Choosing the best cot mattress for your baby is essential to ensure that they're safe, secure, and comfortable at night - and it can make the difference between them (and therefore you) getting a good night’s sleep. We put the best cot mattresses to the test to help you choose the right one for your child.
When you're choosing the best cot bed or cot for a newborn baby, a cot mattress is the one item that you must always buy new for each baby. There is evidence that second-hand mattresses can increase the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and it’s important that any new mattress you buy fits your cot or cot bed. You should also make sure it doesn’t sag in the middle and that it conforms to the British Standards’ prefix BSI number BSEN716. This means that a cot mattress meets certified standards on things like firmness, choking hazards, and cleanliness. It goes without saying that all the mattresses we tested meet this criteria – and much more.
‘It is essential that the mattress you choose for your baby is flat, firm, and offers your baby lots of support as she sleeps,’ says Vickie Bowles of The Baby Academy. ‘Therefore, ordering the correct size mattress for your cot is important. Make sure that there are no gaps and that it fits your baby’s cot perfectly.’
When deciding on the right cot mattress for you, comfort and safety should be the main priorities and, after that, think about how easy it is to clean and whether it’s hypo-allergenic or environmentally friendly. There is a vast selection of cot mattresses on the market so read our guide to narrow down your selection and find the right one for you.
Best cot mattresses 2023 tried and tested
Based on feedback from our parent testers, we found the SnuzSurface Duo Dual-Sided Cot Mattress to be the best cot mattress overall. It scored high for value, design, innovation, quality, and comfort - a brilliant all-rounder.
Tried and tested by: Mum Charlotte and her daughter Adelaide
Before you can use the SnuzSurface cot mattress, you need to let it ‘settle’ and ‘breathe’ for seven days. This is because it needs to reform its proper shape after being vacuum-packed for transport. This can be a little frustrating. However, it is at least nice to look at while you wait - the stylish mattress comes in a deep purple and brilliant white design.
When you can eventually use it, you’ll see it doesn’t just boast good looks. It’s been created with two differing supports: one for a newborn and the other for a toddler. To change these, simply unzip the mattress from its mesh cover and swap it around.
Our tester Charlotte tried out both supports on her baby. Overall, she was surprised by the difference they made in her daughter's sleep. ‘She kept waking up on the firmer, newborn side, but she much preferred the softer support that allowed her a bit more movement in her sleep.’
But the innovation doesn’t stop there; the mattress is covered with a removable 3D mesh. This is fully washable, so you can confidently get rid of those nasty dust mites. But more importantly, it's fully breathable, allowing for good air circulation at night.
‘Even with a heavy cold and sleeping face down, I felt confident that this mattress provided Adelaide with great breathability,’ said Charlotte. While definitely not a budget buy, this cot mattress comes in at £139 and is good value for money, considering it has some really nice, innovative features. For this reason, we’ve named it our best-buy cot mattress in this buying guide.
- Read our full SnuzSurface Duo Dual Sided Cot Mattress review