Sleep Talk Blog, Product Help, Bed and Mattress Guides
Is a Foam or Spring Mattress Better For a Toddler?
Feb
Foam or spring mattress
When it comes to choosing the perfect mattress for your toddler, parents often find themselves deliberating between foam and spring options.
While toddlers can indeed sleep comfortably on either type, foam mattresses typically prove more suitable for younger toddlers, whilst spring mattresses tend to be more appropriate for older children.
Foam mattresses are characteristically thinner than their spring counterparts, making them particularly well-suited to toddler and cot beds' lower sleep positions. Spring mattresses, being thicker and offering enhanced support, emerge as the best choice for older toddlers and children, especially as they transition to larger beds.
One of the primary advantages of foam mattresses lies in their lack of bounce or spring action. This characteristic proves particularly beneficial for safety-conscious parents, as toddlers are less likely to use the mattress as an impromptu trampoline, thereby reducing the risk of potential injuries during playtime.
Conversely, spring mattresses offer superior mobility thanks to their inherent bounce, making them an excellent choice for older toddlers and young children who are more physically developed and require additional support for their growing bodies.
This comprehensive blog post delves into the various advantages and disadvantages of both foam and spring mattresses for toddlers, providing you with essential insights to make an informed decision that best suits your little one's needs.
The case for foam mattresses for toddlers
Foam mattresses present several compelling advantages over their spring counterparts – their slimmer profile and reduced bounce factor, coupled with firm support levels, make them particularly appealing for younger children.
These mattresses are predominantly used in cot beds, where a firm sleeping surface is considered optimal for infants and young toddlers during their crucial developmental stages.
Perhaps the most compelling argument in favour of foam mattresses is their simple, yet effective construction, featuring no moving parts such as metal springs that could potentially deteriorate over time.
This design element also eliminates a common complaint among parents – the distinctive noise produced by spring mattresses when children move about, as there are no springs to create those characteristic clunking and clanking sounds under your toddler's weight.
Our recommendation of foam mattresses for infants and toddlers stems from their ability to provide consistent support levels across the entire sleep surface.
Unlike spring mattresses, which can sometimes exhibit excessive bounciness and may compress at the edges, foam mattresses maintain their structural integrity throughout, ensuring a stable sleeping environment for your little one.
The case for spring mattresses for toddlers
Spring mattresses are thicker than foam mattresses and have more support for older children. The extra bounce improves mobility (the ability to toss and turn), which makes it easier for children and toddlers to get comfortable.
The most significant selling point of spring mattresses is they are highly breathable, whereas foam mattresses are not great for hot weather. Additionally, spring mattresses are thicker, giving your child a higher sleep platform.
Spring mattresses are ideal for older toddlers (3 years old) and young children. The downside to spring mattresses is they can lack edge support unless they have a reinforced border, which increases the risk of roll-off.
The Case for Spring Mattresses for Toddlers
Spring mattresses distinguish themselves through their greater thickness and enhanced support capabilities, making them particularly well-suited for older children.
The additional bounce factor these mattresses provide actually serves a practical purpose by improving mobility – allowing children and toddlers to adjust their position more easily, ultimately facilitating better comfort levels throughout the night.
The standout feature of spring mattresses lies in their superior breathability, a characteristic that proves especially valuable during warmer weather conditions. This stands in stark contrast to foam mattresses, which can sometimes retain heat and become uncomfortable during hot spells.
Furthermore, the increased thickness of spring mattresses provides your child with an elevated sleep platform, which many parents find preferable as their children grow older.
Spring mattresses prove particularly beneficial for older toddlers (typically around 3 years of age) and young children who require more robust support for their developing bodies. However, it's worth noting that these mattresses may sometimes lack adequate edge support unless specifically designed with a reinforced border.
This potential limitation could increase the risk of roll-off, particularly for more active sleepers.
Mattress recommendations for toddlers
The JayBe Foam Free stands out as an excellent choice, featuring open coil springs complemented by synthetic comfort layers. The mattress has a foam-free construction significantly reduces the presence of chemicals, whilst its fibre comfort layer offers superior breathability compared to traditional foam, effectively helping to regulate body temperature throughout the night.
A particularly noteworthy feature of this mattress is its comprehensive edge-to-edge support system, which maximises the available sleeping surface. Additionally, all materials used in its construction are hypoallergenic, making it an ideal choice for children with sensitivities or allergies.
If you need a waterproof mattress, consider the JayBe Simply Kids Waterproof, which incorporates the same innovative technology as the Foam Free model, with the addition of a specially designed waterproof layer.
This protective barrier effectively guards against liquid penetration whilst maintaining breathability, making it an excellent choice for children who are still mastering night-time continence or those prone to accidents.
Importantly, this mattress has an edge-to-edge support system to maximise the sleeping surface, and all materials are hypoallergenic.
If you need a waterproof mattress, check out the JayBe Simply Kids Waterproof, which has the same technology as the Foam Free with a waterproof layer.
JayBe Anti-Allergy
For children with sensitivities or allergies, the JayBe Anti-Allergy presents itself as the optimal solution. This mattress is expertly treated with Purotex, an advanced anti-allergy coating that significantly reduces the presence of common allergens in the sleeping environment.
Following the same eco-conscious principles as the Foam Free model, it eschews the use of foam entirely, instead utilising fibres derived from recycled plastic bottles and sustainable sources, demonstrating JayBe's commitment to both child health and environmental responsibility.
The carefully calibrated medium comfort level has been specifically designed to support children up to age ten, ensuring this mattress provides long-lasting value throughout your child's developmental years. The balanced support helps maintain proper spinal alignment whilst offering sufficient comfort for restful sleep.
For those seeking enhanced support, the JayBe Pocket Sprung Anti-allergy offers an excellent alternative. Unlike its open coil counterpart, this model features advanced pocket springs, where each spring is individually wrapped and responds independently to pressure, providing superior targeted support and reducing motion transfer for undisturbed sleep.
The medium comfort level is perfect for children up to age ten, so this mattress will last your child a long time.
Another option is the JayBe Pocket Sprung Anti-allergy – this mattress has pocket springs instead of open coils for better support.
Silentnight Classic Miracoil Memory Mattress
The Silentnight Classic Miracoil Memory Mattress represents an ideal single mattress solution for toddlers and young children. This innovative design combines comprehensive edge-to-edge support with strategically zoned springs and a responsive memory foam comfort layer that adapts to your child's body shape and sleeping position.
The result is a sleep surface that offers both optimal support and personalised comfort.
With its practical 23cm depth, this spring mattress integrates seamlessly with standard children's beds. A particularly parent-friendly feature is its no-turn design, eliminating the maintenance requirements typically associated with traditional open coil mattresses.
This convenient characteristic ensures the mattress remains consistently comfortable with minimal effort.
When considering longevity, it's worth noting that foam mattresses generally demonstrate superior durability compared to spring mattresses.
This extended lifespan can be attributed to their simpler construction and absence of mechanical components that might wear over time.
With its 23cm depth, this spring mattress is ideal for children’s beds, and there is no need to turn or rotate it, unlike many open coil mattresses.
A foam mattress typically lasts longer than a spring mattress.