The Tried and True Trundle Mattress

There are two types of beds synonymous with American children ever since the post-war era of the 1950s and 60s. The first one, the common bunk bed, is one that most of us are probably familiar with. In fact, most of us middle-aged folks have probably slept on bunk beds at one time or another. But the other type of bed I'm referring to is called the trundle bed. They were somewhat less popular than bunk beds but provide great flexibility for the families that use them.

The trundle bed is basically a two-in-one sleep system that allows for two beds at night, which are then condensed into a single unit during the day. Post-war families loved trundle beds because America was building houses by the thousands; but houses with very small bedrooms. If the family had three or four children they needed some method to allow children to share a bedroom without taking up all the floor space with multiple beds. Thus the trundle bed.

The Trundle Mattress

The trundle mattress is the one we refer to when we're talking about the second bed that gets hidden away during the day. In most cases, the construction of a trundle dictates that the second bed, or trundle, is somewhat smaller than the main bed. Otherwise it would not fit underneath as it was designed to. That means trundle mattresses are slightly smaller than their traditional counterparts. The smaller sizes mean less length and width, and sometimes even less height.

In the old days, trundle mattresses were known to be extremely uncomfortable. They were usually made of very flimsy materials that broke down and flattened out after only a couple of uses. In combination with poorly designed trundle frames, if you were the kid that got stuck with the trundle you could spend the better part of your childhood in complete misery. In the early days, insomnia was almost a must with trundle beds and mattresses.

Today Is a Trundle Mattress

Thankfully, today's technology has made the uncomfortable trundle mattress a thing of the past. Of course you can still purchase trundle mattresses in coil spring construction. This tried and true method of mattress making has churned out millions of mattresses for happy customers around the world. But there are also other options. There is latex foam, memory foam, adjustable air mattresses, and other pieces filled with non-conventional materials like feathers and rice.

Probably the most preferred material for a trundle mattress is natural latex foam. It is lightweight, easy to make as a custom size, easier to clean, and it provides excellent support and comfort. If you have allergy issues natural latex is your best bet as well. Natural latex is hypoallergenic, not prone to pests like bed bugs, and doesn't contain any of the toxic chemicals or residue that some other types of mattresses do. Memory foam is also another good option though it tends to cost a bit more.

The Trundle Frame

The key to finding a good trundle mattress is to be familiar with the trundle frame. Because there is no standard for trundle frames, some beds could have difficulty with some types of mattresses. If you're looking for a new mattress for your trundle bed you should measure the deck of the bed very precisely; consider down to an 8th of an inch. If you can't find one that fits your trundle properly, you'll be able to buy a custom trundle mattress online. Just do a search for custom-made latex mattresses, send them your measurements, and they'll ship it back to you.

Additionally, you want to make sure you have a mattress that is not too thick so as to interfere with the operation of the trundle. As a general rule, if you measured the distance between the bottom of the main bed and the top of the trundle, while it's extended, you'll get a pretty good idea where you are. Then drop that height by about a quarter of an inch just to be sure that your mattress is low enough. Again, have a custom-made mattress done for you if you're at all unsure.