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Sleep is something that we focus on a lot. Why we’re not getting enough, how we can get more, how much is too much? As many people enter the world of parenting, it is even more important and borders on obsession for some of us! Explorations of children’s sleep patterns, co-sleeping arrangements, nap times seem to dominate conversations and dictate a good day or not so good.

We have a lot of patients who come to us with back pain who have been sleeping on the same mattress with a sore back for years. This is also an area that is gaining interest among parents, on finding the right children’s bed and mattress that will ensure a good night’s sleep for the entire household!

We speak with Elise Heslop from Melbourne furniture design company Plyroom, about choosing the right bed for your child, and some of the things to think about when choosing a bed:

The right bed will depend a lot on your requirements, so have a think about these questions before you start the hunt for the perfect bed for your little one.

  • How much space do you have? For smaller rooms or shared rooms, think about a low profile bed that appears to take up less space in the room. If you are short on storage, a trundle drawer that can be used as storage or for the occasional sleepover are a great idea.
  • If your children share a room, a bunk bed or loft bed in single or king single size are going to be a practical solution. Loft beds allow space underneath for another bed or study area, which can be great for children as they get older, and also allows a bit more flexibility if you think your children may want to sleep in separate rooms down the track.  Shared rooms are also great for children’s play, and increase social and community awareness which is helpful for later life skill.
  • Think about choosing a simple bed frame that will last beyond their current age. Buying well in the early days will save you from wanting to change everything in a year or two.  One that is ECO friendly would be a good idea, less varnish and MDF which can emit some fumes could be better to avoid.
  • Choose a medium firm mattress, this could be memory foam or a sprung mattress.