“Keep Kids’ Beds Low, Use Them Longer” ... Hanssem Co., Ltd. Targets the Kids’ Furniture Market

[Financial News] 

As children grow, do their beds need to be replaced, too? Amid a consumer trend of investing heavily in a single child in an era of low birth rates—the “gold kids” trend—the furniture industry is focusing on children’s beds and mattresses designed to last through different stages of growth. Competition in kids’ furniture is also taking new forms, with companies considering safety by lowering bed heights and improving materials and durability.
 According to the furniture industry on the 20th, Hanssem Co., Ltd. is targeting the kids’ furniture market with two Balance Kids mattresses designed with children’s growth stages and sleep environments in mind. Their key feature is a lower mattress height, while also allowing the level of support to be adjusted as children grow.
 Hanssem Co., Ltd. focused on mattress height. In general, the thicker the mattress, the less effective height remains in the guard installed on the bed frame. That is why, for a bed used by a child, it is important to consider not only the mattress’s own height but also how much guard height remains once the mattress is in place.
 With this in mind, Hanssem Co., Ltd. designed the Balance Kids “Solid” to a height of 16 cm. That is about half the average height of its standard mattresses, around 33 cm, and makes it the lowest among the company’s kids’ mattresses. The “Two-in-One,” unveiled alongside it, is also 20 cm high, 13 cm lower than a standard mattress. A lower mattress leaves more effective guard height even when the same bed frame is used. Hanssem Co., Ltd. says this makes it easier for children to get in and out of bed and helps reduce the risk of rolling out during sleep.
 Hanssem Co., Ltd. paid attention not only to mattress height but also to support and durability. The Solid is a firm, hard-type mattress, while the Two-in-One has different firmness levels on each side so that parents can choose according to their child’s stage of growth. Both products use “Foam Case” construction to reduce sagging at the edges and “Multi-Tension Springs,” which provide varying levels of support according to body weight.
 Materials and durability are also points of differentiation. According to Hanssem Co., Ltd., both products have undergone around 60 safety tests, including tests for harmful chemicals and allergenic dyes, and have completed supplier conformity verification under the Special Act on Safety of Children’s Products. Safety tests for eight radioactive substances, including radon, were also conducted through the KOTITI Testing & Research Institute.
 Other furniture makers are also working to improve the safety and ease of use of children’s beds.
 Iloom offers a variety of configurations, including low-profile beds and family beds, through its “Kushino” series. The Kushino low-profile bed has a frame height of 9 cm. It also features a guard and footboard about 81 cm high, with cushioning added across the entire guard. The corners are rounded as well. An anti-slip sheet is provided to help keep the mattress from shifting.
 HYUNDAI LIVART FURNITURE COMPANY LIMITED emphasizes safety and efficient use of space through its children’s furniture brand “Comme.” The Comme low bunk bed is designed with a lower height so children can climb in and out, and with rounded corners. Shelving units, toy-storage units and drawers can be placed beneath the bed, making the space useful not only for sleeping but also for play and storage. Attention has also been paid to materials. The bed uses E0-grade boards and has undergone tests for hazardous substances such as lead, cadmium and formaldehyde. It has also completed supplier conformity testing under the Special Act on Safety of Children’s Products. The company also focused on improving sturdiness by using a steel frame to support the bed structure.
 Furniture makers’ focus on the height, materials and durability of children’s beds appears to target consumer demand for furniture that can be used as a child grows after a single purchase. Hanssem Co., Ltd. differentiates itself through mattress height and firmness, Iloom through its frame and guard configurations, and HYUNDAI LIVART FURNITURE COMPANY LIMITED through storage and efficient use of space.
 However, the safety of a child’s bed cannot be judged simply by its height or the size of its guard. A child’s age and developmental stage, gaps between the mattress and frame, and how the guard is installed should all be considered. For infants in particular, it is important to provide a firm, flat sleep surface and check for risks of entrapment or suffocation. 
 A Hanssem Co., Ltd. representative said, “Parents starting separate sleep for the first time carefully consider not only the combination of mattress height and bed guard, but also the materials and durability,” adding, “We will continue to offer an optimal sleep environment suited to each stage of a child’s growth.”
[email protected] Kim Hyeon-cheol Reporter