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.
Best Mattresses for Kids
- Editor’s Pick- Casper Element
- Best for Combo Sleepers – Tuft & Needle
- Best Cooling Mattress for Kids – Dream Foam Arctic Dreams
- Best Memory Foam Mattress – Bear
- Best Mattress for Side Sleepers – Layla Mattress
- Best Firm Mattress for Kids –Studio by Leesa
- Best Bed in a Box- Brooklyn Bowery
- Best First Big Kid Bed – 5 Little Monkeys
- Best for Back Sleepers – Amerisleep AS2
- Best for Growing Pains – Puffy
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:
Editor’s Pick
Casper Element
The Casper Element 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 Element mattress.
A streamlined, balanced feel makes the Casper Element fabulous for a wide range of sleepers!
Best for Combo Sleepers
Tuft & Needle
The Tuft & Needle is an all foam construction consisting of two layers. The mattress is firmer feeling and does a good job of temperature regulation to help with sleeping cool.
If your child is not a fan of feeling like they sink into their bed, the Tuft & Needle could be a great fit for them. This mattress is bouncy and responsive, especially for an all-foam mattress, so if your kid is a combination sleeper who likes to change positions often at night they should be happy on the Tuft & Needle.
I’d also recommend this bed for kids who sleep on their backs or stomachs, as it will feel fairly firm, especially to a lighter body. For more info, check out my full Tuft & Needle mattress review.
The Tuft & Needle mattress offers sleepers a medium-firm feel, and that floating-on-foam experience!
Best Cooling Mattress for Kids
Dreamfoam Arctic Dreams
The Dreamfoam Arctic Dreams mattress is a cooling, hybrid mattress that is available at an incredible value. This is a perfect mattress for your kid’s first “big kid bed” because it is very cool, very comfortable, and accommodates all sleeping positions for smaller people.
If your child has pain concerns, this is also a great option. Since it is a hybrid mattress, it provides enough support to keep the child’s spine aligned, but has enough cushion to keep them comfortable all night.
Learn more in my full DreamFoam Arctic Dreams mattress review.
Both the all-foam and hybrid versions of the Dreamfoam Arctic Dreams come in at an affordable price, and you can save even more with our coupon!
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 Original mattress review.
The cover of the Bear mattress uses celliant, which some studies suggest may help those with active lifestyles recover faster!
Best Mattress for Side Sleepers
Layla Mattress
The Layla is a memory foam mattress that allows sleepers to sink deep into bed, a big advantage for the side sleepers out there that need to focus on pressure relief. The Layla is a flippable mattress that gives sleepers the choice of soft or firm support levels. Regardless of the side you select, the Layla uses a copper infused memory foam that’s not only comfortable but also does a good job drawing heat away from the sleeper.
Along with its cooling benefit the copper infusion is anti microbial and hypoallergenic, making it a great choice for kids. So with two support level options, great pressure relief and cooling, the Layla is a great choice for the side sleepers out there.
To see if this mattress is right for you, check out my full review of the Layla.
A flippable design makes the Layla mattress a truly customizable bedroom accessory.
Best Firm Mattress for Kids
Studio by Leesa Mattress
The Studio by Leesa has an all foam construction that provides a nice firm mix of support and pressure relief.
Stomach sleepers and kids who prefer a firm mattress are great candidates for this Leesa. It should prevent their hips from sinking into the bed and throwing their spine out of alignment. This is key to avoiding back pain down the line.
Back sleepers should also be comfortable on this bed, it should offer a nice blend of pressure relief and support to these folks.
Check out my full Studio by Leesa mattress review for more info on this bed.
Using high quality memory foam for comfort, the Leesa Studio Mattress offers a supportive feel that's great for a wide range of sleepers! Enjoy 15% off your purchase with our exclusive discount!
Best Bed in a Box
Brooklyn Bowery
The Brooklyn Bowery is a nice medium-firm mattress that’s going to suit a range of sleepers. It’s a high-quality bed-in-a-box option that comes at the low price parents are looking for when buying a mattress for growing kids.
The Brooklyn Bowery also does a great job of helping to dissipate body heat through the night thanks to the comfort layer of energex foam, a latex alternative that sleeps much cooler than the memory foam mattresses out there. The Bowery also has the added bonus of nice mobility, so the sleeper can adjust their position comfortably, without feeling stuck in the layers of the mattress.
Click here to learn more in my full Brooklyn Bowery review!
A hybrid construction makes this a great mattress for side sleepers in need of bounce!
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 for Back Sleepers
Amerisleep AS2 Mattress
Proper support and alignment are important when it comes to children’s beds. The Amerisleep AS2 is an all foam bed that uses a firmer feel to keep hips from sinking into the mattress, meaning the hips and shoulders are in alignment. This support is great for growing children. The Amerisleep AS2 also has a bit of memory foam as well, so it’s not just firm as a board, but comfortable as well.
Learn more in the full review of the Amerisleep AS2.
On the firmer end of the Spectrum, the Amerisleep AS2 is great for stomach or back sleepers.
Best for Growing Pains
Puffy
If your child is experiencing growing pains, you’re going to want to find a mattress that’s going to cushion their sensitive areas. The Puffy has a “cooling gel cloud” comfort layer that’s offers some great comfort and pressure relief. It has another transition layer of soft foam, making it a nice, cushy option for achey kids.
Another reason I like the Puffy for kids is its stain-resistant and easy-to-remove cover. Kids are prone to messes, and its nice to be able to quickly and conveniently wash this bed.
Think it’s the right mattress for your kid(s)? Read my full Puffy mattress review.
The Puffy mattress is a great bed for kids. It has a stain-resistant cover and has a gentle feel that's perfect for kids with growing pains.
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)
Summary: The Best Mattresses for Kids
| Mattress | Best For | Price (Twin) | Coupon | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Casper Element | Editor's Pick | $395 | Casper Coupon | Read Our Review! |
| Tuft & Needle | Combination Sleepers | $450 | Tuft & Needle Coupon | Read Our Review! |
| Dreamfoam Arctic Dreams | Cooling | $499 | Dreamfoam Coupon | Read Our Review! |
| Bear | Memory Foam | $695 | Bear Coupon | Read Our Review! |
| Layla | Side Sleepers | $699 | Layla Coupon | Read Our Review! |
| Leesa Studio | Firm | $499 | Leesa Coupon | Read Our Review! |
| Brooklyn Bedding Bowery | Bed in a Box | $549 | Brooklyn Bedding Coupon | Read Our Review! |
| 5 Little Monkeys | First Big Kid Bed | $599 | 5 Little Monkeys Coupon | Read Our Review! |
| Amerisleep AS2 | Back Sleepers | $1,248 | Amerisleep Coupon | Read Our Review! |
| Puffy | Growing Pains | $799 | Puffy Coupon | Read Our Review! |
