Mamas & Papas Signature Airflow Pocket Spring Cotbed Mattress reviewed

The Mamas & Papas Signature Airflow Pocket Spring is a 10cm pocket sprung mattress for cotbeds (140 x 70cm, £115) and for small cotbeds and cots (120 x 60cm, £99). Its best feature is the cover, an airmesh outer layer that zips off all the way round over a fixed wipe-clean inner protector. We recommend it as the mid-priced sprung choice for parents who want night-time accidents to be quick to deal with.

Springs

The cotbed size has 162 individually pocketed springs and the cot size 112. Each spring moves on its own, which Mamas & Papas says adapts the support and keeps the mattress quiet when your child shifts position. That is far fewer than the 990 springs in the brand's Premium Dual Core+, and you see the difference in the price. Both name the same safety standard, BS EN 16890:2017+A1:2021. Mamas & Papas publishes no firmness grade for the Signature; with a modest spring count and no soft comfort layer described, we place it at 7 out of 10, firm.

The cover is the reason to buy it

The outer cover has a 100% polyester airmesh top and a polypropylene base, and the top carries Purotex anti-allergy treatment. Unzip it all the way round and it lifts off for the washing machine, so you are not wrestling a cover through a short zip at 2am. Underneath, a fixed inner protector wipes clean. That arrangement follows the spirit of The Lullaby Trust's mattress factsheet, which asks for a layer that can be wiped down and kept clean so bacteria do not collect in the core. Mamas & Papas calls the inner layer wipe-clean rather than waterproof, so a waterproof protector is still sensible during potty training.

Fit

Each size is made for Mamas & Papas cotbeds of the same dimensions and fits a range of convertible cots. The brand's warning is that the gap between mattress and frame must not exceed 30mm, so measure before buying for another make. A 90 x 54 x 7cm petite cot version is sold as a separate listing. Both sizes come with a two-year warranty, and standard delivery takes 3 to 5 days.

Against its rivals

The Tutti Bambini is a little cheaper but names no waterproof layer and cites the older BS 1877. The John Lewis has more springs and a clever topper that washes on its own, at a higher price. For most families the Signature is the better buy of the cheaper two because of that cover. If you want a firm side and a separate softer toddler side, the Premium Dual Core+ is the step up.