When your baby grows up and it’s time to put them in a real bed, the transition takes a bit of know-how and time. However, what about the actual bed? What should be the hardness rating of the mattress? Should you just get a full-size bed and be done with it? Let’s find the answers to these questions and many more with the help of the following points.
Toddler Beds are Unnecessary
Toddler beds may look cute and salesmen will probably try to sell you one if you go looking for it but know that it’s an unnecessary expense. Once your child has outgrown the cot, the most important thing is the mattress that he/she is sleeping on, rather than the actual size of the bed. They will eventually outgrow the toddler bed as well and you will have to opt for something bigger pretty soon, making it an unnecessary and expensive affair.
The Importance of the Mattress
As mentioned previously, the mattress is more important for a child who is transitioning from a cot to a bed than anything else. The spine of an average child grows particularly fast during the 18 – 36-month period, so they need to sleep on a mattress that supports their spine instead of hindering it in any way. In other words, the mattress needs to be just firm enough to prevent the child from sinking into it, but not so firm that it ends up being uncomfortable.
Spring is Better than Foam for Toddlers
Foam mattresses are not ideal for small children as they cannot provide the support the soft neck and back of a child needs to grow without any deformations. While memory foam might be perfect for adults, young children should sleep on innerspring beds as they promote the natural and healthy growth of the spine. Find out more about different types of beds by visiting Sleep Sherpa.
Bigger is Better
It might seem counterintuitive to buy a king-size bed for a 5-year-old, but it’s a better investment than buying any fancy toddler beds. Of course, if you have more than one child or there isn’t enough room to fit a big bed in the room, you can skip the king-size and opt for the standard double-sized bed instead. The thing is that the children will love the extra space and you will never really have to worry about them becoming too big for it. Even when they move out, you will have an extra bed ready for guests at all time. The mattress will need to be changed every 5 – 10 years though, depending on the condition of the springs or the foam (later on).
Now that you know what to look for, it’s important to select the right product. You will probably be surprised at how much there is to know about sleeping, beds and the factors that affect both. Don’t forget, cheap is not necessarily cheerful when you go shopping for a new bed.
