Mattress Priorities – Children’s Mattresses

I like to share incidents immediately because they present a wonderful learning opportunity. I just observed a woman enter a mattress store. She was needing two twin mattresses for her sons (3 & 12). After some initial qualifying questions the salesperson determined that this was largely a price driven decision. He took the woman to the less expensive options and began to discuss the merits of each. In the case of this chain, the least expensive mattress that you would want any human being to sleep on is around $150 for the mattress only – by no means is this an outrageous price for a usable twin mattress.

The woman protested. She did not want to spend more than $200 for BOTH mattresses. And then she added the kicker, she had just spent $800 on the bunk bed and had budgeted just $200 for the mattresses!

I know this salesperson well and knew exactly what question should have been asked, “Do you think maybe you have your priorities a little backwards?”

Nothing was more disappointing to me as a salesperson than situations like this. Customers would claim the bed was just for their child or elderly parent, as if neither of these two need proper support and alignment! This is your child. It is your mother. They need quality sleep just as much as you do!

I understand if money is tight you do what you have to do. But if that is the case you don’t waste $800 on a freakin’ piece of furniture that will be tossed aside in just a few years if not destroyed sooner. Nor do you subject your children to a mattress that improperly supports them, or does not provide adequate pressure relief.

I’m not suggesting spending a small fortune for a twin mattress that will probably be short-lived as well. There are many options under $400 that would be perfect kids beds and high enough quality to keep them comfortable as they grow for an extended length of time. That quality starts to drop like a rock the closer you get to $200. It then crashes and burns into a boiling cauldron of misery once you drop below $200. And God help the child that is forced to sleep on a mattress less than a $100 – if you can find any. There are POWs that sleep on better mattresses.

A good rule of thumb when it comes to children’s mattresses is to test the mattress for yourself. I mean REALLY test it. Try it on your back and then on your side for 15 minutes. If you could honestly sleep comfortably in either position for 8 hours, it may work. If you can’t stand it, it probably will not work for your child either. If your child is old enough, have them try it. Look at their alignment. Ask about pressure on their shoulder and hips. They are much smaller, but their needs are just as important – maybe more since they do most of their growing at night. This will be compromised by a mattress that will not let them reach and remain in a deep sleep.

I spent my entire childhood on my parent’s hand-me-down mattress. I was always tired in the morning and often sore. I did not know the difference until I got to college and slept on a real mattress that supported me properly. What a difference that made!

Get your priorities straight and get a mattress that fits your child’s body. Short of life, love and food, its the best gift you can give your child.

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