What type of mattress should I buy for my child?

For adults and children alike, the most comfortable and healthy sleep position is with a straight spine; this means we need a supportive mattress.

What do we mean by a supportive mattress?

A supportive mattress is a responsive mattress, that can adapt to all the curvy (or not-so-curvy) parts of the body, whether it's the shoulders, hips, waist or head.

Do children need a more supportive mattress than adults?

Yes, it is even more important for children's mattresses to be supportive. This is because:

Children tend to be lighter in weight than adults; they make less impact on the mattress so they need a more sensitive mattress to respond to their contours.

They change position in bed more than adults, so their mattress needs to respond accordingly.

Their shape is constantly changing as they grow; a more supportive mattress will be able to respond to these changes, resulting in greater comfort.

So that's your watch word when it comes to choosing the best mattress for kids; it's not about being firm, or soft, it's about being supportive.

What makes a mattress more, or less, supportive?

Mattresses are made up of an inner support core (consisting of metal bed springs), various comfort layers and then an outer cover.

The level of support offered depends on the type of sprung core and the comfort layers: the sprung core varies according to the spring count, and whether they are of open coil or pocket sprung construction (see our glossary for more help). The thickness and softness of the comfort layers is also important.

A pocket sprung system is the most supportive and responsive to your child as it grows and offers a more premium level of comfort.

An open coil system is supportive and comfortable and is often used in children’s mattresses, but is not as responsive to individual parts of the body that may be heavier e.g. hips or shoulders.

Do I need a different sort of mattress for a bunk bed or cabin bed?

Yes. GLTC bunk beds and raised beds do require a mattress with a maximum depth of 15cm for safety reasons, which may narrow down your options; you will find this information in the product details of your preferred bed.

Is there a standard single size mattress?

The quick answer is, no! We recommend that you check the mattress requirements for the specific bed, before ordering your mattress.

We offer two single sized mattresses and each one fits specific beds. This information will be in the product details of your preferred bed and will narrow down your options.

UK standard single size: 190L x 90W cm

European standard size: 200L x 90W cm – this is a longer mattress that fits our European sized beds.

What sort of mattresses do GLTC offer?

To save you wading through heaps of different kids’ mattresses we've whittled down our range to just a handful; between them we think we've answered all your children's needs, so all you have to do is pick the right size and depth for your bed (you'll find our specific mattress recommendations listed with your chosen bed).

Luxury Mattress
Our hand tufted Luxury mattresses offer your children superior comfort thanks to their pocket sprung construction; they also feature a luxurious comfort core of natural wool blend and cotton blend layers, side handles, and air vents.

They're available in two depths depending on the height of the bed you have; the shallower All Rounder design comes in both UK and Euro single sizes and is suitable for all beds, including raised beds and top bunks.

Truckle Mattress

Here's a guaranteed good night's sleep for your guests; our open coil truckle mattresses feature polyester comfort layers and an anti-allergy finish. At 12cm high they’re a slimmer mattress designed to fit into our underbed truckle drawers, which slide smoothly under a range of our beds.

Our truckle mattresses are available in both UK and European sizes and are designed for occasional use.

Nutkin Toddler & Cot Bed Mattress
The perfect mattress for babies and toddlers, thanks to its cosy but supportive pocket sprung construction and breathable, machine washable cover with an anti-allergy finish. Suitable from birth, this mattress fits in cot beds or toddler beds. It measures 70W x140L x 10H cm.

If you have inherited a cot bed or toddler bed or are re-using your cot bed/toddler bed, it is recommended that you replace your cot bed/toddler mattress with each child in order to offer the highest levels of hygiene and support.

So what do I need to consider before making my final decision?

Ask yourself what sort of bed is it, i.e. a Bunk, Cabin, Single, Toddler, or Truckle; then check if it's a standard UK sized single, or a longer European sized one. If you’re not sure (take a look at the details of each mattress for our mattress recommendations).

Anti-allergy vs Non-allergenic: Anti-allergy is a safe chemical finish applied to fabrics or fibres that actively stops dust mites from colonising in your mattress. Dust mite faeces cause allergies in people, not dust itself. By stopping the dust mites colonising, there should not be any dust mite faeces to cause reactions. This anti-allergy finish can be applied to any fabric. All GLTC mattresses have an anti-allergy finish on the mattress covers – singles (UK & Euro) and toddler/cot bed. Non-Allergenic refers to whether the materials used are known to cause allergies or not. For example, a polyester fibre or fabric is a man-made fibre and is not known to cause allergies, therefore is non-allergenic. You cannot apply this term to some natural products, such as feathers or wool, as some people could have a reaction to elements of them.

British Standards: All GLTC mattresses are tested to and conform to the British Standards required for mattresses to be legally sold in the UK. Our single and truckle sized mattresses (both UK & European sized) are tested to and conform to BS 7177:2008+A1:2011 for domestic use. Our toddler/cot bed sized mattress is tested to and conforms to BS 7177:2008+A1:2011 for domestic use and BS EN 16890:2017.

Comfort layers: In general, the higher the density or thickness of the layer, the greater the comfort. Depending on the mattress, the comfort layers can be soft, white polyester fibres; layers of foam positioned on either side of the sprung inner core; or natural and polyester blended fibres. In a shallower mattress such as the truckle styles, the comfort layers are loaded onto one side to make them more comfortable.

European size: this refers to the longer length single sized beds & mattresses frequently found on the continent. These mattresses are 10 cm longer than standard UK ones and measure 200L x 90W (cm).

Hand tufting: a traditional technique of fixing all the layers of the bed. This is when the comfort layers stacked on top of the mattress are held in place by a pattern of tufts, which are attached to the inner core; it gives a quilted look and indicates a superior comfort level, the more filling a mattress has the more it needs hand tufting. This is only used on our Luxury Pocket Sprung mattresses.

Mattress depth: mattresses vary in depth due to the size of their springs and the depth of their comfort layers. Bunk and cabin beds will require a shallower mattress for safety reasons, truckle mattresses are shallower in order to fit neatly into the truckle drawer.

Non-turn: Some of our mattresses do not require turning. Modern spring systems are more durable due to their superior construction, so turning is no longer required. This superior construction also means the comfort layers are loaded at the top to maximise comfort and support. We make the mattresses for our raised beds ‘non-turn’ as turning a mattress on a high bed can be difficult. However, rotating a mattress from top to toe does extend its durability and spreads the wear and tear.
Please note: The flat side of the mattress is the base of the mattress on a non-turn product and is not designed to be slept on.

Pocket sprung: this means that the springs at the core of your mattress are individually wrapped or "pocketed"; they therefore move independently of one another, allowing the mattress to contour more exactly to your child's shape and weight. This means they will have a more supportive reaction to your child's body than an open coil mattress. All our pocket sprung mattresses are part of our “Luxury” range.

Spring count: in general the more springs in a mattress, the better it can react to the unique contours of your child. You will find more springs in a pocket sprung mattress than in an open coil mattress.

Standard UK size: this is the typical size of beds & mattresses in the UK. These mattresses measure 190L x 90W (cm). GLTC have UK sized mattresses in Luxury and Truckle depths.

Toddler mattress: our toddler & cot bed mattress is a smaller size to suit our Toddler Bed and Cot Beds. It measures 140H x 70W x 10H (cm), and feature a breathable, washable anti-allergy cover; the pocket sprung construction ensures maximum comfort. If you have inherited a cot bed or toddler bed or are re-using your cot bed/toddler bed, it is recommended that you replace your cot bed/toddler mattress with each child in order to offer the highest levels of hygiene and support.

Truckle mattress: a shallower mattress, specifically designed for truckle drawers. GLTC’s truckle mattresses are available in an open coil construction due to their shallower depth and their less frequent use.

Waterproof: the GLTC toddler and cot bed mattress features a removable waterproof panel underneath the cover –a practical feature for certain stages of your child's development.

Mattress Care
Your mattress will be delivered either flat (Luxury range & Nutkin) or rolled (Truckle).

If your mattress is delivered flat, before you remove the packaging and break the seal, please check the mattress fits your bed. If a mistake has been made and the wrong sized mattress has been ordered or delivered, it is much easier to return the mattress when it is sealed and packaged.

If your mattress is rolled, you will not be able to check without removing the packaging.

Remember to air your mattress!
Do not use your mattress immediately. Once you have removed the packaging or unrolled the mattress it is important to let the mattress rest and regain its shape (in the case of the rolled mattresses). It is also important to allow the mattress to fully air/breathe for a few hours or overnight, if possible.

To pass UK regulations/British Standards, mattress fabrics require finishing treatments which may leave a slight odour. This will harmlessly and naturally dissipate during airing.

Airing a mattress is also important during use. Pull back the duvet cover and air the bed each day to allow the natural moisture that builds up during the night to be released. This will help promote a healthier sleeping environment and applies to all beds of all shapes and sizes.

For specific care instructions for your mattress, please look at the label on the mattress itself.

Mattress Delivery

All mattresses are £3.95 delivery and are stocked at our standard delivery warehouse, so can be delivery in 7 working days.

Returning Mattresses
If you wish to exchange or return your mattress please contact us info@greatlittletrading.co.uk, but do ensure your purchase qualifies for a return. Please read our mattress returns policy here.

The reason for the return will need to be explained and you may be required to send images to demonstrate the issue to our customer services team.

GLTC reserves the right to refuse to collect a mattress if it is judged by us to be in a dirty or soiled condition.