The Best Mattresses for Kids

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Finding the best mattress for kids can be a bewildering task for parents. After all, the stakes are high when choosing the right bed could improve your kid’s sleep — and consequently your sleep as well. And according to The Sleep Revolution: Transforming Your Life One Night at a Time, parents should encourage children to sleep in their own beds. This helps them learn to sleep independently. 

Still, how do you decide between a latex and a memory foam mattress? Soft or firm? Learning your child’s sleeping style is the first step. Do they sleep on their side, back, or stomach? Other key decision factors include determining your budget and how long you expect the bed to last — a couple years or till junior high school? And naturally, parents will also want their kid’s mattress to not only be durable supportive, but safe and free of harmful chemical emissions.

The good news: So many types of mattresses are available online today, from bed-in-a-box styles to traditional innerspring beds, so it’s more convenient than ever for busy parents to find the best kids mattresses. We consulted the experts at Mattress Advisor to find out what parents should consider when buying a child’s mattress. Here are their top picks for the best kids beds for every need.

Our Picks for the Best Mattress:

• Best Overall Mattress for Kids – Saatva Youth
• Best Value Mattress for Kids – Nectar Original
• Best Firm Mattress for Kids – Plank Firm
• Best Twin Mattress for Kids – Casper Original
• Best Organic Mattress for Kids – Avocado Green
• Best Kids Mattress for Side Sleepers – Helix Midnight
• Best Hybrid Mattress for Kids – The WinkBed

The dual-sided Saatva Youth mattress is designed to grow with your child, from toddlers to pre-teens. The “Years 3-7 Side” features a dual-sided coil unit and a five-zone support layer designed to maintain proper spinal alignment for younger kids. Even better, it also has a water-resistant mattress protector to resist spills and bedwetting accidents. For older children, the “Years 8-12 Side” boasts a high-density foam comfort layer with extra lumbar support. Plus, this mattress is made with a 100 percent cotton cover, so you can rest easy knowing your children are enveloped in hypoallergenic comfort. Just like Saatva’s other luxury mattresses, the Youth mattress comes with complimentary white-glove delivery and a 120-night sleep trial.

The Nectar memory foam mattress ranks as the best twin mattress because it packs in benefits for kiddos who will fast outgrow their bed. First, the breathable cover and the 2-inch gel foam layer will keep them cool and cuddly all night. Next, a 4-inch transition foam layer adds to that safe, cradling sensation. Finally, a sturdy 6-inch base of standard foam keeps the bed from sagging over time. That adds up to 12 inches of CertiPUR-US certified foam that’s free of any harsh chemicals. Plus, the Nectar is an ideal pick for wiggly children who move around throughout the night. Earning an impressive 8.5 out of 10 in responsiveness from Mattress Advisor testers, this mattress excels at supporting even the most energetic sleepers. Great for finicky kids, the Nectar comes with a full 365-night sleep trial. 

The Plank Firm mattress will especially feel firmer-than-average for kids because they’re lighter weight than adults. Firm mattresses are great for children who are back and stomach sleepers and need more support. Despite Plank’s firmness, soft foam comfort layers cradle kids comfortably. Testers at Mattress Advisor scored the bed an 8.75 out of 10 for spinal alignment, which is especially important for growing bones. Spine alignment helps the back to rest in a healthy, neutral posture. Plus, the Plank can be customized in two different ways. First, kids who prefer an exceptionally stiff surface can also sleep on the Plank’s firmer flip side. And second, you can order Plank with an added cooling panel for kids who sleep hot.

Casper mattresses are popular for their combination of support, durability, and comfort. A twin-sized original model provides kids with a high-quality sleep experience at a budget-friendly price. A layer of perforated foam on top contours to the body while promoting air flow to keep kids cool. At the base, the bed has a durable foam layer engineered to prevent sagging. Plus, all the foams are CertiPUR-US approved, meaning they’re free of harmful chemicals. The mattress scored a 9.5 out of 10 for edge support, which is important for protecting little ones from rolling off the more narrow confines of their twin-sized mattress. 

Made with natural materials like OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified wool, GOLS organic certified latex, and GOTS organic certified cotton, the Avocado Green mattress ensures a healthy sleep for your child. It’s free of all harsh chemicals and irritants. Avocado’s latex and wool come from farmer collectives co-owned by the company, and the bed is GREENGUARD Gold Certified to meet rigorous standards for pollutants. More than just the best organic mattress, the bed’s recycled steel coil unit and latex foam layers make it comfortable and supportive, too. Earning a 9.5 out of 10 for spine alignment from the experts at Mattress Advisor, the Avocado kept nearly all pressure off testers’ backs. So it should help your child sleep pain-free during the growing pains. The Avocado also comes with a 365-night sleep trial and a 25-year warranty (which is nice and robust compared to the industry standard).

The Helix Midnight combines the benefits of innersprings and memory foam. It features three layers of cushioning foam supported by hundreds of individually wrapped coils. The foam layers are CertiPUR-US certified, meaning parents can rest assured their children are sleeping on a bed that’s free of harmful chemicals. The wrapped coil edge support keeps the mattress sturdy and prevents children from falling off the side of the bed. For this, it earned a perfect 10 out of 10 in edge support. Mattress Advisor testers were particularly impressed with the bed’s ability to cradle side sleepers, giving it an 8.5 out of 10 in pressure relief. And restless children can seamlessly switch sides throughout the night, thanks to the bed’s solid responsiveness (8.25 out of 10). All these qualities add up to make the Helix Midnight one of the best hybrid mattresses for kids, thanks to its balance of comfort and support.

Kids who are combination sleepers move around throughout the night, and hybrid mattresses like The WinkBed are designed to respond to that movement. Stabilizing gel foam sits atop sturdy, pocketed coils, which support your little night owls as they twist and turn. Testers gave it a 9 out of 10 in responsiveness because of its ability to quickly adapt to changes in position. A foam lumbar layer provides additional back support, and an extra-edge support system ensures your tiny combo sleepers won’t roll off the bed. The WinkBed earned an 8 out of 10 for cooling from the experts at Mattress Advisor, so little ones who sleep hot will be able to chill out (literally) throughout the night. Perhaps best for your budget, The WinkBed is built to last — the bed offers a lifetime warranty.

Have a kid who’s a hot sleeper? Keep them cool with one of the best cooling mattresses, the GhostBed Luxe. Its breathable cover increases the chill factor on the surface, while inside, the bed uses cooling gel foam to disperse body heat. Parents can breathe easy knowing the foam is CertiPUR-US certified to be non-toxic. This helps to create a naturally antiviral and antibacterial environment for sleep. Known for its pressure-relieving abilities due to its memory foam layers, the GhostBed Luxe is a great choice for hyper-active little ones who need a comfortable bed they can sink into. 

It’s fitting to let your child choose their preferred fitted sheet pattern (and in fact, allowing kids to pick out their own bedding can make the move from crib to bed feel like an accomplishment). When it comes to finding a mattress though, feedback from expert testers will make online mattress selection a lot less unnerving. The expert testers at Mattress Advisor gave us the lowdown on mattress types, important factors, and which beds are best for kids. 

What are the Best Mattress Types?

Once you’ve figured out the right size mattress for your child, the next step is selecting the best mattress type for your kid’s sleep needs.

Memory Foam

One of the most popular and affordable types, memory foam mattresses offer plenty of support while contouring to the body. Look for foam that’s GREENGUARD Gold or CertiPUR-US certified to ensure the bed is free of harmful chemicals and safe for your little one.

Latex

Latex mattresses provide plenty of support and durability. They generally sleep cooler than memory foam beds, and since natural latex is derived from plant sources, organic options abound. This makes it a better option for kids with allergies, as it resists dust mites and other allergens.

Innerspring

One of the most budget-friendly mattress options, innerspring mattresses are durable and supportive at an affordable price point. However, the metal springs inside can be noisy—not a good choice if your child is a light sleeper. 

Hybrid

Hybrid mattresses combine the benefits of foam and innerspring beds, offering lasting support and durability. Still, hybrids usually have a higher price point than other mattresses. So if you plan to keep the mattress for a couple years, go with memory foam. If you want your child to sleep on it for a longer period of time, then latex or a hybrid version is a better investment.

What is the Best Mattress Size for Kids?

For most kids, the best bed sizes are crib mattresses, twin size, twin XL, or full size, depending on the age and size of the child. Crib mattresses work for infants and young kids up to 3 years of age. A twin size (38 inches wide by 75 inches long) is a good transition size from the crib to a big kid bed. Just a few inches longer, a twin XL is the standard bed in college dorms. For preteens and teens, a full-size mattress might be a better choice to transition into young adulthood—a high-quality mattress can last eight to 12 years.

Firmness 

When shopping for your child’s mattress, firmness level is a big factor. Since young kids are lighter than adults, mattresses will often feel firmer to them, and the more a child weighs, the firmer their bed should be. Generally, a medium to medium-firm bed will offer the best support long-term, and will accommodate kids who move around a lot at night. 

Support

For growing bodies, maintaining healthy spinal alignment is critical, so it’s important to choose a mattress that provides proper support. Further, edge support is especially important for kids. It’s the reinforced perimeter on the mattress usually made with firm foam and springs. While it allows the mattress to keep its shape, edge support also helps prevent children from rolling off the side of the bed.

Sleep Position

Knowing your child’s sleep position is an important tool for finding the right mattress. Side sleepers need a softer, more cushioning mattress for pressure relief, while stomach and back sleepers require a firmer bed to maintain proper spinal alignment. Combination sleepers, who switch positions throughout the night, need a bed that’s adaptive to their movement.