Jo Middleton is the creator of SlummySingleMummy.com. She worked as a speaker, trainer, commercial copywriter, and journalist. She is the mummy of Bee and Belle, and even if she says that SlummySingleMummy.com is not a niche blog, we think that a mummy would know things about pregnancy but also about car air fresheners.
SlummySingleMummy.com is ranked as the number one parent blog in the UK by Vuelio. With over 13 thousand followers on Instagram and 87 thousand on Twitter, you could say Jo’s a full-time parent-influencer. You can order Jo Middleton’s debut novel here: Playgroups and Prosecco: The (mis)adventures of a single mum.
Jo Middleton,
Creator of SlummySingleMummy.com
We know you have two daughters – Bee who is 23 and Belle who is 16 – so you are now an expert in living with a teenager. Congratulations!
What did you keep in mind when you chose the mattress for your daughter – Belle?
Jo Middleton: I think the main thing that I tried to remember when choosing a mattress for my daughter Belle, who’s 16, is just how important sleep is to teenagers. We joke about how long they stay in bed, and how hard it is to get them up in the morning, but there’s a reason for that! They are going through a massive phase of growth and development, and they really do need their sleep. You can’t compromise on a good mattress.
Do you think the kids should be involved in the process of choosing the mattress?
Jo Middleton: Kids should definitely be involved in the process of choosing a mattress. I wouldn’t want someone else to choose my mattress for me, without me getting to test it out, so why should it be any different for a child? They need to be able to try it out, so either going into a store or choosing a mattress with a decent trial period would be my advice here.
I guess for me, choosing a mattress is all part of having more control and more responsibility over their own bedroom. It’s a bit like tidying. As much as I hate going into Belle’s bedroom and seeing clothes all over the floor, I also respect the fact that it’s her space and that actually she feels more relaxed in her room if it’s a bit messy. I was totally the same at her age, so I know it doesn’t last forever!
I have always encouraged my kids to make their beds every morning, as I think this is a really positive thing to do.
Jo Middleton
Do you notice changes in behavior or attitude in your daughters when they do not sleep enough? Are they grumpy?
Jo Middleton: I notice MASSIVE changes in my teenager depending on how much sleep she’s had. Sometimes it’s almost like she is back to being a toddler again, where so gets grumpy and unmanageable if she hasn’t slept enough. It’s difficult though because I do think sleep patterns change when you’re a teenager and the natural way they might sleep doesn’t always fit well with day to day life. For example, Belle finds it very difficult to get to sleep before the early hours of the morning, but if she then has college at 9 am the next day that can be a real struggle for her.
You can’t compromise on a good mattress.
Jo Middleton
Should a teenager keep their bedroom tidy or not?
Jo Middleton: I have always encouraged my kids to make their beds every morning, as I think this is a really positive thing to do and can help to create that slightly more positive mindset for the day going forward. It’s always much nicer to get into a tidy bed at the end of the day – it makes it feel like you are taking care of yourself. I won’t say they always do it, but I know my elder daughter, who is now 23, always makes the bed in her house and feels better for it.
We agree with Jo and we think it is important to ask for the children’s opinions when choosing a mattress for their bedroom. Let us know what you keep in mind when you choose the mattress for your teen in the comments section below!
Ready to go out and buy a new mattress for your little ones? Here are our top suggestions for mattresses for kids and teens!