The safest place for your baby to sleep is on their own sleep surface, in the same room as you, for at least the first six months. A Moses basket or cot is a safe place for a baby to sleep. Take a look at our product guide for help selecting bedding for your baby.

Use a firm, flat and waterproof mattress in good condition

You should use a firm and flat mattress that is protected by a waterproof cover. This will help keep the mattress clean and dry, as the cover can be wiped down.

Make sure your baby’s mattress is in good condition and that it fits the Moses basket or cot properly.

Firmly tucked in sheets and blankets (not above shoulder height) or a baby sleep bag are safe for a baby to sleep in. Be sure to remove any soft toys from the cot before each sleep period.

Sleep your baby in the feet-to-foot position and avoid using soft or bulky bedding such as quilts, pillows and duvets.

Pillows can increase the risk of SIDS

Pillow use alone has been shown to increase the chance of SIDS occurring by up to 2.5 times. If you were thinking of using a pillow with your baby due to concerns for plagiocephaly (or ‘flat head syndrome’). There are techniques you can use that could help plagiocephaly which will not increase the risk of SIDS.

You should understand that plagiocephaly usually corrects itself within a year, but if you feel it is severe you may want to speak to your health professional or seek corrective treatment.

The safest place for your baby to sleep is on their own sleep surface, in the same room as you, for at least the first six months. A Moses basket or cot is a safe place for a baby to sleep. Take a look at our product guide for help selecting bedding for your baby.

Use a firm, flat and waterproof mattress in good condition

You should use a firm and flat mattress that is protected by a waterproof cover. This will help keep the mattress clean and dry, as the cover can be wiped down.

Make sure your baby’s mattress is in good condition and that it fits the Moses basket or cot properly.

Avoid using soft or bulky bedding

Firmly tucked in sheets and blankets (not above shoulder height) or a baby sleep bag are safe for a baby to sleep in. Be sure to remove any soft toys from the cot before each sleep period.

Sleep your baby in the feet-to-foot position and avoid using soft or bulky bedding such as quilts, pillows and duvets.

Pillows can increase the risk of SIDS

Pillow use alone has been shown to increase the chance of SIDS occurring by up to 2.5 times. If you were thinking of using a pillow with your baby due to concerns for plagiocephaly (or ‘flat head syndrome’). There are techniques you can use that could help plagiocephaly which will not increase the risk of SIDS.

We understand that plagiocephaly usually corrects itself within a year, but if you feel it is severe you may want to speak to your health professional or seek corrective treatment.

Advices for using second-hand mattresses

It can be common to use a second-hand mattress either from friends and family, or from your previous children. There is some research that found an increased chance of SIDS when using a second-hand mattress  brought in from outside of the family home, although the link is not yet proven.

To help reduce this risk, if you are using a second-hand twin mattress for kids make sure the mattress you choose was previously completely protected by a waterproof cover, with no rips or tears and is in good condition. The mattress should also still be firm and flat to keep your baby sleeping safely.

Restorative sleep is critical for growing brains. Without a full 7-9 hours of sleep on a mattress that provides proper comfort and support, as well as helping to induce sleep and keep you in REM (rapid eye movement) sleep for as long as possible, sleep is nourishment for the mind a helps to evolve the brain to its fully developed state. During sleep, organ systems are busy at work repairing and growing, and a tremendous amount of brain activity is happening behind the scenes.

Children, tweens, and teenagers, all from the ages of 8-18, require at least 8 solid hours of interrupted sleep, with “long sleepers” needing 10 or more. I have a son who is 24 and starting his first year of medical school this Fall. He has been a long sleeper all of his life, even as a toddler. In undergraduate school, he found it difficult to maneuver through semesters with early classes because he requires at least 10 hours of solid sleep. Anything less, and he’s the undead, in a zombie like state, fatigued and unable to think clearly. As a parent, I knew to accommodate this early on and not force an early to rise mentality.

For a teenager, skipping sleep can be highly destructive and even deadly, particularly when driving. Teens become quickly disheveled and out of sorts without sleep, becoming irritable, less productive, and perform poorly on tests, and physical actions become less sharp and precise.

Late nights and a lot of time on electronic devices is also a contributor to poor sleep hygiene for children and teens. Exposure to bright white light for hours on end instructs the brain to stay awake and not respond to normal circadium rhythms.

Exposure to darkness is essential to cycling the brain in preparation for sleep. That’s also why placing a TV in a child’s sleep area is a bad idea. Remember: A brain that is hungry for sleep will seek it out, even if you fight it. As an example, drowsiness and falling asleep while driving causes over 110,000 car crashes every year. When you do not get enough restorative and uninterrupted sleep, you are more likely to have an accident, injury and/or illness.

Our immune systems often become the first system to crash and burn, which creates a cascading effect behind it. Children and teens have developing immune systems that need to be nurtured and fed with rest and downtime, and sleep is essential to this process. As important as physical activity is to growing bodies, so sleep is as important, if not more.

The facts

• Sleep is vital to your well-being, and children and teenagers are subject to as much stress as adults, often dealing with poor eating habits, social conflict, and academic challenges, as they carve out their place in the world.
• Biological sleep patterns often shift for both sleeping and waking during adolescence, and it may become completely unnatural to not be able to fall asleep before 11:00 pm or later.
• Teens require 8 to 10 hours of sleep each night to function at peak efficiency. Most teens do not get anywhere near enough sleep, in fact one study found that only 15% of teenagers surveyed actually slept for 8 hours or more on school nights.
• Tweens and teens often have irregular sleep patterns across the week, staying up late and sleeping late on weekends, disrupting patterns in their biological clocks and reducing the quality of their sleep.
• Many teens suffer from an entire spectrum of sleep disorders, such as narcolepsy, insomnia, restless legs syndrome, even sleep apnea. A lot of these disorders can be relieved with the proper mattress.

Consequences

Not getting enough restorative sleep as a child or teenager can:

• Limit their ability to learn, absorb, concentrate and solve problems. You may even forget essential information like names, numbers, homework or a scheduled event.
• Make them more prone to severe acne. Lack of sleep can contribute to a host of dermatologic problems, a serious emotional stressor for tweens and teenagers.
• Lead to aggressive or inappropriate behavior such as hostility with friends, or being impatient with teachers or family members
• Increase overeating, especially unhealthy foods with excessive sugar, or fried foods that lead to weight gain
• Dramatically increase the effects of alcohol and the use of caffeine and nicotine to cope.
• Contribute to illness, increased danger using machines or equipment, and driving fatalities

Solutions

• Make sleep a priority. Keep a sleep diary or calendar. Help your child determine what you need to change to get enough sleep to grow their bodies and brains, and improve their waking hour function.

• Naps can help recharge and make you work more efficiently, if you schedule them correctly. Naps that are too lengthy or too close to bedtime can interfere with regular sleep. Ideal nap length: 30 minutes.

• Make your room a sleep sanctuary. Keep it cool, quiet and dark. If you need to, get an eye mask or blackout curtains. In the morning, at a predetermined time, allow bright light in the morning to signal your body to get going.

• Buy a mattress that is comforting, nest like, offers good back support, and sleeps cool. Scroll down below this section to view our handpicked selection of excellent mattress options for children over 8, tweens, and teenagers.

• Sleep medications, vitamins or drinks can alter or improve good sleep over a length of time. Consuming caffeine close to bedtime can disturb sleep, so avoid coffee, tea, sodas and even chocolate late in the day so you can fall sleep at night. Nicotine and alcohol will also interfere greatly with sleep.

• When you are sleep deprived, you are as just as compromised as driving with a blood alcohol content of .08%, illegal for drivers in many states. Sleep deprived driving causes over 110,000 crashes each year. Recognize sleep deprivation and find another way home is you are too tired to drive.

• Establish a bed and wake-up time and stick with it, even on the weekends. A consistent sleep schedule will help you fresh and crisp since it allows your body to get in sync with its natural patterns.

• Don’t eat, drink, or exercise for at least two hours prior to your bedtime. Try to avoid the TV, computer and cell phone one hour before you go to bed. Find a calm, quiet, wind down activity that winds down your brain, and you’ll fall asleep much more easily.

• If you do the same things every night prior to sleep, you condition your body to know that it’s time for bed. Try taking a bath or shower prior to falling asleep, read a book or magazine, but not on your cell phone.

From plush to firm, twin to queen and pocket spring to foam, there are many mattress choices. Choose the best mattress for kids so they can start sleeping better.

How much sleep exactly do children need each night? This is a question every parent must have pondered themselves.   

To be rested and energised for a full day of activities playing or studying, children need significantly more sleep than adults to achieve this. Current guidelines recommend that 3-5 year-olds should sleep 11-13 hours a night, and 6-9 year-olds should sleep 10-11 hours a night, according to guidelines by Murdoch Children’s Research Institute.  

The right support for growing bodies

Sleeping on the right mattress is one essential factor in ensuring your kids wake up well-rested every morning. When looking for the perfect sleep solution for your children, parents should consider the support system and strength of the mattress.  

With a wide variety of mattresses to choose from, how do you decide on the right one for your kids? Worry not, we’ve selected the top five best mattress types for your kids. It’ll be that much easier to narrow down your search after reading this guide.  

1. Memory Foam kids mattress

This mattress type is popular as it gradually conforms to your children’s bodies as they sleep. It is a great choice if you’re looking for good support and comfort. It also offers good shoulder and hip support if they sleep on their sides.  

Other benefits of memory foam mattresses are that they contain several layers of foam that resist the tendency to sag in the middle, and this removes the need to flip the mattress routinely. Additionally, this mattress type is also more value for money compared to the more expensive latex and pocket spring options. A downside to the memory foam is the possible odor that might arise – so don’t forget to air the mattress regularly if you opt for this choice!  

2. Latex kids mattress

Latex mattresses use latex foam instead of memory foam. It conforms to your body and reduces the pressure on your muscles and circulation, and there are three different types of latex used in mattresses:  

• 100% natural latex – made with 100% natural rubber latex
• Natural latex – made with 85% natural rubber latex and 15% synthetic latex
• Pure latex – made with 20% natural rubber latex and 80% synthetic latex

The most expensive type of latex mattress, with probably the most ‘luxurious’ feel, is made from 100% latex. This material also offers varying levels of firmness and plushness to accommodate little ones who sleep on their side, back or tummy. A great option for those who often toss and turn in bed. This mattress type might be pricier and weighs more than other types but other than these, it has no real downsides.  

3. Pocket Spring kids mattress

A pocket spring mattress has each of its springs (there could be thousands) enclosed individually in a pocket of cloth or cloth-like material. Hence, all springs do not contract all at once when you move or turn on your bed.  

The general rule on pocket coil systems is the more coils, the more responsive and motion controlled the mattress is, while still providing support. This directly translates to more comfort. It is also important to consider the foam quality that is wrapped around the coil system – if the quality isn’t good, your kids might find the bed uncomfortable.  

4. Gel-infused foam kids mattress

Gel-infused foam mattresses were originally engineered to improve airflow, release trapped heat, and help sleepers stay comfortable throughout the night. But take note that this varies for everyone, and a few recent surveys have shown that this depends on the individual.   Do take note that if your kids tend to sleep warm or hot,  there should be less focus on gel and instead on the mattress type.  

5. Innerspring memory foam hybrid kids mattress

Hybrid mattresses are definitely in now as they bring in the best of two worlds. A hybrid mattress is really just the combination of two materials and in this case, they are innersprings and foam. A key benefit is precise support exactly where the body needs it most as it contours to the form. Another upside is that the addition of the foam makes it more comfortable for your kids.

Your child body is weak, that’s why he needs more care. You need to do proper research before shopping for the mats. It would be better to ask your kid, if he is comfortable with it or not. Each mattress for kids has different quality and weight, so choose as per your choice.