Cot bed Mattress

Finding the right mattress for your little ones' cotbed doesn't have to be confusing. Here you can find the right size and style of cot mattress no matter what your requirements.

If you are purchasing a mattress for a baby's cot it needs to be firm and flat and there should be no gaps around the edge where the baby could get their head stuck.

Once a baby is able to roll over by themselves (but not before the first 6 months) and for toddlers a more comfortable and softer mattress can be used. The most common sized cot bed mattresses in the UK are 140 x 70cm and the smaller 120 x 60cm but other sizes can be bought to fit your cot.

You may also be interested in a cot duvet set if you haven't already purchased your cot bed sheets and covers.

Which cot bed mattress is best?

There are several types of cot bed mattress available from soft to hard and reversible mattresses that are soft on one side hard on the other so the hard side can be used when young and flipped over to use the softer side as they get older. The idea being you do not have to buy a new mattress as they get older so it lasts longer.

As well as how soft or firm a mattress is there is also what the mattress is made out of. You can find foam, coil and pocket spring, natural fibre and hypoallergenic mattresses to suit your needs.

So which is best? Firstly the practical decisions and that means picking the right sized mattress to fit your cot bed. The two most common sizes are 140cm x 70cm and 120cm x 60cm. Mattress thickness varies from 9cm to 11cm depending on what the mattress is made from.

As with most products you get what you pay for. In the case of mattresses for cots beds the better quality and safer mattresses are more expensive but will last longer.

Of the lower cost range Aircomfort and Tutti Bambini are affordable but may not suit every parents needs. However we can strongly recommend the Newton Mattress as it has proven to be safer for babies.

Best budget cot bed mattress

One of the best eco mattresses is the Aircomfort eco breathable baby cot bed mattress. It is extra thick with a depth of 13cm and is available in both 140 x 70 and 120 x 60 cot sizes.

It will fit most of the popular models of cot bed including Mothercare, Mamas and Papas, branded and generic cot beds. It meets the BS7177 standards which means it is fire safety compliant.

The eco mattress is quiet soft and may lose its shape in which case this Aircomfort mattress is the type of mattress recommended for new born babies as it is firm and flat.

Best mid price cot bed mattress

The Hypoallergenic cot bed mattress from Tutti Bambini uses coil springs (foam sprung) in a sandwich of high density nursery grade foam and breathable Just-tec fabric. It means as well as providing the support a new baby needs it also remains comfortable.

The breathable design means that it will help regulate temperature to reduce overheating and its open design allows any odours to escape making the mattress smell fresher.

There is a removable washable cover and polyester rather than PVC is used to help keep the baby cool and comfortable. It does mean it is not completely waterproof but water repellent, this is by design as keeping good airflow is essential for new born babies.

The Tutti Bambini mattress is 10cm thick and available in 120 x 60 cm as well as 140 x 70 cm.

Safest cot bed mattress

Although the priciest mattress in our list the Newton Baby and Toddler Breathable Cot Bed Mattress has to be the safest. You can rest easy knowing you have a mattress that is designed for and independently proven to reduce the risk of suffocation and CO2 rebreathing with SIDS being a major worry for parents.

It is also pediatrician recommended and Greenguard Gold certified which is certification to show a product is safe for use in school and healthcare facilities. It is due to the mattress not containing any foam, glue, springs or latex and has the lowest VOC levels. Volatile Organic Compounds are gases given off by products that pose particular harm to babies and children. They also harm adults which is why you see many DIY products such as paints and varnish stating they are low in VOC's.

In a third-party CPSC accredited laboratory, tests showed that a baby gets 97% more air while breathing through a Newton Crib Mattress Pad than on a conventional waterproof crib mattress.

As well as being 100% breathable and non-toxic it is fully washable and designed to last your little one from baby to toddler. Whilst this mattress may cost more you are getting what you pay for. I am not aware of any other cot bed mattress that is higher in breathability testing and lower in suffocation risk.

Why It's so good for baby

Unlike other mattresses the Newton 100% breathable is actually 90% air so air can pass easily through it making it safer for newborn babies breathing. It also means the natural ventilation will help prevent your baby overheating.

It is able to provide the firm and flat support surface your baby needs due to the Wovenaire comfort technology they use. The 10% of the cot mattress that makes up the physical structure is made from a safe food grade polymer which gives it the firmness needed whilst still being comfortable to sleep on.

The Newton Baby and Toddler mattress is available in both UK standard sizes of 120 x 60 cm and 140 x 70 cm. Both the removable mattress cover and the polymer mattress core can be washed so you don't need a separate mattress protector.