Importance of choosing the correct Childrens bed

Choosing the correct bed for your child is vital if they are to get a good night's sleep, which is extremely important for their overall health and well-being. A lack of sleep typically occurs when your child has a poor quality mattress, or the bed itself is too small.

St. Thomas' Hospital in London conducted a research study, concluding that toddlers can actually grow up to 1.5c at night, meaning that they can quickly outgrow their bed. While the growth rate reduces as a child gets older, it is worth remembering that they continue to grow during their teenage years; in fact some people don't stop growing until they are in their early twenties. No matter if your child is a toddler or a teenager, they need a top quality bed that is big enough and offers good support for their back. The research study showed that more and more children are dealing with back issues; this can easily be rectified if they are sleeping on a good mattress.

It is quite common for parents to use the same bed over and over again for their children, or even purchase one that is second hand. While this obviously saves money, the mattress may not meet today's fire resistance standards - always look for a blue and white label indicating that it is fire safe. Additionally, an old mattress could be unhygienic. Not only could it be riddled with dust mites, the previous user will have deposited body moisture and skin particles onto the mattress, potentially causing an allergic reaction such as hay fever symptoms or eczema, or in some cases an asthma attack. It is always prudent to buy a brand new mattress in a hypo-allergenic material.

Consider the size of your child's bed. Once your baby is too big for his cot, don't be tempted to place him in a standard sized bed, as the size may overwhelm or even scare him. Begin with a starter bed, and move on to a regular single bed when he gets a little older. Popular options for older children include cabin beds, featuring handy storage underneath, or bunk beds. These beds are available in a variety of designs and materials, allowing you to coordinate your child's room in a colourful, friendly manner. When purchasing a bunk bed, make sure that it passes the safety regulations requiring that the gap between each rail is 2.5 to 3 inches in width. If a teenager will be sleeping on the bottom bunk, there should be enough room for them to sit up straight in bed. Be careful when choosing a specific mattress; it needs to be appropriate for use with either a mesh support or slats, and it there should be at least 4 inches between the top of the mattress and the guard rail.

When you purchase a new bed for your child, look after it properly, as this will ensure it stays in perfect condition. Wash the bedding frequently, air the bed every day, give it a good vacuuming every couple of weeks, and don't forget to turn the mattress on a regular basis. If your child has a top quality mattress and bed frame, along with a hypo-allergenic mattress cover, you can be sure that you have done everything you can to help them sleep comfortably and soundly at night.