All you need to know to make sure your baby sleeps well & safe.

Your baby will spend up to 18 hours a day in their cot during the first weeks of their life. So, basically, they will LIVE on their mattress.
Choosing the right mattress is one of the most important decisions you make before your baby is born. And the choice can seem overwhelming. We created this guide to help you understand the choices and differences between different options.

Remember that a good mattress is essential for your child safety and comfort.

Step 1: Make sure it fits perfectly

This is the first, extremely important thing to check - the mattress need to fit the cot perfectly. Never buy a mattress too small or too large. There shouldn’t be any gaps or budging when the mattress is put into the cot.

The best way to ensure everything fits is to purchase the mattress together with the cot. If you decide otherwise - measure both cot and mattress yourself and check everything at home, before the baby comes.

Step 2: Safety check

There are 2 safety certificates your mattress should have:

BS EN 16890: To be granted this European Standard certificate mattress needs to meet safety requirements - both mattress bases and mattress toppers are checked.

BS 7177: To be granted this certificate, the mattress needs to pass the test for the resistance to ignition. The levels of ignition resistance have been set after careful consideration of the fire risk of the particular end-use environment involved.

moKee makes sure the mattresses we offer always have necessary certifications.

Step 3: Know your types

A good mattress can be any type, but you need to understand the difference. Here are the most common types of mattresses:

Foam: Usually made from polyurethane. Most popular baby mattress type. They tend to be lighter than coil spring mattress - so more comfortable for parents to lift while changing sheets.

If you decide to choose a foam mattress, remember - the denser, the better (and the heavier, the denser).

If you want to check if your mattress is dense you can perform a simple test: pick the mattress up, place a hand on each side in the centre, and then press your hands together. If the mattress is dense you won’t be able to press very far.

moKee innovation - Ramen mattress: Made from a high-tech food grade Japanese polymer. The structure resembles Ramen noodles, and this is where it gets its name. A woven network of firm "noodles" makes up this groundbreaking and 100% breathable mattress.

It’s key features are:

● Anti-mite & Hypoallergenic – doesn’t absorb moisture. It prevents bacteria and mites from growing.
● Safe & Eco-friendly - free from BPA, formaldehyde, and toxic substances.
● 100% recyclable and compliance with REACH.
● 11 times more breathable than a foam mattress.

Thanks to the fact that the structure of the mattress core is not solid, as in foam or coil spring mattresses it gives the feeling floating on air. Also, it makes is much safer, as the baby is able to breathe through the mattress.

The breathable air-fibre construction helps temperature regulation, it allows babies to stay dry and comfortable. It also helps to prevent rashes. All parts of the Ramen mattress are washable - including the inside. A clean mattress provides a healthy environment for a baby. Moreover, it helps to block allergic reactions.

Coil spring: This is a type of mattress, which uses a steel coil support system. It’s quite popular for adults, but we wouldn’t recommend it for babies.

It can have a different number of layers, materials used and the quality of the covering. Simplistically, the bigger the weight of coil spring, better-gauge steel and better-quality cushioning. You should look for a firm mattress, especially when shopping for a baby. It’s safer for the baby.

If you decide to choose coil spring anyway, make sure to check 2 important features:

● Coil count - the number of springs or steel coils a coil spring mattress contains. In theory the bigger coil count, the better, but this is not always the case. Look for mattresses that have 135 - 150 coil count.

● The gauge of the steel - this will tell you more about the firmness of the mattress than the coil count. The thicker the coils are, the firmer the mattress will be. Good steel gauge will be of 15.5 or below.

Step 4: Materials matter

This is another important aspect to consider while shopping for a perfect mattress. Check the materials. All the mattresses describe above can be a great choice, when the quality is right.

However, if you are looking for something more green - there are some all-natural mattresses on the market. They are made without vinyl or any chemical flame retardants.

moKee’s Natural Mattress is made of coconut husk & lambswool (they create the core - which is quite dense) and the softest cotton (used for cover). The coconut husk fibres make the mattress very resilient, thus safe. A cooling cotton layer helps to regulate babies body temperature.

It’s hypoallergenic - good to consider if you expect your baby might have allergies. What’s outstanding about the wool - it does not require additional chemicals to make the mattress flame resistant. So it’s Nature’s way to pass European Safety tests.

Step 5: Judge by the cover, too

The cover is the part of the mattress that is closest to your baby. So yes, it matters greatly. Different producers use 2 main types of cover: vinyl or fabric:

● the vinyl cover may be tempting because you will expect all the stains to stay away. And that’s true.
● the fabric cover is not stain-resistant, but it’s breathable - much more important quality when looking for a safe baby mattress.

Step 6: Can I wash it all over again?

One more thing to check. This is more for your comfort, less for baby safety, but still - quite an important point. Is the mattress you buy washable?

● The cover - if the cover is removable, you can usually wash it in the washing machine. This will be very handy, as incidents happen quite often. An all-natural mattress will not offer that. You can hand-wash the mattress. In this case - it’s best to buy a waterproof sheet straight away.
● The core - usually not washable. The only exception is the moKee's innovative Ramen mattress. It can be washed clean in the shower, meaning this mattress has to be the most hygienic on the market.