Are Foam & Memory Foam Mattresses Safe for Babies?

Foam mattresses are everywhere, from budget cot mattresses to premium adult beds, so it’s no surprise parents ask whether a foam or memory foam mattress is safe for a baby. The short answer is that a firm foam cot mattress that meets UK safety standards can be a safe choice, but an adult memory foam mattress is not suitable for a baby. This guide explains the difference, what the Lullaby Trust’s safe sleep guidance says, how to check any foam mattress, and whether you can cut foam to fit a cot.

Quick Answer

Foam cot mattresses can be safe for babies if they are firm, flat, waterproof-covered, the right size and tested to UK standards (BS EN 16890). Memory foam is a different matter. It is designed to soften and mould around the body, which is the opposite of the firm, flat surface babies need. Traditional memory foam may be too soft for young infants, and adult foam isn’t designed for babies. If you’re choosing a mattress for a new baby, pick one sold specifically as a cot mattress, and follow the manufacturer’s age guidance.

What Does Safe Sleep Guidance Say About Mattresses?

Before comparing materials, it helps to know what a baby’s mattress has to do. Our guide to the best mattresses and bedding for babies covers this too. The Lullaby Trust, the UK’s safer sleep charity, gives a simple rule: firm, flat and waterproof.

• Firm. The Lullaby Trust says a mattress should be firm enough that when your baby is placed on it, their head doesn’t sink in more than a few millimetres. A simple home check is to press the surface with your palm. It should feel firm and spring back, rather than mould around your hand.
• Flat. No soft or cushioned areas, particularly around your baby’s head.
• Waterproof. A fitted waterproof cover or layer that can be wiped clean helps stop bacteria building up in the mattress.
• A good fit. The mattress should fit the cot or Moses basket with no gaps, so a baby can’t become trapped.
• Good condition. No tears, holes or sagging.

The Lullaby Trust also says that soft mattresses and soft sleep surfaces are known to increase the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome), and that soft or bulky bedding is linked to a higher risk. That’s the key to understanding the foam question: the material matters less than whether the mattress is firm and flat.

Are Foam Mattresses Safe for Babies?

Yes, a foam cot mattress can be safe for a baby, as long as it passes the checks above. Foam is a common cot mattress material because it is lightweight, easy to clean and generally good value. Many cot mattresses in the UK are made from polyurethane foam, with a waterproof cover.

Is a foam mattress good for a baby? It can be, if it is:

• Sold as a cot mattress, not an adult foam mattress cut down.
• Firm and flat, springing back when you press it.
• Tested to the British standards for cot mattresses. Look for BS EN 16890:2017 (mattresses for cots, travel cots and cribs), BS 1877-10 and BS 7177 (low hazard, fire safety). Standards check construction, chemicals and fire safety, but the Lullaby Trust notes they don’t confirm that a product reduces SIDS risk, so you still need to check firmness and fit yourself.
• Covered in a waterproof layer that is in good condition.
• A snug fit in your cot, with no gaps.

Is a foam mattress sufficient for a new baby? Yes. A newborn doesn’t need a special mattress, only one that is firm, flat, clean and correctly sized. Our post on the importance of a good cot mattress explains why. Do newborn babies have to have a foam mattress? No. Foam, sprung and fibre mattresses can all be safe if they meet the checklist. Our guide to the types of baby mattress: foam vs sprung vs fibre vs latex compares them.

A Few Things to Know About Foam

• Shape and heat: Some foam mattresses can lose their shape sooner than sprung or fibre ones, and some can retain heat. Check the mattress for dips or sagging as it ages, and keep bedding light. Overheating is linked to a higher SIDS risk, so see our guide to winter-proofing your baby’s nursery.
• Foam that isn’t made for babies: A UK foam supplier notes that foam made for adult mattresses and cushions isn’t suitable for young children, particularly babies. Buy foam designed for cots.
• Cheap or unlabelled mattresses: Be cautious with mattresses from resale sites or marketplaces, which the Lullaby Trust says may not meet the standards.

Is Polyurethane Foam Safe for Babies?

Most foam cot mattresses are made from polyurethane foam. Once a mattress is finished and fully cured, the chemicals used to make polyurethane foam aren’t a concern in normal use, according to a UK foam retailer, but there are some sensible checks:

• Look for the standards: BS EN 16890 and BS 7177 cover cot mattress safety and low-hazard fire performance, which includes controls on flame retardant use.
• Air a new mattress: New foam can have a smell, sometimes called off-gassing, from volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Airing the mattress for a few days in a well-ventilated room, before putting it in the nursery, is the usual advice.
• Look for chemical-safety certification: Labels such as Greenguard Gold, CertiPUR-US or GOTS indicate low-emission testing, though these aren’t a replacement for the British standards.
• Be careful with vague claims: Terms like “eco-friendly” or “100% natural” don’t mean much without clear labelling or evidence.

Is Memory Foam Safe for Babies?

Here the answer is different. Memory foam is generally not recommended for young babies, for these reasons:

• It’s designed to soften and mould: Memory foam (visco-elastic foam) responds to body heat and pressure by contouring around the body. That’s a benefit for adults but is the opposite of the firm, flat surface the Lullaby Trust recommends for babies. The Lullaby Trust’s firmness test, that a baby’s head shouldn’t sink in more than a few millimetres, is hard for a contouring foam to meet.
• Traditional memory foam may be too soft: One mattress retailer notes that traditional memory foam can be “too soft” for young infants, and recommends foam designed for babies that stays firm and springs back quickly.
• Heat: Some memory foam holds heat, and overheating is linked to a higher SIDS risk.
• Adult memory foam isn’t made for babies: A baby shouldn’t sleep on an adult memory foam mattress, a memory foam topper, or a pillow-top.

Is a memory foam mattress safe for babies? For young babies, an adult or soft memory foam mattress isn’t a safe choice. Can babies sleep on memory foam mattresses? Not on soft or contouring ones. Some brands make mattresses with foam designed to stay firm for cots, and if you’re considering one, check that it is sold as a cot mattress, suitable from birth, meets BS EN 16890, and passes the firmness test above.

Can a Baby Sleep on a Simba or Tempur Mattress?

Brands such as Simba and Tempur make a range of mattresses, and the answer depends on the specific product. Adult mattresses from any brand aren’t designed for babies. Simba, for example, says its cot bed mattress is suitable from birth to 3 years, and as a general rule recommends a minimum age of 3 years for its standard mattresses. Always check the manufacturer’s age guidance and the Lullaby Trust’s firmness test for the exact product.

When Can a Baby Sleep on Memory Foam?

There’s no single age. During the first year, safe sleep guidance is for a firm, flat surface, so memory foam is not advised. For toddlers moving from a cot to a bed, manufacturers’ guidance varies, and one major brand suggests age 3 for its standard mattresses. If you’re unsure, ask your health visitor or GP.

Can a Baby Foam Mattress Be Cut?

Is cutting a foam mattress dangerous for a baby? Cutting a ready-made cot mattress isn’t a good idea. Cutting through it:

• Damages the waterproof cover or layer, which the Lullaby Trust says helps keep the mattress clean.
• Can leave gaps or an uneven fit in the cot.
• Means the mattress no longer matches the product tested to the standard.

Some UK foam suppliers offer cot-safe foam cut to size for non-standard cots, and that’s the safer route if your cot is an unusual size, since it is cut to measure and sold with a cover. Make sure it’s nursery-grade foam, meets the British standards, and has a waterproof cover. If you can, choose a ready-made mattress in a standard size: cots take 120 x 60 cm and cot beds 140 x 70 cm.

Are There Alternatives to Foam?

Yes. If you’d prefer to avoid foam, sprung and natural fibre mattresses are popular, and they’re firm, flat and hold their shape. Babymore’s mattress range is foam-free:

• Premium Core cot bed mattress (140 x 70 cm) and cot mattress (120 x 60 cm): a pocket-sprung core with 296 micro pocket springs, a natural coir layer, a fibre lining and a strengthened mattress wall. It’s two-sided, with an infant side and a toddler side. Read about when to flip it in our guide to the DUAL-SIDED COT MATTRESS: WHEN TO FLIP TO THE SOFTER TODDLER SIDE.
• Pocket sprung cot mattress and cot bed mattress
• Deluxe sprung cot mattress and cot bed mattress
• Eco Fibre cot mattress, also in 100 x 50 cm and 140 x 70 cm

The range has a removable, hypoallergenic, water-resistant BabyTec cover that can be washed at 60°C, and is listed as meeting BS EN 16890:2017, BS 1877 Part 10 and BS 7177 (Low Hazard). See our  safety assurance page, and browse the full range of baby mattresses. You’ll also find the right size for your  cot or cot bed.

Some mattresses are marketed as “breathable”, but that term has no standard definition, and the Lullaby Trust advises caution. We unpack it in BREATHABLE BABY MATTRESSES: FACT VS MYTH.

How to Check Any Baby Mattress, Foam or Not

1. Press it. It should feel firm and spring back, with no soft spots.
2. Check it’s made for cots and shows BS EN 16890 (or BS 1877-10 and BS 7177).
3. Check the cover. It should be waterproof or have a waterproof layer, and be undamaged.
4. Check the fit. No gaps between the mattress and the cot sides. Measure your cot before buying.
5. Buy new where you can. The Lullaby Trust advises a new mattress for each baby where possible, since bringing in a mattress from another home might very slightly increase the risk of SIDS. If you reuse one, it must be firm, flat, undamaged and thoroughly cleaned. See our guide on how to clean a baby mattress.
6. Keep the cot clear. No soft toppers, pillows, bumpers or extra padding on the mattress. Our cot safety guide has more.

For more on sizing and fit, firmness, hygiene, thickness and safety standards, and how foam, fibre, sprung, coir and memory foam compare, read Babymore’s mattress guide.

Planning the rest of the nursery? Our  nursery checklist and nursery furniture range cover the essentials.

Final Thoughts

Whether a mattress is safe for a baby comes down to firmness, flatness, fit and standards, not just the material. A firm, standards-tested foam cot mattress can be a safe choice, while adult memory foam and soft toppers are not. If you’d like to avoid foam altogether, Babymore’s foam-free sprung and fibre mattresses are designed for cots and cot beds.

Ready to choose? Browse Babymore’s baby mattresses, cots and cot beds and nursery furniture.

Frequently Asked Questions