If you’re a parent seeking a new mattress for your child, you may feel overwhelmed by the abundance of options, and you may not know exactly what to look for. Today, I’ll be breaking down one of the more affordable models on the market — the Brooklyn Bedding Kids mattress, also called the BB Kids for short. We performed a series of tests on this mattress to determine who it’s best suited for, and we also invited a kid tester to weigh in.
I’m a certified sleep science coach and have been testing and reviewing mattresses with Sleepopolis for three years. I work with a team of expert testers in our studio based in Charlotte, NC, where we’ve evaluated more than 330 beds. We follow a rigorous testing methodology to determine the best mattresses for different kinds of sleepers.
Here at Sleepopolis, we rely on a network of medical professionals, such as board-certified doctors, physical therapists, registered nurses, and sleep specialists. These experts review our findings and ensure they’re accurate from a medical perspective. We work especially closely with our chief medical advisor, Dr. Raj Dasgupta, MD, FACP, FCCP, FAASM, and our chief medical product tester, Dr. Joe Tedesco, DPT, OCS, ATC, CSCS, who provide our readers with advice for common sleep issues and pain concerns.
When we tested the BB Kids mattress in our studio, we found it very firm and supportive, making it a great match for younger children. Children under 10 typically benefit from firmer mattresses, the more supportive materials help keep the spine in a straight position and promote proper posture. Back sleepers and stomach sleepers are also ideal candidates for this bed since they should get enough lift to keep the hips in line with the shoulders, preventing back pain.
The Brooklyn Bedding BB Kids Mattress is made with firmer memory foam that should offer an ideal amount support for younger back sleepers and side sleepers. It also has some added touches such as gel memory foam for cooling and a stain-resistant cover.
BB Kids Mattress Overview
The BB Kids is a 6-inch mattress with an all-foam construction that has two layers. In terms of firmness, this bed leans firmer than average, falling at a 7 out of 10 on our firmness scale. It’s more supportive than pressure relieving, so there’s not a ton of cushioning or sinkage. This makes it very easy for combination sleepers to roll around and switch from one position to the next without feeling stuck in the foam layers.
As a bed-in-a-box mattress, the BB Kids ships for free and arrives at your doorstep ready to be unboxed and inflated. It’s not a heavy bed, weighing around 30 pounds, so one person should be able to handle setup without help. Simply open the box, unroll the mattress, and take off the plastic. The bed has a slight off-gassing scent, which is completely normal and should dissipate within 24 hours.
This bed stands out from other kids mattresses due to its strong edge support that earned 4.7 out of 5 stars during our testing. When weight is applied to the side of the bed, the layers hardly budge and don’t easily compress. This means sleepers can get right up to the edge without slipping off. When we combined all of our testing scores together, the BB Kids earned 4.7 stars overall.
BB Kids Mattress Sleepopolis Scores
BB Kids Value
When we assess a bed’s value, we see if the quality of its materials and performance during testing match the overall price point. The BB Kids mattress contains two third-party certifications — CertiPUR US and GREENGUARD Gold — to ensure this memory foam mattress is free from harmful chemicals and meets strict standards for chemical emissions. The bed also performed well on most of our tests, proving itself to be a durable option that’s unlikely to sag or deteriorate over time.
When it comes to kids mattresses, the BB Kids is one of the more affordable options. A twin or twin XL size currently costs $332, and a full size costs $399. Considering the bed’s high-quality materials and strong support system, I think it’s priced reasonably. Overall, I would consider this a high-value mattress because you’ll be able to use it for many years without needing a replacement.
What Is the BB Kids Made Of?
To evaluate a mattress’s materials, we use a boxcutter to cut into the side of each mattress and examine the layers inside.
The Brooklyn Bedding Kids mattress is 6 inches tall and made entirely of foam. The bed comes with a soft woven cover and two layers of foam. The first layer is slightly softer, allowing for a bit of cushioning along the body, while the second layer is firmer and offers more support.
Made in Brooklyn Bedding’s Arizona facility, this mattress contains CertiPUR-US certified foam that’s free from heavy metals, harmful chemicals, or ozone depleters. The entire mattress is also GREENGUARD Gold certified and meets strict safety standards for VOC emissions.
Cover – A cozy cover made with a “Nano Stain Terminator” finish that protects against stains and accidents. You can top it off with a mattress protector for even more protection.
Comfort Layer – A 2-inch layer of gel-infused memory foam that’s soft and has a quick response to pressure.
Support Layer – A 4-inch layer of high-density foam that keeps the sleeper lifted and has a slow response to pressure.
BB Kids Mattress Firmness
Mattress firmness is one of the more subjective factors we test for, as every sleeper has a different preference. One sleeper may think a mattress is too firm, while another sleeper may feel it’s too soft. To get a better understanding of how a mattress feels for different sleepers, we invite multiple expert testers to lie on the bed in three sleeping positions. Each tester provides their personal firmness rating, and then we find the average to create the final firmness score. We score firmness on a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 is the softest and 10 is the firmest. For reference, we consider a score of 6.5 out of 10 to represent a true medium-firm mattress, which is the most common firmness.
The BB Kids falls at a 7 out of 10 on the firmness scale. This means it’s medium firm, but leans a bit firmer than average. While the top layer of memory foam allows for a bit of initial softness and cushioning, the support layer of high-density foam is solidly firm and doesn’t provide much sinkage. This allows for the body to remain lifted, thus promoting proper spinal alignment.
Our adult tester, Kate Gorman, is 24 and falls in our lightweight sleeper category. When she lay on the BB Kids mattress, she said, “This mattress is pretty firm, so it does a great job supporting my weight. My spine feels aligned in all three sleeping positions.” She noted that she felt a bit of pressure building at her shoulder when side sleeping, but she thinks child sleepers will experience more cushioning.
BB Kids Mattress Performance
When you’re looking for a new mattress for your child, there are a few performance factors to consider. Kate teamed up with our 10-year-old tester Conrad to evaluate the BB Kids mattress in pressure relief, cooling, and edge support. They collected quantitative and qualitative data to gain further insight on how the bed performs. We also asked Conrad for his perspective, which helped us understand how children may feel sleeping on this mattress.
BB Kids Pressure Relief Performance
Pressure relief is an important factor for all sleepers to consider, regardless of their age. According to our Chief Medical Advisor Dr. Raj Dasgupta, memory foam is one of the best materials for relieving pressure, as it helps cushion the hip and shoulder joints. Although it’s a firm mattress, the BB Kids contains a softer comfort layer made of memory foam.
We evaluate pressure by rolling a specialized mat onto the mattress and then lying on it in the back- and side-sleeping positions. The mat is able to sense where pressure is building on the body and display the results in a color-coded graphic using thermal imaging. Areas with blue and green indicate good pressure relief, while red and yellow indicate more pressure building.
But first, keep in mind that your child’s age can determine whether a mattress helps relieve pressure. Some mattresses provide firmer support and less pressure relief, which is best for children aged 2 to 7. This feel helps their spine stay in neutral alignment as they are in the early stages of development. As they age, children 8 and up develop their own firmness preferences, with many desiring a bit of cushioning for more pressure relief.
When we tested the BB Kids for pressure relief, we thought it only made sense to bring in an actual kid. Our tester Conrad is 10 years old and weighs approximately 80 pounds. He told us he felt most comfortable back sleeping on the BB Kids mattress. “It feels firm, and my hips are sinking in a tiny bit,” he said. As you can see on his pressure map below, it’s primarily blue across his entire body with just a touch of green at his hips. The mattress offers more lift and support than sinkage and cushioning, so it excels at keeping the spine straight when back sleeping. This is especially important in children, as improper spinal alignment can lead to chronic pain and poor posture over time if not corrected.
When Conrad tried the mattress on his side, he felt good spinal alignment, yet not a lot of sinkage or cushioning. He said, “This mattress is firm and I’m not sinking in at all. My hips feel comfortable, but my shoulder is stiffer.” Based on his pressure map, he’s experiencing some pressure building at his hips and shoulders. While younger children may feel comfortable in the side-sleeping position, older children like Conrad may prefer more softness at their joints as they sink further into the layers.
Based on Conrad’s pressure map, we think this bed is best suited to children who are younger than 8 years old. These children can appreciate the firm support that lifts their body and keeps their spine in the proper position. Older children may desire a mattress with a bit more cushioning as they continue developing, as this mattress offers more support than pressure relief.
BB Kids Cooling
As children go through the stages of development, their changing hormones may cause more frequent night sweats, and some children simply sleep hot in general. A mattress with decent cooling abilities can help regulate temperature and dissipate heat to prevent overheating. We tested the BB Kids mattress for cooling using a thermal gun, a cover test, and a feel test to create a final cooling score of 3.5 stars.
Thermal gun test: This test helps us understand how a mattress responds to body heat. First, we use the thermal gun to record the initial temperature of the bed before anyone has touched it. Then, we have a tester lie on it for 5 minutes before recording the bed’s temperature again. If the temperature increases by fewer than 5 degrees, we consider it to have excellent cooling. An increase of 5 to 10 degrees indicates good cooling, 10 to 15 degrees indicates decent cooling, and more than 15 degrees indicates poor cooling.
The BB Kids went from 74.7 degrees to 83.5 degrees. This is an 8.8-degree temperature increase, which we classified as good cooling and led us to award it 3.5 stars.
Cover test: For this one, our tester feels the surface of the bed and whether it’s noticeably cool to the touch when they first lie down. When she felt the cover, Kate said, “I don’t feel any cooling sensation.” The cover felt more soft and cozy than cool and crisp.
Feel test: While our tester lies on the bed for 5 minutes, they also observe their temperature and whether they notice the bed heating up beneath them. According to Kate, “The bed feels like it got warmer over time, especially the cover because it’s pretty thick.” While she wasn’t unreasonably hot, she could see hot sleepers becoming uncomfortable.
Ultimately, the BB Kids earned an overall cooling score of 3.5 out of 5 stars. These are pretty average results, so while many sleepers can get a good night’s sleep, kids who sleep hot may need a bed that promotes more airflow and breathability. The BB Kids is an all-foam mattress, so there’s no innerspring coils to prevent hot air from getting trapped. There is, however, a gel infusion in the first layer of memory foam, which likely prevented this bed from warming up even more.
BB Kids Edge Support
Edge support refers to the strength of the bed’s perimeter. Since this bed is offered in twin, twin XL, and full sizes, there’s less room for your child to spread out. This means supportive edges are crucial, as they allow the sleeper to use the entire surface of the mattress without feeling like they’re about to fall. Strong edges can also help children with mobility issues, as they can bear down on the side of the bed when getting in and out. We tested edge support using a tape measure test, a seated test, and a full body test to create a final score of 4.7 stars.
Tape measure test: First up is our tape measure test, also known as the weighted edge support test. We grabbed a 45-pound weighted plate and placed it directly on the edge of the mattress. We then used a tape measure to measure how much the layers collapsed under the weight. When we performed this on the BB Kids, we measured only 0.75 inches of sinkage. These are fantastic results and indicate strong edge support that won’t quickly falter when weight is applied, so we awarded this test 5 stars.
Seated test: Next, we have a tester sit directly on the edge of the bed with their feet on the floor. Our tester observes how secure they feel and whether they’re at risk of falling. They also stand up several times to see whether the bed assists them. When Kate performed this test, she said, “This 6-inch mattress is pretty thin, so it doesn’t spring you out of bed. While the edges collapse a bit, it doesn’t feel like I’m about to slide off, and I feel pretty supported overall.” She ended up rating the seated test 4 stars.
Full body test: Next, our tester lies directly on the edge of the bed in the side-sleeping, back-sleeping, and stomach-sleeping positions. Kate felt more secure lying down than she did sitting on the edge. “The edge is not collapsing at all, and I don’t feel like I am going to roll off,” she said. “This would be great for kids with bunk beds or for ones that are transitioning out of a crib or toddler bed.” She rated this test 5 out of 5 stars.
Based on the 4.7-star edge support, I think the BB Kids is a great choice for children who like to sprawl out. They should be able to sleep right up to the very edge without falling off and injuring themselves. I especially like this mattress for children with mobility issues; it’s not too tall, so the child can reach the edge and rely on it for support when climbing in and out of bed.
Durability
When it comes to kids beds, you’ll want to buy something that can last several years while the child is growing. We evaluate durability by looking at the mattress materials, support, edge support, and warranty. A strong support system that extends all the way to the edges can prevent the bed from sagging prematurely. High-quality materials also last longer than cheaper materials and are less likely to deteriorate over time. Finally, we glance at the warranty, which gives us an idea of how long the brand expects the mattress to last.
Overall, I think the BB Kids is a very durable mattress. The bed is very firm, with a layer of high-density foam acting as the main support system. This layer lifts the sleeper up and out of the bed and keeps the edges strong, so I think it’s unlikely to sag or develop indentations over time. The foam is also CertiPUR-US certified, so it’s non-toxic and fiberglass free. With a limited lifetime warranty, you should be able to use this mattress throughout the sleeper’s childhood years without needing a replacement.
BB Kids Performance Scores
| Test | Product Score | Average Score |
| Firmness | 7 | 6.7 |
| Side Pressure Relief | 2 | 3.5 |
| Back Pressure Relief | 2 | 4 |
| Cooling | 3.5 | 4.1 |
| Edge Support | 4.7 | 4 |
| Off-Gassing | 5 | N/A |
| Trial Period | 4 | 4.3 |
| Warranty | 4.5 | 4.6 |
| Full Rise | 5 | N/A |
| Unboxing/Moving | 5 | 3.5 |
BB Kids Sleeping Position and Body Weight
Your sleeping position and weight are two of the largest determining factors for how a bed will feel. While most children will fall in the lightweight sleeper category (less than 130 pounds), teenagers and adults may also be interested in this mattress, as it’s great for RVs and guest rooms. What feels very firm to a child may feel softer to an adult who weighs more. Below, I’ve broken down each weight category and how the bed will likely feel in each position.
Before we dive into our recommendations, though, we want to recognize that people come in all shapes and sizes, and people of every size deserve a mattress that works for their body type. We use the weight categories light, average, and heavy to more easily categorize sleepers based on how mattresses will perform for their body type, as most mattresses are designed for the group we call “average” (130 to 230 pounds).
As a general takeaway, lighter sleepers don’t require as much support as average-weight sleepers, and mattresses will tend to feel firmer to them. On the other hand, heavy sleepers tend to need more support than average-weight sleepers and tend to sink into the mattress more. As far as sleeping positions go, side sleepers tend to need a soft mattress, while stomach sleepers usually need a firmer, more supportive one. Back sleepers are usually somewhere in the middle.
Is the BB Kids a Good Mattress for Light Sleepers (Under 130 pounds)?
- Light Back Sleepers – These sleepers will find lots of lift at their hips that props the spine into neutral alignment.
- Light Side Sleepers – Side sleepers will likely find this bed very firm. While there’s not much cushioning at the body’s sensitive pressure points, the spine should remain aligned.
- Light Stomach Sleepers – This bed provides plenty of support in this position. The hips will be propped in line with the shoulders, thus placing the spine in a straight line.
Is the BB Kids a Good Mattress for Average-Weight Sleepers (130–230 pounds)?
- Average-Weight Back Sleepers – These sleepers may experience a bit more cushioning at their lower lumbar region, while also experiencing enough lift to prevent too much sinkage.
- Average-Weight Side Sleepers – This bed is likely too firm for these sleepers, as they might experience too much pressure building at the hips and shoulders as they sink into the support layer.
- Average-Weight Stomach Sleepers – Stomach sleepers may want a mattress with more support to prevent their hips from sinking in.
Is the BB Kids a Good Mattress for Heavy Sleepers (over 230 pounds)?
- Larger-Bodied Back Sleepers – This mattress is not supportive enough for heavy sleepers in any sleeping position.
- Larger-Bodied Side Sleepers – See above.
- Larger-Bodied Stomach Sleepers – See above.
My Final Thoughts About the BB Kids Mattress
Let’s summarize some of my favorite things about the BB Kids, as well as some things to keep in mind.
Who I Recommend the BB Kids For
- Accident-prone children can benefit from the stain-resistant mattress cover.
- Children under 10 should find excellent firm support that keeps their spine neutrally aligned.
- This 6-inch mattress is the perfect height for bunk beds, RVs, and Murphy beds.
- The strong edge support prevents kids from falling out of bed if they sleep near the edges.
Who I Don’t Recommend the BB Kids For
- Older children may prefer a bed with a bit more sinkage and cushioning.
- If you’re looking for a bouncy mattress, this all-foam bed has a slow response to pressure with little to no bounce.
BB Kids Pricing and Sizing
Let’s take a look at the BB Kids sizes and how much they cost. Keep in mind, the prices listed below are before discounts, so you may get this bed for cheaper depending on the current sales. You can also check out our Brooklyn Bedding coupon page.
| Size | Price |
| Twin | $332.00 |
| Twin XL | $332.00 |
| Full | $399.00 |
Brooklyn Bedding Policies
It’s important to read the fine print before purchasing a mattress. Below, I’ve broken down Brooklyn Bedding’s most important company policies.
| Warranty | Limited lifetime warranty |
| Sleep Trial Period | 120 nights |
| Shipping/Returns | Free shipping on all mattresses. Returns available 30 days after delivery and within the sleep trial period for a $99 return fee. |
| Unboxing | A slight off-gassing odor that goes away after 24 hours. The bed weighs between 28–30 pounds depending on the size, so you should be able to unbox it by yourself. |
| Full Rise | The mattress began inflating once the plastic was taken off and was fully risen after 24 hours. |
| Customer Reviews | This bed has an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars on the Brooklyn Bedding website based on 141 reviews. |
BB Kids vs. Competitors
There are many other reputable mattress brands on the market that sell a kids bed. Let’s compare the BB Kids to another prominent kids model, the Helix Kids mattress.
BB Kids vs Helix Kids
The Helix Kids mattress is a flippable bed with two sides — a firm side for kids aged 2 to 7 and a softer side for kids 8 and older. Unlike the BB Kids, the Helix Kids has a hybrid construction that combines layers of foam with pocketed coils. When we tested the soft side, we thought it landed at a 6.5 out of 10 on the mattress firmness scale.
- Price: The Helix Kids is much more expensive than the BB Kids.
- Sleeping position: The Helix Kids offers softer cushioning, making it better for side sleeping. The BB Kids is firmer and better for stomach sleeping. Both beds are compatible with back sleeping.
- Cooling: The Helix Kids has more cooling technology, including a layer of coils that promotes airflow and a breathable Tencel cover. When we performed our thermal gun test, the Helix Kids remained cooler than the BB Kids.
- Body weight: Neither mattress is suitable for sleepers over 230 pounds. I would only recommend these beds to sleepers under 130 pounds.
Our full Helix Kids mattress review is coming soon.
Helix Kids Mattress
Product Details
Our Recommendation
Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Other Models from Brooklyn Bedding
Brooklyn Bedding is one of the most popular bed-in-a-box brands on the market. It offers several standard and luxe mattress models. Let’s compare the kids model to the Signature Hybrid and CopperFlex models.
BB Kids vs Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid
The Signature Hybrid is a 12.25-inch mattress that contains five layers of foam and innerspring coils. The bed comes in three firmness levels. When we tested the Medium model, we thought it had a classic medium-firm feel, landing at a 6.5 out of 10 on our firmness scale. We also found excellent cooling abilities and strong edge support from this Brooklyn Bedding mattress.
- Price: As a standard model, the Signature Hybrid is more expensive than the BB Kids bed.
- Sleeping position: The Signature Hybrid is a bit more plush, offering more sinkage and body contouring for side sleeping. This bed is also a good pick for back sleepers.
- Cooling: The Signature Hybrid performed better on our cooling test, earning 4.5 stars overall.
- Body weight: The Signature Hybrid is a better choice for heavy sleepers and adults in general.
Read more in our full Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid mattress review.
Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid
Product Details
Our Recommendation
Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
BB Kids vs Brooklyn Bedding CopperFlex
The Brooklyn Bedding CopperFlex is a 12-inch mattress offered in both memory foam and hybrid models. We evaluated the memory foam model in our studio and found five distinct foam layers that created a solidly firm feel. During testing, we were most impressed by its responsiveness and cooling abilities.
- Price: As a standard model, the CopperFlex is more expensive than the BB Kids bed. However, it’s still one of the more affordable beds on the market.
- Sleeping position: These mattresses are both best for back and stomach sleeping.
- Cooling: The CopperFlex slept slightly cooler during our cooling test, earning 4 stars overall.
- Body weight: The CopperFlex is a better choice for heavy sleepers and adults in general.
Read more in our full Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid mattress review.
Brooklyn Bedding CopperFlex Memory Foam
Product Details
Our Recommendation
Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Our Review Process
At Sleepopolis, our team of certified sleep science coaches personally test each mattress. We start by unboxing the mattress to figure out how difficult (or easy) it is to get the mattress from the box to the bed. Then, we spend time lying on the bed in different positions, taking time to assess it on our backs, stomachs, and sides. Next, we perform our Sleepopolis tests, using specialized tools to measure qualities like motion transfer, bounce, and pressure relief. Our last step is to open up the mattress and take a look at each layer. These steps allow us to give our final verdict on the mattress.
FAQs
Does the BB Kids mattress come with a sleep trial?
Yes, the BB Kids mattress comes with a 120-night trial. You can return the mattress for free 30 days after it’s been delivered, as long as you’re within the 120-night period.
Does the BB Kids mattress come with a warranty?
Yes, the BB Kids mattress comes with a limited lifetime warranty that protects you from manufacturing defects and premature sagging.
Is the BB Kids mattress flippable?
No, this mattress was not designed to be flipped. However, you can rotate the mattress 180 degrees every few months.
Is the BB Kids a good cooling mattress?
The BB Kids mattress contains a layer of gel swirl memory foam. This cooling gel infusion was designed to draw heat away from the body. We found average cooling abilities when we performed our thermal gun test, cover test, and feel test. While it may not induce overheating, there are beds out there with more cooling technology for hot sleepers.
What mattress firmness is best for children?
According to Helix Sleep, medium-firm to firm mattresses are best for younger sleepers. A firm bed is best for kids under 7, as it can help promote proper spinal alignment and good posture. As kids age, they tend to desire a bit more softness and cushioning.
Does the BB Kids mattress need a boxspring?
According to Brooklyn Bedding, its mattresses are designed to be used on solid bed frames with minimal to no flex. This includes slatted foundations and platform beds. You can use a boxspring, but it’s not needed.
