Pocket Sprung Cot Mattresses: Are They Good and Safe for Babies?

Walk into any nursery shop and you’ll see foam, fibre, coir and sprung cot mattresses side by side. Many parents land on pocket sprung because it feels supportive and breathable, but they still ask the obvious questions. Is a pocket sprung mattress good for a baby? Can babies sleep on a spring mattress? Are spring mattresses safe for babies? This guide by Babymore explains how a pocket sprung cot or cot bed mattress works, what makes any baby mattress safe, and how to choose the right one for your cot.

Quick Answer

Yes, a pocket sprung mattress can be a good and safe choice for a baby, provided it is firm, flat, well fitted and meets UK cot mattress standards. Pocket sprung mattresses have individual springs, each in its own fabric pocket, which gives even support and allows air to move through the mattress. Safe sleep advice from the Lullaby Trust is that a baby’s mattress should be firm, flat and waterproof, and that soft surfaces are known to increase the risk of SIDS (see our guide to the best mattresses and bedding for babies). So the question isn’t “spring or no spring” but whether the mattress is firm, fits the cot with no gaps, has a removable washable cover, and complies with standards such as BS EN 16890:2017 and BS 1877 Part 10.

What Is a Pocket Sprung Mattress?

A pocket sprung mattress contains dozens of small springs, each sewn into its own fabric pocket. Padding such as nursery fibre or coir sits above and below the springs, and a cover wraps around the whole thing.

Pocket springs vs open coil springs:

Because each spring responds on its own, a pocket sprung mattress supports a small body evenly and recovers its shape after use. Read more about the main types in our guide to types of baby mattress.

Is a Pocket Sprung Mattress Good for a Baby?

For many families, yes. Here is why parents and retailers like them, and what the claims do and don’t mean. For the bigger picture, read about the importance of a cot mattress.

• Firm, even support. A good pocket sprung cot mattress should feel firm, flat and supportive, not soft. This matches safe sleep advice that a baby’s head shouldn’t sink into the surface.
• Airflow. The gaps between springs let air move through the mattress. That can help with moisture and warmth. But be careful with “breathable” claims. The Lullaby Trust advises treating breathability and temperature-control claims with caution, because no mattress has been shown to reduce SIDS risk. Our guide to breathable baby mattresses explains more.
• Shape retention. Individual springs and dent-resistant padding help the mattress keep its shape, which matters because a sagging or dipped surface is unsafe.
• Long life. A pocket sprung mattress can be used through the cot stage and into toddlerhood, particularly in a cot bed.
• Cover options. Look for a removable, washable cover. Babymore’s pocket sprung cot bed mattress has a BabyTec cover that is hypoallergenic, water resistant, wipe clean and washable at 60°C, with a side zip.

Can Babies Sleep on a Spring Mattress? Are Spring Mattresses Safe for Babies?

Yes, babies can sleep on a sprung mattress, if it is a proper cot mattress. The word “spring” isn’t the safety issue. What matters is:

1. It is firm and flat. The mattress shouldn’t indent when your baby lies on it.
2. It fits the cot snugly. There should be no gaps at the sides where a baby could get trapped. One buying guide suggests no more than about 1 cm, so always measure your cot and check the manufacturer’s size.
3. It meets UK standards. Look for BS EN 16890:2017 and BS 1877 Part 10 for cot mattresses, plus BS 7177 for fire safety. Babymore’s pocket sprung cot bed mattress page lists compliance with all three.
4. It has a waterproof, wipe-clean, removable cover.
5. It’s in good condition. Replace a mattress that sags, has soft spots or is damaged.
6. It’s used the right way up. Some mattresses have a waterproof layer on one side. Follow the label so your baby lies on the intended surface, and check the care card for which side faces up.

Don’t use an adult spring mattress or a second-hand mattress of unknown history for a baby. Choose a mattress designed and tested for cots, and a new one for each baby if you can. For more on materials and chemicals, read WHAT ARE BABY MATTRESSES MADE OF? MATERIALS, CHEMICALS & ALLERGIES.

Pocket Sprung vs Foam, Fibre and Coir

If you’d like a full side-by-side comparison, start with our cot mattress guide.

Cot Mattress or Cot Bed Mattress: Which Size Do You Need?

Mattress size depends on your cot, not your baby’s age. The two common sizes are:

• Cot mattress: 120 x 60 cm.
• Cot bed mattress: 140 x 70 cm.

Always measure your own cot before buying, because sizes vary by brand. A cot bed is larger and converts into a toddler bed, so it needs the larger mattress. Our guides to the suitable age to use a cot bed and moving from cot to toddler bed explain when to switch, and our guide on choosing a cot for a shared bedroom helps if space is tight. Browse our cots and cot beds to pair with your mattress, including the Kimi acrylic cot bed.

Babymore’s Pocket Sprung Mattress Range

Babymore offers pocket sprung mattresses in both cot and cot bed sizes, with a BabyTec cover and made in the UK. Check each product page for full details, or read our guide to pocket sprung mattresses for cots.

• Pocket Sprung Cot Bed Mattress, 140 x 70 cm. Individually pocketed springs, a core encased in stocking net with an adjustable waterproof membrane on top, dent-resistant nursery fibre, a quilted removable BabyTec cover washable at 60°C, 10 cm deep. Complies with BS EN 16890:2017, BS 1877 Part 10 and BS 7177 (Low Hazard).
• Pocket Sprung Cot Mattress, 120 x 60 cm. The cot-size version.
• Premium Core Cot Bed Mattress, 140 x 70 cm and Premium Core Cot Mattress, 120 x 60 cm. A pocket sprung core with natural coir and a two-sided design (infant side and toddler side). 

Read DUAL-SIDED COT MATTRESS: WHEN TO FLIP TO THE SOFTER TODDLER SIDE before you flip.

• Deluxe Sprung Cot Mattress, 120 x 60 cm and Deluxe Sprung Cot Bed Mattress, 140 x 70 cm. A quilted, water-resistant, breathable cover.
• Eco Fibre mattresses if you’d prefer a fibre option.

See the full baby mattress range, or filter by cot mattresses and cot bed mattresses. Learn about our testing on the safety assurance page.

How to Choose a Pocket Sprung Cot Mattress: Checklist

• Is it firm and flat, with no soft spots?
• Does it fit your cot with no gaps?
• Does it comply with BS EN 16890 and BS 1877 Part 10, and BS 7177 for fire safety?
• Is the cover removable and washable at 60°C, and water resistant?
• Is it at least about 8 cm thick? (Babymore’s is 10 cm.) The NCT is cited as suggesting no thinner than 8 cm for newborns.
• Do you know which side faces up?
• Is it new, with a warranty? See our warranty page.

Caring for a Pocket Sprung Cot Mattress

• Wash the cover regularly at the temperature on the care label. Our guide on how to clean a baby mattress has step-by-step advice.
• Use a fitted sheet and a waterproof protector that is breathable and made for cots.
• Air it if it has been stored or wrapped.
• Rotate or flip only as instructed. Babymore’s pages suggest flipping and rotating the Premium Core for longevity, but a single-sided mattress shouldn’t be flipped unless the instructions say so.
• Replace it if it sags or is damaged.

For a full list of nursery items, see our nursery checklist and our guide on safe use of a cot bed.

Final Thoughts

A pocket sprung mattress is a sensible choice for a cot or cot bed when it is firm, flat, well fitted and certified to UK standards. Measure your cot, check the label, and choose a removable washable cover. Then follow safe sleep advice from our cot safety guide: baby on their back, in their own cot, on a firm flat mattress.

Ready to choose? Browse Babymore’s pocket sprung and other baby mattresses, pair them with our cots and cot beds, or read the full cot mattress guide.

Frequently Asked Questions