Mamas & Papas Moses Basket Mattress reviewed

The Mamas & Papas Moses Basket Mattress is a fibre replacement mattress for baskets with an internal width of 280 to 310mm and an internal length of 740 to 770mm, which covers Mamas & Papas' own Moses baskets. It costs £24 and is made to BS 18700:2023, the current British standard for Moses basket and pram mattresses. It is the obvious spare if the mattress in your basket is worn or stained, provided your basket falls inside that size range.

Why the standard number matters

Moses basket mattresses have their own British standard. BS 18700:2023 covers mattresses for Moses baskets, prams, carrycots and similar articles, and BSI has listed it since May 2023. Full-size cot and cot bed mattresses are covered by a different standard, BS EN 16890, so a cot mattress label tells you nothing about a basket mattress, and the other way round. Before BS 18700, basket mattresses were made to BS 1877-10, which BSI has since withdrawn. Seeing the 2023 standard named on the listing tells you the mattress was made to the newer specification.

Fibre core and cover

The filling is a supportive fibre core, which Mamas & Papas says lets air move through and keeps your baby cool. The cover is removable and washable, with a 100% polyester top and a 100% polypropylene base, and it carries the brand's Purotex probiotic treatment against dust mites and allergens. Mamas & Papas does not publish a depth or a firmness grade on the product page. We class it as firm, 7 out of 10, because a fibre pad of this kind has very little give.

Fit is the safety check

Mamas & Papas' own warning is that the gap between the mattress and the sides and ends of the basket must not exceed 30mm. The Lullaby Trust asks for a firm, flat mattress with a waterproof cover, in good condition with no rips, tears or sagging, that fits the basket properly. Mamas & Papas does not describe this cover as waterproof, so add a waterproof protector made for Moses baskets. The Trust also recommends a new mattress for each baby where possible. Measure the inside of your basket at the base before ordering, particularly if it is not a Mamas & Papas model, since oval baskets differ from brand to brand.

A short working life

The NHS advises that your baby sleeps in a separate cot or Moses basket in the same room as you for every sleep for at least the first six months. A basket is a first bed, though, and its mattress is used for a far shorter time than a cot bed mattress, which is the strongest argument for buying a cheap one new. When you move up, a cot bed mattress such as the Mamas & Papas Premium Dual Core+ or the budget CuddleCo Lullaby takes over.

Buying it

Mamas & Papas gives a two-year warranty. Delivery options start at £4.95, and standard delivery takes 3 to 5 days. At this price there is little reason to keep using an old or borrowed basket mattress.