As a parent, time flies by so quickly watching your little ones grow up. One day they’re swaddled in their crib and before you know it, it’s time to upgrade to a big kid mattress. When the time is drawing near, you may start to wonder, when is it time to upgrade your toddler bed to a kid’s mattress? While you can choose to upgrade your child’s bed at any age, most parents make the switch when their little ones are around 2 and a half to three years old. Ideally, once your little one has been sleep-trained then it should be a simple transition to a bigger, more accommodating, and comfortable option.
Why Should You Get a Kid’s Mattress for your Toddler?
Since you’ve worked out when you should move your child from a crib or toddler bed to a kid’s mattress, you may also consider why this is important. First of all, kids grow very quickly at the toddler stage. They grow taller, make more movements and turn in their sleep, and need much more space to have a comfortable night’s rest. If they’re already weaning off daytime naps, nighttime sleep is essential to their development. For this reason, creating a more comfortable sleeping environment for your child should be a top priority. Many cribs convert to toddler beds, by having an option to remove some of the sidebars, however, it doesn’t change the size of the bed space. This sort of space can become very cramped, very quickly. Therefore, a big kid’s mattress should be introduced at the earliest opportunity.
Another reason to upgrade to a mattress for kids is that it’s a good investment. Your toddler will have a lot of room to grow and enjoy sleeping on a mattress for kids for quite a few years before another upgrade is needed. This saves you a lot of time and money and has other benefits such as helping your child to adjust to sleeping independently with fewer disruptions throughout the night.
How to Choose a Kids Mattress?
There are hundreds of big kids’ mattresses on the market but the quality, pricing, and durability vary across the board. There are also many different models, designs, and materials used in their production. Here are some basic guidelines to consider:
Technology
Many sleep experts have found that memory foam mattresses facilitate a better quality of sleep for both adults and children. Kids memory foam mattresses such as the MLilly Jama Mattress are definitely in the top ranks for providing optimal comfort, durability, and many other benefits for better sleep, body alignment, and thermoregulation. This mattress also comes with a washable, breathable cover to help protect the mattress and extend its durability.
Materials
Many products are made with toxic or inferior materials which can be harmful to the health of your child. Always opt for bio-degradable and eco-friendly materials to keep your little one safe and healthy. MLilly big kids mattresses offer this peace of mind. The Jama 7” bed is CertiPUR-US certified for safety, durability and contains no harmful chemicals, substances, or fabrics that can be hazardous. With this nod of approval, it’s certainly a top choice for parents.
Versatility
Most parents are nervous about converting to a big kid’s mattress. They are often anxious about their child rolling over or falling off and getting injured. This is why low-profile beds are ideal. The MLilly Jama 7” memory foam mattress for kids has a low -profile that is suitable as a bunk bed mattress and trundle bed mattress. It’s also compatible to use with a standard base or bed frame. Memory foam also makes it harder for a child to slip or roll off and offers more safety and support. It’s also less bouncy than mattresses with inner springs which makes it no fun to jump on! Parents have this added benefit and peace of mind with a kids memory foam mattress.
Tips for Better Sleep
While a big kids memory foam mattress is a huge benefit and aids in better sleep, here are some extra tips to help your child achieve more restful sleep.
Establish a bedtime routine – Kids respond well to routine and it creates order and direction. Creating a bedtime routine also signals that it’s time to wind down and get in the mood for sleep. Warm baths, soothing aromatherapy, a bedtime story, or a lullaby are some great ways to help your child relax into sleepy mode.
Limit screen time before bedtime – Blue light emitted from electronics such as tablets, laptops, and televisions disrupts your body’s sleep-wake cycle or circadian rhythm. You miss the natural cues for sleep and end up staying up too late. This makes it harder to fall asleep when you want to. To prevent or reduce this problem, have a cut-off time for the use of blue light-emitting devices. Switching devices off at least thirty minutes to an hour before bedtime can make a difference. The longer the gap between using them and bedtime, the better.
Provide a comfortable environment – Comfort leads to more relaxation and less anxiety or stress. Your child’s bedroom should be a safe, comfortable haven. A comfortable mattress, soft clothing, quiet surroundings, a clean and tidy room, and appropriate room temperatures all contribute to better sleep. The Jama kids memory foam mattress has an extra gel layer for thermoregulation that will keep your little one cool, calm and comfy all night long, especially on hot summer nights!
Sleep is a priority
As mentioned before, children need to have the best quality of sleep to aid in their physical and cognitive development. They need a lot more sleep than adults to support growing bodies and minds. Children who have a regular sleep pattern, good sleep quality, and a comfortable bed perform better at achieving milestones, have better moods and temperament, more energy, and better health overall. It’s essential to upgrade your toddler’s bed as soon as you feel he/she is ready for the next step.
