller. Other characteristics are similar. So, spring mattresses for children can also have dependent or independent spring blocks, covered with sheet material. Although there are no external differences, the properties of the dependent and independent blocks are significantly different.

Mattress for children with dependent spring unit

The springs for such children's mattresses are woven in a continuous manner. They first appeared on the market, and often they are called a “bonnel” by the name of the first manufacturer. Different companies produce models that differ in the number of turns in the spring itself, the diameter and number of springs per square meter. The smaller the diameter and the greater the density (the number of springs per unit area) - the higher the quality of the mattress. But in any case, the "bonnel" is inferior to the "independent" models.

Pros:

• Low price;
• Good ventilation.

Minuses:

• Weak orthopedic support;
• Noisiness
• Short service life;
• The surface of the entire mattress fluctuates with any movement;
• It has the effect of a hammock: the pelvic region is below the rest of the body;
• In addition, in cheap models, a thin layer of felt is used as flooring, and foam rubber - springs can be felt through such a coating.

If you need to choose a mattress for a child from 3 years old, it is better to give preference to other types of mattresses.

Mattress for children with an independent spring unit

In models of this type, each spring is placed in a separate fabric cover. If one of them is compressed, the neighboring one does not react to this in any way, which provides good orthopedic support. The models themselves differ from each other in the size and diameter of the springs, their density and type of installation (there is the option of “double springs” when one of them is inserted into the other to provide greater rigidity).

The weight of the child is much less than the weight of an adult, so he does not need particularly strong springs, and their number may be less. For example, an option with a density of 250 with a spring diameter of about 4 cm is quite suitable, and it will cost less than an option with a density of 500.

Pros:

• Provides full orthopedic support due to uniform load distribution;
• No noise;
• The surface remains motionless during the movements of the sleeper;
• The best price-quality ratio.

Minuses:

• Large height, which is not always convenient when used in a crib;
• The mattress is quite heavy, it is inconvenient to carry it for cleaning, and such a need can arise quite regularly.

Children's mattresses from 3 years old, made on the basis of independent spring blocks, will provide the child with the correct development of the musculoskeletal system and comfort, and a relatively high cost will pay off with a long service life.

Springless orthopedic mattresses for children from 3 years

Therapists believe that such models are preferable for the child. There are several reasons for this:

• Do not make noise;
• Do not contain metal parts, cannot cause injury;
• Relatively light, which makes cleaning more affordable.

Both adults and children make such mattresses by combining sheet fillers into single blocks. By varying materials for fillers, they achieve different stiffness and vary orthopedic properties. As fillers for mattresses for children from 3 years old use:

PPU

Polyurethane foam has a fairly low density, but at the same time low cost. Its ability to maintain the spine is slightly higher than that of foam rubber. Service life is short.

Pros:

• Affordable price;
• Great durability;
• Ease;
• Elasticity, resilience.

Minuses:

• Short service life;
• Poor moisture permeability;
• May release harmful substances into the air.
• Experts do not recommend purchasing such mattresses for a child.

Latex

All-natural material that meets the most stringent standards and requirements for products for children. Due to the high price, as a rule, the final product contains no more than 40 percent of natural latex, but this is quite enough. Latex itself is a very elastic material, so the degree of rigidity is controlled by making holes in it: the more holes, the softer the mattress.

Pros:

• Hypoallergenic;
• Does not emit toxic substances;
• Provides orthopedic support and proper formation of the musculoskeletal skeleton;
• It has excellent air and moisture permeability;
• Provides a high level of comfort.

Minuses:

• High price.

Coira

Plant fiber derived from coconuts is a very popular material for the production of mattresses for children due to its natural qualities. However, in itself it is too hard, the coir sheet is comparable in stiffness with a chipboard sheet. Therefore, coir layers are usually impregnated with artificial latex to give softness, or supplemented with latex or PUF sheets.

Pros:

• Naturalness, environmental friendliness;
• Long service life.

Minuses:

• Increased rigidity

Important: Cheap samples can be impregnated with synthetic material that looks like latex but contains additives that are harmful to children's health, such as formaldehyde. If you are not sure about the quality of the product, it is better to purchase a spring unit.

Other fillers

In addition, sheep and camel wool, polyester fibers (ecofiber, comfort), synthetic winterizer, holofiber and even swan fluff are often used as fillers in production. In fact, with all the advantages, these materials are not suitable for the manufacture of children's mattresses from 3 years old, and primarily because they do not have orthopedic properties. Moreover, natural is not always synonymous with the word "best."

Both down and wool can cause allergies in children. Synthetic fibers are hypoallergenic, but they do not conduct heat well and hardly breathe - the child will overheat and sweat on such a bed. Some of the listed fillers can be used as one of the layers, but you can not make a whole mattress out of them.

Which mattress to choose for a child from 3 years old spring or springless?

Both among spring and springless mattresses for children there are those that have high orthopedic properties, and those that do not have such properties. Therefore, comparing them is quite difficult. For example, a mattress for children with an independent block, covered on top with a sheet of latex, will be definitely better than a block made of polyurethane foam, and a block made of latex surpasses the properties of almost any spring mattress.

It is believed that the following options are most suitable for children:

1. Springless. A latex block is good for everyone except one - it is quite expensive. If you can afford it, be sure - this is really the best choice.
2. Spring independent. It will cost less than latex. But you need to pay attention to what the mattress is covered on top.It is best if it is a thin layer of coir, and on it is a thin layer of latex.

Tip: Children's health is not something to save on. The quality of the mattress on which your baby sleeps directly affects the formation of his body, and, therefore, the quality of his entire future life.