When choosing a mattress for children from 3 years old, it is necessary to take into account that the main deflections of the spinal column are already formed. At this age it is necessary that the stiffness of the bed was average. In this case, the mattress must be elastic, have good moisture and vapor permeability, not cause allergies, do not release into the air unhealthy substances.
Spring mattresses for children from 3 years
Steel springs for children's mattresses are formed into blocks that provide an orthopedic effect: in those places where the weight of the body is greatest, the springs must bend, and those where it is less - provide support. The principle of operation is the same as in the products for adults, but there are also differences.
The body weight of the child is much less, therefore, to achieve the desired effect, the springs must be softer and smaller. The remaining characteristics are similar. So, spring mattresses for children can also have dependent or independent blocks of springs, covered with sheet material. Although outwardly there is no difference, the properties of dependent and independent blocks differ significantly.
Mattress for children with dependent spring unit
Springs for such children's mattresses are woven in a continuous method. They first appeared on the market, and they are often called "bonnel" by the name of the first manufacturer. Different companies produce models that differ in the number of turns in the spring itself, the diameter and the number of springs per square meter. The smaller the diameter and the greater the density (the number of springs per unit area), the higher the quality of the mattress. But in any case, the "bonnel" is inferior to the "independent" models.
Pros:
- Low price;
- Good ventilation.
Minuses:
- Weak orthopedic support;
- Noise;
- Small service life;
- The surface of the entire mattress fluctuates in any movement;
- It has a hammock effect: the pelvic area is lower than the rest of the body;
- In addition, in cheap models, a thin layer of felt is used as a flooring, foam rubber — springs can be felt through such a coating.
If you need to choose a mattress for a child from 3 years, it is better to give preference to other types of mattresses.
Mattress for children with independent spring block
In models of this type, each spring is placed in a separate fabric cover. If one of them shrinks, the next one doesn’t react to it, which provides good orthopedic support. The models themselves differ from each other in the size and diameter of the springs, their density of distribution and the type of installation (there is a variant of "double springs", when one of them is inserted into the other to ensure greater rigidity).
The weight of the child is much less than the weight of an adult, so he does not need particularly strong springs, and their number may be less. For example, the option with a density of 250 with a spring diameter of about 4 cm is quite suitable, and it will cost less than the option with a density of 500.
Pros:
- Provides full orthopedic support due to uniform load distribution;
- No noise;
- The surface remains stationary when the sleeper moves;
- The best price-performance ratio.
Minuses:
- High height, which is not always convenient when used in a crib;
- The mattress is quite heavy, it is inconvenient to carry it in cleaning, and such a need may arise quite regularly.
Children's mattresses from 3 years, made on the basis of independent spring blocks, will provide the child with the correct development of the musculoskeletal system and comfort, and the relatively high cost will pay off for a long service life.
Springless orthopedic mattresses for children from 3 years
Doctors therapists believe that such models for the child is preferable. There are several reasons for this:
- Do not make noise;
- Do not contain metal parts, can not cause injury;
- Relatively light, which makes cleaning more accessible.
For both adults and children, these mattresses are made by combining sheet fillers in single blocks. Varying materials for fillers, achieve different stiffness and vary orthopedic properties. As filling mattresses for children from 3 years old use:
PPU
Polyurethane foam has a fairly low density, but at the same time low cost. Its ability to support the spine is slightly higher than that of foam rubber. The service life is small.
Pros:
- Affordable price;
- Great strength;
- Ease;
- Elasticity, elasticity.
Minuses:
- Small service life;
- Poor moisture permeability;
- May release harmful substances into the air.
- Experts do not recommend to buy such mattresses for the child.
Latex
Completely natural material that meets the most stringent standards and requirements for products for children. Due to the high price, as a rule, the final product contains no more than 40 percent of natural latex, but this is quite enough. Latex itself is a very elastic material; therefore, the degree of rigidity is controlled by making holes in it: the more holes, the softer the mattress.
Pros:
- Hypoallergenic;
- Does not emit toxic substances;
- Provides orthopedic support and proper formation of the musculoskeletal skeleton;
- It has excellent air and moisture permeability;
- Provides a high level of comfort.
Minuses:
- High price.
Coira
Vegetable fiber derived from coconuts is a very popular material for the production of mattresses for children due to its natural qualities. However, in itself it is too hard, the leaf of the coir is comparable in rigidity to the sheet of particle board. Therefore, layers of coir are usually impregnated with artificial latex to make it soft, or supplemented with sheets of latex or polyurethane foam.
Pros:
- Naturalness, environmental friendliness;
- Long service life.
Minuses:
- Increased stiffness
Important: Cheap samples can be impregnated with a synthetic material that looks like latex, but contains additives harmful to children's health, such as formaldehyde. If you are not sure about the quality of the product, it is better to purchase a spring unit.
Other fillers
In addition, sheep and camel wool, polyester fibers (eco-fiber, comfort), synthetic winterizer, holofiber and even swan down are often used in the production as fillers. In fact, with all the advantages available, these materials are not suitable for the manufacture of children's mattresses from 3 years, and above all because they do not have orthopedic properties. Moreover, natural is not always a synonym for the word "best."
Both fluff and wool can cause allergies in children. Synthetic fibers are hypoallergenic, but they do not heat well and almost do not “breathe” - a child on such a bed will overheat and sweat. Some of the listed fillers are permissible to use as one of the layers, but you cannot make the mattress whole of them.
Which mattress to choose for a child from 3 years spring or springless?
Both among spring and springless mattresses for children there are those that have high orthopedic properties, and those that do not have such properties. Therefore, it is rather difficult to compare them. For example, a mattress for children with an independent block, covered on top with a sheet of latex, will definitely be better than a block of polyurethane foam, and a block of latex is superior in properties to almost any spring mattress.
The following options are considered to be most suitable for children:
- Springless. A latex block is good for all but one — it is quite expensive. If you can afford it, rest assured - this is truly the best choice.
- Spring independent. It will cost less than latex. But you need to pay attention to what covered the mattress on top. Best of all, if it is a thin layer of coir, and on it - a thin layer of latex.
Tip: Child health is not something to save. The quality of the mattress on which your baby sleeps directly affects the formation of his body, and, therefore, the quality of his entire future life.
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