Shopping for the best mattress for kids might seem like a simple and painless process, but are you actually selecting the most appropriate mattress for your child? Sleep habits vary between kids of all ages, and taking time to choose the right mattress might be more important than you imagined.
There are so many intricacies that are involved with selecting the best mattress for your kids, so how do you know which is best? In this guide, we’re going to highlight the key factors that will help you find the most healthy, comfortable, and best overall mattress for your kids.
The Best Mattress for Kids: Top Five Choices
Below are some of my personal best mattress picks for kids: Enjoy!
Best Foam Mattress | ||
Casper Essential Mattress  | Casper Essential Mattress A streamlined, balanced feel makes the Casper Essential a great option for a wide range of young sleepers. Similar to the original Casper mattress, the Essential is designed to meet the needs of children and teens with a wide range of sleep preferences. | |
Best Memory Foam | ||
Bear Mattress  | Bear Mattress The cover of the Bear mattress uses celliant, which some studies suggest may help those with active lifestyles recover faster! Enjoy $125 off your order with the code SLEEPOPOLIS! | |
Best First Big Kid Bed | ||
5 Little Monkeys Sleep System  | 5 Little Monkeys Sleep System Built especially for children, the 5 Little Monkeys Sleep System is as supportive as it is pressure-relieving. Great option for toddlers all the way up to teens! | |
Best Budget/Gel Foam | ||
eLuxurySupply Mattress  | eLuxurySupply Mattress The eLuxurySupply mattress is an all-foam bed built with gently cooling gel memory foam. A high quality budget bed with a variety of model options - we'd suggest stick with a firmer mattress for kids. | |
Best Firm Mattress | ||
Tuft & Needle Mattress  | Tuft & Needle Mattress The Tuft & Needle offers young folks a medium firm feel fantastic for back or stomach sleepers. A high quality mattress that doesn't break the bank. Great for kids all the way up to adults! | |
Best Natural and Adjustable | ||
Spindle Mattress  | Spindle Mattress Three layers of soft, all-natural, and interchangeable latex offer bouncy support and cooling comfort! This is high quality latex that comes at a very reasonable price. The layers of the mattress can be re-ordered to change the firmness of the mattress, so it can adapt as your child grows and sleep preferences change. |
Growing Bodies and Mattress Size
As a child gets older, their body will grow. This should not mean purchasing a new mattress every year due to the outgrowing of their current mattress.
One of the most important factors when selecting the best mattress for your kids is mattress size. The smaller the mattress, the quicker it is outgrown. Twin, twin XL, or full-size mattresses are typically the best choices for children. Additionally, the twin and twin XL are going to be the most affordable.
While a full mattress is a bit more expensive, it does serve as an excellent size to allow for growth all the way to adulthood. Additionally, when your children are young, a full mattress allows you to comfortably lie with them, yet it also allows for them to grow into the mattress and retain the constant comfort of the same childhood mattress.
A high-quality mattress can last 8-12 years. It may cost a little bit more initially, but the benefit to your child’s long-term health and sleep will be well worth it.
Many kids experience soreness, poor sleeping habits, and a multitude of other uncomfortable sleep-related issues. These issues tend to be directly correlated to a low-quality mattress that provides minimal comfort for the child.
Hand-me-downs and cheap mattresses tend to be the underlying cause of poor sleep. Although a better-fitting mattress can be a little pricier, it is worth the cost in the long run. If a young boy or girl is forced to sleep on an uncomfortable mattress, they can develop poor sleep habits at a young age. If a high-quality mattress is purchased, the comfort levels tend to skyrocket for the kids, creating an easier night’s rest.
High-quality sleep is extremely important for a child’s health. The benefit to your child goes well beyond just sleep. Quality sleep impacts their school performance, mood level, and a litany of other correlated factors. Good sleep creates good kids.
Support
Although comfort and support are often interpreted as the same dynamic, they are two completely different topics.
A supportive mattress will help maintain good spinal alignment during the night, while comfort deals more with preference regarding feel and firmness. If a child is not supported properly throughout their night’s rest, it can inhibit normal growth and have other negative impacts on their health. As a child grows, it is extremely important that their mattress supports their growth.
Additionally, as the child gets older, you should engage them in the purchasing process. Once your child reaches a certain age, they can typically describe their sleeping patterns, whether it’s on their back, stomach, or side. Some mattresses are better- or worse-suited for different sleeping positions. For example, a very soft mattress is not ideal for stomach sleepers, and a super-firm mattress can create pressure points and poor support for side sleepers. As you children get older and begin to develop a more consistent sleeping style, these positional preferences become more important when selecting the best mattress.
Best Mattress for Kids
Sleepopolis recommends the following mattresses for kids. Prices below are for full-sized mattresses, including any available discounts.
Best Foam Mattress for Kids
Casper Essential
The Casper essential uses a mix of poly foam and memory foam to provide a balanced feel. The mattress does a good job of sleeping cool and comes in at a value price. Click here to read my full review of the Casper Essential mattress.
A streamlined, balanced feel makes the Casper Essential fabulous for a wide range of sleepers!
Best Memory Foam Mattress
Bear
The Bear Mattress uses an all foam construction to provide a surprisingly supportive feel that is great for back and stomach sleeping. The firm feel means the sleepers hips will be well supported, which helps maintain spine alignment.
The Bear has a memory foam comfort layer to provide some contouring around the body, which helps avoid the formation of pressure points. While many memory foams can be known for trapping body heat, the Bear uses a graphite infused foam that helps draw heat away from the sleeper and dissipate body heat throughout the night.
Click here to read my full Bear mattress review.
The cover of the Bear mattress uses celliant, which some studies suggest may help those with active lifestyles recover faster! Enjoy $125 off your order with the code SLEEPOPOLIS!
Best First Big Kid Bed
5 Little Monkeys
Specifically designed for children, the materials used in the 5 Little Monkeys sleep system has incredible benefits as a child’s bed. With a soft feel that’s great for smaller sleepers and a stain resistant, machine washable removable cover, the 5 Little Monkeys sleep system is great for those transitioning to their first big kids bed. Click here to read my full review of the 5 Little Monkeys mattress.
Best Budget Mattress for Kids
eLuxurySupply Mattress
The eLuxury Supply 10″ Gel Memory Foam uses a thick memory foam comfrot layer to allow you to sink in for a classic contouring feeling. The mattress has a no frills design that is a great value buy. Click here to check out my full review of the eLuxurySupply mattress.
The eLuxurySupply mattress is an all-foam bed built with gently cooling gel memory foam. Enjoy 30% off your purchase with code SleepopolisReview.
Best Firm Mattress for Kids
Tuft & Needle
The Tuft & Needle is an all foam construction consisting of two layers. The mattress provides a medium firmness and does a good job of temperature regulation to help with sleeping cool. Click here to check out my full review of the Tuft & Needle.
The Tuft & Needle mattress offers sleepers a medium-firm feel, and that floating-on-foam experience!
Best Natural Mattress for Kids
Spindle
The Spindle is made of three layers of Dunlop latex, creating a bouncy mattress that sleeps cool. The Spindle can be adjusted for firmness and the company offers comfort adjustments up to one year after purchase. Click here to read my full review of the Spindle mattress.
What Kind of Mattress Is the Best for Kids?
Parents usually use twin, twin XL, or full mattresses for kids. Ultimately, the mattress you choose will depend on factors including how your child sleeps, how much space you have, and your budget. But the best mattress for kids will:
- Provide room for growth
- Provide ideal comfort and long-lasting quality
- Provide exceptional support for healthy growth
- Provide varying feel and firmness levels (especially important for older kids who have an established sleeping style/position)
Latest posts by Logan Block (see all)
- Best Egyptian Cotton Sheets - June 19, 2019
- Best Cooling Sheets for Hot Sleepers - June 19, 2019