How To Buy A Cot Mattress

Whether you buy a bassinet for the first few months of your baby’s life or opt for putting them straight into a cot, one thing is for sure - if you buy a cot, you’ll need a cot mattress. Here at Amart, we can recommend a mattress size that pairs safely with one of our cot frames. According to Australian and New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 2172:2003 Cots for Household Use, when centred in the cot, you must ensure your new mattress fits with no more than 2cm from any of the cot’s sides, including the top and end. This ensures there are no gaps large enough for your baby to roll into, posing a suffocation risk.

Once you know the size you need, you can decide whether to choose a foam mattress, innerspring mattress, or natural latex mattress and whether you’d like a fixed or removable mattress cover.

You don’t need to spend a fortune to buy a top-quality, safe, firm mattress at Amart. But with the variety of mattress construction types available, you might be wondering about differences in firmness and which style is superior. To put your mind at rest, all our mattresses have the appropriate level of firmness for your little sleeper, whether you choose foam, innerspring or latex.

An excellent resource for ensuring the firmness of your child’s mattress and the safety of their sleep environment can be found on the What is a Safe Mattress section of the Red Nose Day website.

The Australian/New Zealand standard AS/NZS 8811.1:2013 Sleep surfaces – Test for firmness is applied to all Amart cot mattresses. This is to prevent accidental suffocation among babies aged 0-12 months, who may roll face down on an overly soft sleep surface.

Keep breathability and airflow front of mind when choosing a cot mattress. Amart’s cot mattress range is made from breathable materials to encourage ventilation and healthy respiration.

A breathable mattress will promote air circulation, prevent overheating and reduce the accumulation of dust mites. For added protection, we also recommend your cot mattress has a removable, washable cover made from breathable fabric for sleep comfort and hygiene.

A well-fitting mattress not only looks great in your cot it’s also the most important element to get right from a safety perspective. A mattress with a gap/s greater than 2cm to the cot sides poses an asphyxiation risk if a young baby were to roll their face into the gap and not be able to roll back out.

Did you know that a cot mattress that is flat and does not have undulating or quilted features offers the best level of firmness and sleep support? What’s more, vinyl covers, padded, and quilted surfaces can trap heat, causing overheating. For these reasons, it’s best to opt for a mattress with a flat sleeping surface that is free from extra embellishment.

Accidents happen! Often more frequently than you’d expect. So, a removable cover that is machine washable gets practicality points for parents and maintains a hygienic sleep environment for your baby. We recommend bedding and manchester products made from natural fibres like bamboo or cotton covers for ultimate sleep comfort and temperature regulation.

Make your cot mattress go further with a convertible cot from Amart. Simply remove one or both sides of a convertible cot to take your little one’s bed from babyhood into the toddler years. Without upgrading to another mattress!

Here’s how to set up your baby’s sleep environment according to the latest safety standards for peace of mind you’re providing the healthy, restorative sleep they need to thrive:

• Ensure you have bought a well-fitting, firm, safe mattress that complies with the Australian/New Zealand national standard AS/NZS 8811.1:2013.
• Remove any plastic that your cot mattress may have come wrapped in.
• Do not tilt or elevate the cot mattress.
• Do not place toys or cot bumpers in the cot.
• Do not place anything soft underneath your baby e.g., a lambswool topper or plush comforter.
• Don’t place doonas, heavy blankets, or a pillow in the cot.
• Sleep baby on their back and position their feet at the bottom of the cot.
• Keep your baby’s head and face uncovered.
• Use a baby-safe sleeping bag.
• If using a blanket for extra warmth, ensure that it’s lightweight, tucked in tight, does not go past your baby’s chest, and that your baby is positioned at the bottom of their cot so they can’t wriggle down under the blanket.