Simba Hybrid Cot Bed Mattress review

The Simba Hybrid Cot Bed Mattress is a premium, dual-sided mattress designed to support babies from birth through to the toddler years. Featuring Simba's signature hybrid construction, it combines multiple support layers with a breathable sleep surface and separate firmness levels for babies and older children.

At £249, it sits firmly at the higher end of the cot bed mattress market, but offers long-term durability and premium materials.

Best known for its adult hybrid mattresses, Simba now offers sleep products across the whole family sleep journey — from cot bed and kids’ mattresses through to pillows and pregnancy pillows. To find out how its cot bed mattress performs in everyday family life, we tested it with both a baby and toddler.

The Simba Hybrid Cot Bed mattress is available from Simba

How easy is the Simba Hybrid Cot Bed Mattress to set up?

The mattress arrived promptly in a sturdy, brightly coloured branded box, with clear tracking updates from both Simba and the courier. Although the packaging advised storing it flat, it was delivered upright while I was out, but this didn't appear to affect the mattress.

It was easy to lift into the cot bed and felt a similar weight to other cot bed mattresses we've tried

The mattress felt sturdy, with a soft-touch cover that fitted the cot bed perfectly — neither too tight nor too loose.

What is the design and build quality like on the Simba Hybrid Cot Bed Mattress?

The cover fabric and finish look sleek, with a crisp white appearance and soft-touch feel. The thickness and structure give the mattress a reassuringly sturdy, well-made impression.

I also checked the breathability and airflow by placing my face against the surface, which felt breathable and comfortable — although this wasn't a scientific test.

Overall, the mattress looks and feels like a premium product, with clear explanations of its layered design adding to that impression.

How comfortable and supportive is the Simba Hybrid Cot Bed Mattress?

The baby side is firm — exactly as recommended by The Lullaby Trust for safer sleep — and slightly firmer than previous mattresses we've used. The toddler side remains supportive but has a little more give for comfort.

Neither child showed any noticeable difference in how quickly they settled for naps or overnight sleep compared with their previous mattress, but both appeared comfortable and well-supported throughout testing.

Does the Simba Hybrid Cot Bed Mattress help regulate temperature?

The mattress consistently felt cool to the touch, even across mixed spring temperatures. Neither child became sweaty or clammy overnight, suggesting effective temperature regulation.

How practical is the Simba Hybrid Cot Bed Mattress for everyday use?

Changing both the waterproof mattress protector and fitted sheet was straightforward.

The mattress was easy to rotate and flip when needed. It's similar in weight to other cot bed mattresses we've used, although the smooth cover can make it slightly slippery to grip without holding it firmly.

It also fitted the cot bed perfectly.

How easy is the Simba Hybrid Cot Bed Mattress to clean?

The removable cover unzipped almost fully around the mattress and was easy to take off. After washing and drying, it fitted back on perfectly with no shrinkage. I washed it with other whites on an eco cycle and it dried quickly without needing ironing.

As recommended by The Lullaby Trust, I used a waterproof mattress protector throughout testing, therefore the mattress was always well-protected. Any accidents or spills only required the cot bed bedding and protector to be washed, leaving the Simba mattress in excellent condition.

How durable does it feel?

There was no sagging despite being tested with both a baby and an active toddler. Even with jumping, rolling and everyday play, the mattress feels sturdy, well-made and built to last.

How safe and reassuring does it feel?

The mattress meets relevant children's mattress and fire safety standards, which felt reassuring.

Clear instructions and material explanations also helped increase confidence, alongside Simba's established brand reputation.

If you’ve used other cot bed mattresses, how does it compare?

We've previously used several more affordable cot bed mattresses from Puggle and Maxi Air, typically priced under £70. When choosing those, I focused on firmness, breathability, safety claims and reviews.

The Simba meets — and in some areas exceeds — those criteria in terms of build quality and materials. However, in terms of actual sleep outcomes, it performed similarly to the more affordable mattresses we've used.

What’s in the box?

The mattress arrives wrapped in damp-proof plastic, inside a recyclable cardboard box, and includes an instruction leaflet.

How sustainable is the Simba Hybrid Cot Bed Mattress?

The mattress meets relevant British Standard certifications and is designed to last from newborn through to the toddler years (typically up to around age five).

Packaging is minimal and recyclable. The box is FSC certified and the mattress itself is fully recyclable at participating recycling centres.

Is the Simba Hybrid Cot Bed Mattress worth the money?

The mattress delivers excellent performance, quality and reassurance, supported by Simba's strong brand reputation.

However, the premium price makes it less accessible, particularly for families budgeting during parental leave.

It's best suited to parents who prioritise premium materials and brand reassurance, while budget-conscious families may find similar performance from more affordable alternatives.

Where can I buy the Simba Hybrid Cot Bed mattress?

It is available from Simba

MadeForMums verdict:

This is a high-quality, well-designed cot bed mattress that performs well for comfort, support and durability.

While the hybrid construction and premium finish are impressive, we didn't notice any significant improvements in sleep compared with more affordable mattresses we've previously used.

I would recommend it to parents with the budget who value premium materials and brand reassurance. However, it's not essential for achieving good sleep outcomes, and there are comparable options available at a lower price.

Read more:

• Best baby mattresses tried and tested
• Best kids mattress: tried and tested picks for every age and sleep need
• Best cots and cot beds for babies and toddlers