Hi there, I am looking to transition my 20-month-old to a floor bed, however would like to get a double mattress as I generally need to settle him back to sleep and he sleeps better with me next to him. I am wanting to purchase a safe double mattress but not sure how I can determine whether an adult mattress is firm enough? I was actually wondering if the Koala foam mattresses are suitable.

Dear Kelly,

Thank you for reaching out to Red Nose!

When testing a mattress at home for firmness, press down onto the mattress and observe the mattress bouncing back.  If you are looking to purchase memory foam, this type of mattress is best avoided as it conforms around the head and body and can increase the risk of overheating/

The main things to remember when using a mattress on the floor in this age group is include ensuring the mattress is positioned away from the walls as young children can become trapped between the mattress and wall. Keep the area around the mattress clear of soft toys, bean bags, plastic bags or similar objects that a young child can roll onto. Soft objects could mould around a young child’s face, resulting in suffocation.

For more information about safer co-sleeping, have a look at our resource designed to keep this sleep environment as safe as possible: https://rednose.org.au/downloads/CosleepingGuideforParents_Mar21.pdf

Best Wishes,
Jane