Best cotbed mattress 2023: top sleep options for toddlers

If you're after the best cotbed mattress in 2023, this is the place to find it. If you're suffering from a sleepless toddler then there's little doubt that you're not getting much sleep either, which can result in tantrums all round. And if your toddler just won't go to sleep, keeps waking up in the night or insists on getting up at the crack of dawn, one thing you can try to help everyone get more sleep is to invest in the best cotbed mattress you can find.

What does that mean? Basically, one that's supportive and safe for your toddler, as well as being comfortable and cooling in order to reduce the risk of them waking up in the night. In this roundup we've gathered together the best options available now, complete with some helpful buying advice. So read on to see our recommendations; alternatively if you're looking for something a bit larger, see our list of the best kids' mattresses, or alternatively the best mattress overall. 

Buying a cotbed mattress: what you need to know

One of the most surprising things to note when buying a toddler mattress is just how much support and alignment those growing bones need. That means a proper, firm base to sleep on, which any toddler mattress worth its salt will provide.

Once children reach toddlerhood, or 1 to 3 years of age, they're no longer considered at risk of SIDS, and so safe sleep guidelines aren't quite as rigid. However, if you're looking at one of our cot mattress options with a younger baby in mind, be sure to check out The Lullaby Trust, the NHS, or another trusted source for guidance before you buy.

In terms of materials, you're most likely to find foam, springs, and combinations of the two. Both have their benefits, but if you're undecided, a hybrid option is a great choice. That said, there's a surprising variety of mattress materials out there, with nursery-grade foam, felt, springs, wool, and even coconut fibres popping up in our list alone.

Best cotbed mattress ranking 2023

In at #1 in our best cotbed mattress guide is the Eve Cot mattress (confusingly, also sometimes called the Baby mattress). This Junior Design Award-winning mattress shares some charms with its grown-up equivalent, most notably a generous 30-night trial, giving you the option to test your little one on it before committing. Like the adult Eve mattress, it has a hybrid construction, in this case a combination of pocket springs and nursery-grade foam; unlike it, The Baby Mattress has a whole host of toddler-specific special features to recommend it, too.

It has a PVC protector to ably deal with night-time leaks and a breathable, moisture-wicking cover that's designed to improve airflow – perfect for little ones, who tend to overheat more easily during sleep. It's also treated with a natural antibacterial coating called Argentum to do away with bugs and allergens. Finally, if they do get on with it, you can upgrade them to the larger size for a mattress that'll see them through silent nights until the age of six. Before you buy, make sure you check our Eve mattress discounts page for any offers and sale codes.

If you're looking for a basic cot mattress that won't break the bank, head to John Lewis & Partners for the Anyday Basic Fibre cot mattress, available in 120 x 60cm or 140 x 70cm versions. This cotbed mattress is fibre-filled, and while it doesn't seem to be waterproof, the PVC-free cover is designed to promote airflow and keep your child a comfortable temperature so they can sleep undisturbed. It's also wipe-clean, for any accidents or spillages. It's on the basic side compared to others in this list, but it's also extremely reasonably priced, and plenty of enthusiastic reviews attest that it does the job very well.

To save on your purchase, make sure you check our John Lewis discount codes.

If you're a bit iffy about having your littlest one in such close proximity with synthetic materials, the The Little Green Sheep Natural Twist Cot Mattress should soothe your troubled mind. It's made from a comfy combination of breathable cotton, natural latex from the Hevea tree, organic sheep's wool, and coconut fibres, an impressively wholesome line-up that's naturally hypoallergenic, dust mite-resistant, and temperature regulating.

This cot mattress' clever double-sided design is what gives it its longevity and makes it suitable for both babies and toddlers. Parents said it was firm, bouncy and supportive without being too hard, with a tangible difference between the two and clear guidance on which side to use from which age. Many raved about the difference in their little one's bedtime routines after switching to this mattress, claiming it kept them cooler, more comfortable and better rested. Crucially, while a few acknowledged it was on the more expensive side, reviewers agreed it was worth every penny.

The KUB Comfy Eco Spring Mattress is handmade from eco fibre and springs, with an open cell structure that's designed to respond to your baby's body heat and gently mould to the contours of their body. It's not fully waterproof, but there is a water-repellent layer, as well as a quilted cover that can be removed and bunged in the washing machine as often as is required. It's hypoallergenic, and thicker than your average cotbed mattress at 10cm. Reviews praise the build quality, supportiveness, and say the cover is easy to get on and off. 

Sure, you've heard about memory foam, but what about memory wool? Unlike its foamy cousin, which can sometimes be a bit sticky and cause its charges to overheat during the night, memory wool claims to naturally regulate body temperature for a soothing, uninterrupted sleep, and is combined in this toddler mattress with mini pocket springs for properly-sized support. Green-minded parents may also be pleased to hear that the ‘Airstream' wool fibres used to make this mattress have less impact on the environment than foam.

Like some other entries on our list, this mattress is dual-sided, but rather than offering two stages of support, this one offers even more customisable temperature regulation. One side features lighter quilting for hot summer nights and the other a heavier weight quilting for maximum cosiness in winter.

For its combination of breathable, anti-allergy materials and no harsh chemical treatments, it's won a whole host of safety awards, and comes highly rated by parents for peace of mind.

The Mamas & Papas Essential Pocket Sprung Cotbed Mattress is This Which? Best Buy that boasts a combination of charms: light yet firm, ultra-durable, and super-supportive, it's an excellent all-rounder for an impressive price. It's classified by expert reviewers as ‘very hard', which might not sound like the most comfortable thing in the world, but it does mean unrelenting support for growing bones, as proven by rigorous testing emulating two to three years of use. Parents were also impressed with how soundly their little ones slept, and some noticed a marked difference in the restfulness of their toddlers' nights after road-testing a series of less successful mattress options.

There's an adjustable water-resistant layer to keep the core from getting wet, but it has been noted that this doesn't extend across the whole mattress, so if that doesn't sound heavy-duty enough, you may want to opt for backup waterproofing. However, in the event of any accidents, reviewers said that its cover – washable at 60 degrees to kill any nasties – was easy to remove and pop in the machine.

Next up in our ranking of the best mattress for toddlers is the Silentnight Healthy Growth Miracoil Mattress. For many parents, it was the "healthy growth" bit of this mattress' name that made it a winner, and it certainly walks the walk on that front. The Miracoil spring system is designed to properly align the spine of your growing toddler, and the edge-to-edge support ensures it works even when they're doing that awkward-looking starfish pose.

The polyester filling is hypoallergenic and dust mite-free, and the Purotex cover comes with the stamp of approval from Allergy UK, so it's good news all round for allergy sufferers. Plus, reviewers say this mattress has proved the perfect step up for toddlers moving from cots into big-kid beds, offering a comforting and comfortable night's sleep, and masses of longevity. Great all round.