Paediatric sleeping products such as cots, beds, and accessories are vital for ensuring your child enjoys a sound and restorative sleep. These products are meticulously designed to minimize pressure points while supporting a child’s symmetric posture, enhancing the likelihood of uninterrupted sleep for both the child and their caregivers.
Extensive research in paediatric sleep has identified posture and tolerance as key considerations beyond health and safety. Companies specializing in child sleep systems focus on creating comfortable, flexible, and easy-to-use products that cater to the needs of families and carers. These systems also emphasize portability and include postural care programs, equipping caregivers with the knowledge to optimize their child’s sleep. (Children upto age of 14 years is considered as paediatric)
Sleep patterns and postural needs
Children spend approximately 42% of their time lying down (Goldsmith, 2000). Infants sleep around 14-15 hours a day, while children aged 5-12 require 10-11 hours of uninterrupted sleep. This significant time emphasizes the importance of maintaining proper posture during rest to prevent abnormal postural reflexes and reduce heat or pressure build-ups.
Paediatric sleep products have evolved into a core component of 24-hour postural care programs, particularly for children with special needs. Companies design cots and beds tailored to specific age groups:
- years: Cot
- 1-5 years: Cot or single bed
- 5-18 years: Single bed
Sleep postures
There are three primary sleep postures:
- Supine lying (on the back): Optimal for even weight distribution, reducing pressure points and heat build-up.
- Side lying: May require periodic adjustments to alternate sides for comfort and alignment.
- Prone lying (on the stomach): Rarely recommended due to safety concerns.
Supine lying is generally preferred for promoting symmetry and minimizing disturbances, provided the child can tolerate this position.
Importance of proper support
A child’s sleep posture significantly affects their overall health and development. Consider the following:
Hip and trunk positioning
Supportive, moldable mattresses are essential for maintaining a child’s posture. These mattresses adapt to the child’s body shape, leveraging gravity to counteract asymmetries as the child’s tone relaxes during sleep.
Chest and hip alignment
Elasticated chest and hip guides prevent sagging and ensure alignment. These guides provide gentle tension, keeping the hips level with the chest for optimal posture while allowing for comfortable movement.
Leg, Knee, and ankle positioning
Issues like wind sweeping (knees knocked sideways), frogging (knees tucked inward), and scissoring (legs crossed) can be mitigated using cushioned guides and pillows. These aids help maintain proper alignment regardless of sleep posture.
Head and arm positioning
The head requires special attention to ensure it is cradled and supported. Arm positioning can be achieved using mattresses with channels or cavities, allowing the arms to rest comfortably.
Temperature control
Temperature regulation is critical for a comfortable sleep environment. Air-flow mattresses, made from breathable fibers, promote air circulation and prevent heat build-up, ensuring the child remains at an optimal temperature throughout the night.
Achieving a good night’s sleep
Ensuring your child gets quality sleep requires more than just the right mattress. Parents and caregivers must also consider ease of use, portability, and continuous postural management. A comprehensive sleep system that includes adjustable guides, breathable materials, and specialized supports can make all the difference.
Paediatric mattress market and innovations
The global children mattress market is forecasted to reach $ 4.4 billion by 2030 says Persistent Market research. Creative and child-friendly designs, featuring themes, characters, and interactive elements, make mattresses more appealing and popular among young users. Customizable designs and child-centric features, such as automated adjustments, are highly preferred. According to a report, parents are particularly interested in smart mattress features like sleep tracking and temperature control, says study.
The Better Sleep Council, the consumer-education arm of the International Sleep Products Association did a study in 2020 and uncovered changes in bedding-shopping behavior of young buyers, including shorter replacement cycles, an expectation of higher ticket prices and the influence of technological trends on research and purchasing habits.
What consumers and retailers have to say?
Sameer Ulla, a resident of Kolar says that he had purchased spring mattress for her two daughters, and it was not comfortable for them. “My kids started jumping and playing on the mattress and the spring mattress started sagging in sometime. It started creating lot of issues when they slept on the mattress. So, I had to change my mattress to Orthopaedic mattress for hard surface. In my opinion, kids need Orthopaedic mattress for better sleep”, he says.
However, he says that he never came across any mattress which is specific to kid segment or young adults. A similar opinion was shared by Ravi Shankar, resident of Ananthpur. He says that his daughter who is studying in 8th grade prefers to go with a hard surface mattress compared to softer ones. “We have purchased spring mattress recently. Spring mattresses have a perfect blend of softness and hardness. Mattress with hard surface will help in better spine support,” he says.
Ritesh Agarwal, proprietor of Haryana Handlooms who has furniture and mattress stores in south India says that he gets very few enquiries for the baby beds. ”It is very hard to market these beds. I get very few enquiries in a month. Only new parents come to check for the products. Another observation is that the young adults prefer to use Bunker beds. For bunker beds sometimes matching the size of the mattress becomes challenging. A standard bunker beds will accommodate regular mattress that can be sold.”
Prasanna Kumar of Kurtano says that most of the baby beds are sold online. “Young couples prefer to buy baby beds online or buy from large retail showrooms like IKEA. I my understanding brand and price of the product matters more. Parents prefer to go with highest quality product. Some parents come with a specific recommendations from Doctors to buy the product.”
From the retailers it is evident that this is a niche segments. Manufacturers need to consider above points in the marketing communication.
Mattress manufacturer’s focus
The concept of paediatric mattresses in India is still in its early stages, with only a few manufacturers producing them primarily for export purposes, says Ramesh Narayana Iyengar, Consultant from Centuary mattress and expert on Paediatric mattress segment. “Paediatric mattresses require certification from reputable agencies, with most Indian companies obtaining these from US or EU agencies. One such agency, Oeko-Tex, provides certification for mattress materials and textiles”, he adds.
Paediatric mattresses must be manufactured using eco-friendly products and plant-based prints. Synthetic textiles are not used, ensuring the mattress is gentle on the skin and promotes good breathing. “Though the paediatric age is around 12-13 years, Indians buy it for the kids and very young children. Boys and Girls aged over 13 years prefer to go with regular mattresses”, he says.
A child’s sleep is not trivial; it’s a foundation for their growth, health, and well-being. By selecting the right sleeping products and adopting effective postural management strategies, you can ensure your child’s nights are as restful and restorative as possible.
Key Takeaways
- Invest in age-appropriate sleep systems designed for your child’s specific needs.
- Prioritize posture, temperature control, and support for different body areas.
- Use breathable, moldable materials to enhance comfort and prevent heat build-up.
- Consider the system’s ease of use and portability to simplify caregiving.