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Photo: Patrick Pleul / dpa
Parents do a lot to ensure that their children get a good night's sleep.
When choosing the right mattress, the evaluation by Stiftung Warentest could help.
They tested 14 children's mattresses of the standard size 70 by 140 centimeters.
Five mattresses convinced the testers with a »good« performance, four failed.
According to Stiftung Warentest, the judgment “unsatisfactory” resulted from the security checks.
For the mattresses Aro Traumwolke Kids, Baumberger Cocolana, Prolana Children's Mattress Ronja Plus and Träumeland Polarstern, the manufacturers have used grip plates on the zipper of the mattress cover that can come off when turned or pulled.
Because small children could swallow the parts and choke on them, the mattresses failed the test.
According to Stiftung Warentest, all four manufacturers offer parents the option of exchanging the covers free of charge.
Alternatively, legal guardians could remove the grip plates themselves.
(Click here for the chargeable article from Stiftung Warentest.)
Earlier flaws have been fixed
In a children's mattress test in October 2018, Stiftung Warentest complained about a risk of suffocation for children because some models were too soft from the testers' point of view.
In the meantime, the providers have improved on this point, it said.
The testers examined the mattresses for lying properties, durability, safety, cover, handling, declaration as well as health and the environment.
In terms of lying properties, all models achieved at least the grade "satisfactory".
These models did the best
The children's mattress Paradies Mariella Hygienica (159 euros) emerged from the test as the winner.
It convinced the testers with good lying properties and very good durability.
The Ikea Himlavalv (139 euros) offers the best lying properties.
The current price-performance winner is, from Stiftung Warentest's point of view, the Danish bed storage model Jonas (100 euros).
Parents should pay attention to this
In addition to the right firmness, the best possible air circulation must be ensured when choosing a mattress, says the federal working group "More safety for children".
That is why it is better to do without moisture protection pads.
Some manufacturers have a baby side and a toddler side for their mattresses.
According to Stiftung Warentest, the differences are not huge, but the baby side is always a bit tougher.
Time to switch to the toddler side is at the parents' discretion.
The manufacturers provide information such as body weight or age.
It will be time to switch to an adult mattress when the child's head and feet are each less than ten centimeters from the edge of the mattress.
mmq / dpa