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Watching your little ones grow up is a bittersweet experience, especially when they start to grow out of old toys, clothes — and even beds. Not only is this a sign of changing times, but it can be tough on a parent’s wallet. This is why many mattress brands have begun to offer dual-side beds that adapt to your child’s growth. No need to throw out an old mattress to transfer to a “big kid bed,” these mattresses will last well into the tween years.
Today, we’ll take a look at the Saatva Youth, one of many such mattresses. The Sleepoplis team has tested more than 330 mattresses, including about a dozen kids mattresses, and this luxury mattress stands out from the pack. Our team of adult testers put this bed through our rigorous test process with the help of 10-year-old tester Conrad, and sought out input from Dr. Raj Dasgupta, MD, FACP, FCCP, FAASM, to ensure our medical claims lined up with the latest in sleep science. Our testing efforts have resulted in hundreds of detailed reviews, which have helped 60,108 people find their new mattress over the years — including 15,622 satisfied customers in 2024 alone.
Ready to join the leagues of happy shoppers? Read on to find out if the Saatva Youth is the best mattress for your child.
The Saatva Youth caters to little kids and younger teenagers alike with a unique dual construction. One side of the mattress is meant for children ages 3–7, while the other is meant for ages 8–12. Just flip it over as your child grows, and they’ll get a mixture of pressure relief and enough support for a neutral spinal alignment. Learn more in our video roundup of the best kids mattresses.
What our tester says:
“I found that this bed has a supportive feel that easily works for people of all weights, but still feels plush and comfortable.” – Amelia Jerden, senior staff writer
Saatva Youth Mattress Overview
The Saatva Youth mattress is a double-sided, flippable hybrid that can accommodate children ages 3 to 12. The firmer side is designed for younger children (aged 3 to 7), to better support the skeleton as they grow. Switch to the softer side once your child turns 8 years old, and they’ll get a bit more cushioning and pressure relief.
What makes this bed stand out from the crowd is mostly Saatva’s customer service. This mattress comes with a year-long sleep trial and lifetime warranty, both of which are extremely generous for any online mattress, not just one for kids. On top of that, Saatva mattresses come with free white glove delivery. This means that a team of experts will come to your house to set up your new mattress, and even take away your old one for free if necessary.
This mattress also performed well across the board. Aside from its high customer service scores, it earned a 4.8 out of 5 for edge support, as well as a 4 out of 5 cooling score. This led the mattress to receive an overall rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars. If you’re curious as to why it earned such a high score, we’ll dive deeper into how we rated these categories below.
Saatva Youth Value
As a luxury mattress brand, Saatva’s offerings come in a higher price range than most other online retailers. Depending on which size you get, a Saatva Youth can cost anywhere from $800 to a little over $1,000. This is about what you’d pay for most traditional online mattresses, so some might balk at the price.
However, it’s important to consider all that you’re getting. Saatva’s policies and customer service are hard to beat, and the beds are built to last with quality, robust materials. I believe that a Saatva Youth is worth the investment and won’t sag, even well after your child has grown up and moved out. If you don’t believe me, Saatva backs up this mattress with a lifetime warranty.
Saatva Youth Comparison
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| Saatva Youth Mattress | Nectar Kids Mattress | Saatva Classic | Zenhaven Mattress | |
| Rating | ||||
| Firmness | Medium-firm: 6.5/10 | Firm: 8/10 | Multiple firmness options | Multiple firmness options |
| Material | Innerspring | Foam | Innerspring | Latex |
| Cooling | — | |||
| Best For |
Back Sleepers, Stomach Sleepers, Hot Sleepers, Kids
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Back Sleepers,
Stomach Sleepers, Kids |
Back Sleepers, Stomach Sleepers, Hot Sleepers, Back Pain, Seniors
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Side Sleepers,
Back Sleepers, Hot Sleepers |
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What Is the Saatva Youth Made Of?
The Saatva Youth is a dual-sided mattress, meaning it has a mirrored construction that will offer a different feel depending on which side you use. The firmer side is recommended for children from the ages of 3 to 7, who need a bit more support for their growing bodies. The softer side is for older kids aged 8 to 12, and has a softer comfort layer for more pressure relief. Let’s take a look at how Saatva achieves this in the bed’s construction.
As a hybrid mattress, the Saatva Youth is made up of both foam and coils. It includes a number of eco-friendly materials for the conscious shopper, including organic cotton and recycled steel.
Cover – This Saatva has an organic cotton cover that’s antimicrobial, hypoallergenic, and features a water-resistant finish. Saatva also added a waterproof barrier below the cover to protect against spills and accidents. If you’re particularly worried about accidents, I’d recommend adding a mattress protector as well.
Ages 3–7 Comfort Layer – Next up is a polyfoam layer that’s designed especially for younger kids. This top layer offers some body contouring and pressure relief, and features zoned support. The high-density foam makes it a little firmer in the center to provide extra support around the lower back.
Support Layer – Strong recycled steel coils offer support and bounce to this mattress. Within the coil layer is a wire designed to promote proper spinal alignment, which should help with growing pains. The center third of this layer is also fitted with firmer, denser support for the lumbar area.
Ages 8–12 Comfort Layer – Softer high-density support foam offers some cushioning support to older children.
Cover – The same cover is mirrored on the other side of the mattress.
Saatva Youth Mattress Firmness
We rate mattress firmness on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the softest and 10 being the firmest. Most mattresses on the market fall around 6.5 out of 10, which is considered medium-firm.
The Saatva Youth is a flippable mattress, with one side offering firmer support for kids aged 3 to 7, and the other being a touch softer for older kids (ages 8 to 12). The difference between these two sides was not too noticeable. The 3–7 side came in at 7 out of 10 on our scale, which is a touch firmer than medium-firm. On the other hand, we rated the 8-12 side at 6.5 out 10, medium firm.
The Saatva Youth’s hybrid construction gives it a lifted, firmer feel. This, combined with the fact that children tend to be of a lighter weight, should mean that sleepers will feel more “on top” of the mattress rather than sinking deep into it.
Saatva Youth Mattress Performance
When we test mattresses for kids, we focus on areas that we think would be most important to young sleepers, such as pressure relief, cooling, edge support, and durability.
Saatva Youth Pressure Relief Performance
Pressure relief is an important consideration if your child sleeps on their back or side. Per Dr. Raj Dasgupta, “A mattress that relieves pressure will work to cushion areas that dig into the surface, such as the neck, shoulders, hips and lower back.” If a mattress has poor pressure relief, you run the risk of discomfort or even pain appearing in these areas. Pressure relief also needs to be balanced out by support, so it’s not enough to have a soft mattress.
We had our lightweight tester Riley Otis, as well as our kid tester Conrad, each test out the mattress on their back and side to get a feel for the overall pressure relief in each position. Based on their experience, the side-sleeping pressure relief for this mattress came in at 4 out of 5, while back-sleeping came in at 4.5 out of 5.
First, Riley took the 3–7 side of this bed for a spin. Though she doesn’t fall in this age range, she wanted to get a feel for how a younger child might experience it when sleeping on their side. “I think young children will benefit from the firm support that promotes good posture,” she said. “There’s also a bit of cushion at the hips and shoulders.” Older kids, though, will probably find this too firm for their liking.
On her back, Riley thought this position was comfortable, even for her. “My hips are sinking slightly, but I’m overall supported and not experiencing pressure or pain anywhere,” she said. Younger children are unlikely to experience the sinking Riley noticed in her hips, as they should remain comfortably aloft on the bed’s firm surface. Riley finished by saying she could probably sleep a couple nights on this bed without complaint.
Connor, our 10-year-old tester, handled the 8–12 side for us. It’s a little softer than the 3–7 side, allowing for more cushioning at the hips and shoulders. “I think kids who are side sleepers will feel comfortable on this bed,” Connor said.
Back sleeping was a similar story. Connor offered no complaints, saying he felt supported and lifted on the bed’s surface. When asked if he felt a gap in his lower back (a common complaint for most back sleepers), he said it was filled in. This means back sleepers should also get plenty of pressure relief on this side of the mattress, too.
Saatva Youth Cooling
If your child tends to kick the covers off and overheat every night, they might need a more cooling mattress. Hybrids like the Saatva Youth are usually a better option than memory foam, as their coil units allow for more airflow, since there’s space for heat to travel through the mattress rather than getting absorbed by thick foams and concentrating at the surface.
To find out if the Saatva Youth is a great pick for hot sleepers, tester Kenny Timper performed a series of objective and subjective cooling tests.
Thermal gun test: To conduct this test, we measure the surface temperature of the mattress using a thermal gun in two instances: first, before anyone has touched it, and a second time after a tester has rested on it for about 5 minutes. However much the temperature increases directly correlates to how much heat the bed holds onto while you’re in it. Generally, we see increases of 6 or 7 degrees as fairly good cooling.
We performed this test on both sides of the mattress to see if there was any difference. The 3-7 side had a starting temperature of 71.3 degrees and finished at 77.7 for a total increase of 6.4 degrees. For the 8–12 side, it was a similar result: starting at 72.1 and increasing to 78.1, a 6-degree increase. As mentioned, this is a favorable result and indicates good cooling.
Cover test: Next, Kenny considered how the cover of the Saatva Youth felt when he ran his hand over it. This bed is outfitted with an organic cotton cover that helps wick away moisture. Kenny didn’t think the cover felt particularly cool-to-the-touch on either side, but this is to be expected with the material.
Feel test: Finally, Kenny made note of how he felt while lying on the surface of the mattress during the cooling test. “It doesn’t really feel cool or breathable, but I didn’t feel like I was overheating either,” he said. “I would say it warms up a little bit and is mostly cozy.”
With all this in mind, Kenny rated cooling on this mattress at 4/5. While it may not be icy cold, it won’t be a furnace, and should stave off most night sweats.
Saatva Youth Edge Support
Edge support is important for many reasons. Your child might sleep on the very edge of their mattress and sit down on it to tie their shoes, or you might use it when reading a bedtime story. Good edge support means the mattress won’t sag or bow when bearing weight. To test the Saatva Youth’s edge support, we recruited Riley and Conrad to help us out again.
Tape measure test: First, we use a tape measure to record the physical depth of sinkage when weights are put on the very edge of the mattress. The Saatva Youth only sagged half an inch, which is extremely impressive. This means you should barely notice the bed dipping under your weight.
Seated test: Next, our testers sit on the edge and judge how supported they feel. Riley took a seat on the 3–7 side and felt the edges were “very supportive” with minimal sinkage. “Parents should have no problem sitting there with their kids to read them a story or tuck them in at night,” she added.
Connor noticed a little bit more sinkage on the 8–12 side, but still nothing that made him feel like he was going to slide off the edge of the bed. He thought he would be able to sit there for a long time without incident.
Full body test: Finally, our testers laid down on the edge in each position. Riley commented that the 3–7 side felt just as supportive in this arrangement, too. “I feel lifted and not at risk of falling off the bed regardless of my position,” she said.
Connor had a similar experience on the 8–12 side. He called it “pretty nice.” He found that the support remained the same between the center and the edge of the mattress.
Riley and Connor’s findings resulted in a 4.5 out of 5 edge support score for the 8–12 side and a perfect score for the 3–7 side. This means the mattress earned an overall edge support rating of 4.8 out of 5, a near-perfect score that should satisfy just about any sleeper.
Durability
The last metric we evaluated was how durable the mattress looked and felt. “A durable mattress is characterized by high-quality materials and a strong support core, excelling in areas like edge support and withstanding wear to maintain its structural integrity over time,” says Dr. Raj Dasgupta. We witnessed this aplenty in the Saatva Youth.
We even cut into this mattress to take a look at the innards, finding everything as advertised. The steel coils are actually encased in a surrounding layer of dense, quality foam, which not only reinforces the overall support of the mattress, but also its perimeter. Its robust edges are a signal that they likely won’t sag, even with repeated use. As an owner of a Saatva myself, the craftsmanship of these beds is hard to beat.
Saatva Youth Performance Scores
| Test | Product Score | Average Score |
| Firmness | 7/10 (3-7 side); 6.5/10 (8-12) | 6.7 |
| Pressure Relief Side | 4 | 3.5 |
| Back Pressure Relief | 4.5 | 4 |
| Cooling | 4 | 4.1 |
| Edge Support | 4.5 | 4 |
| Trial Period | 5 | 4.3 |
| Warranty | 5 | 4.6 |
Saatva Youth Sleeping Position and Body Weight
Your weight and preferred sleep position can greatly affect how a mattress feels, and this is equally true for kids. The Saatva Youth’s firmer feel (on both sides) prioritizes support over pressure relief, so sleeper types that do well with plenty of lift, like back and stomach sleepers, should sleep soundly on this mattress.
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 sink into the mattress more. As far as sleeping positions go, side sleepers likely need a softer mattress while stomach sleepers usually need a firmer, more supportive one. Back sleepers are usually somewhere in the middle.
Is the Saatva Youth a Good Mattress for Light Sleepers (Under 130 pounds)?
- Light Back Sleepers – The Saatva Youth’s profile is best suited to back sleepers who are looking for support, alignment, and slight cushioning. Both sides should work well for this position.
- Light Side Sleepers – Some lightweight sleepers might find the Saatva Youth a touch too firm to sink into, and may not reap the same pressure relief benefits as a heavier sleeper.
- Light Stomach Sleepers – These sleepers should get plenty of lift from this bed’s surface, regardless of which side they choose.
Is the Saatva Youth a Good Mattress for Average-Weight Sleepers (130–230 pounds)?
- Average-Weight Back Sleepers – Like lightweight sleepers, average-weight back sleepers should also feel comfortable on this balanced hybrid.
- Average-Weight Side Sleepers – Sleepers in this range may have better luck sinking into the mattress and gleaning some pressure relief, but don’t expect the super-sink of a soft memory foam mattress. You might flip over to the softer 8-12 side if you’re wanting just a bit more pressure relief.
- Average-Weight Stomach Sleepers – Both sides should work well for these sleepers, but they might fare better on the 3–7 side, as it’s a touch firmer and should keep their hips from falling out of alignment.
Is the Saatva Youth a Good Mattress for Heavy Sleepers (over 230 pounds)?
- Heavy Back Sleepers – This mattress has a weight limit of 230 pounds, which is unlikely to accommodate sleepers in this weight category.
- Heavy Side Sleepers – See above.
- Heavy Stomach Sleepers – See above.
My Final Thoughts About the Saatva Youth Mattress
After taking in all this information about how the bed looks, feels, and performs, you might still be mulling over whether the Saatva Youth mattress is right for your child. Let’s shed some light on who is the best candidate for the Saatva Youth and who should stay away.
Who I Recommend the Saatva Youth For
- The Saatva Youth (especially on the softer side for kids 8 to 12 years old) should work great for young back sleepers who want a lifted feel from their bed.
- Stomach-sleeping kids should also like this mattress, as it has the necessary support to keep their hips from falling out of alignment.
- This bed features a waterproof cover, which should make cleanup easy for any accident-prone sleepers.
- The Saatva Youth didn’t overheat in our cooling tests, so we’d recommend it for kids who sleep hot.
Who I Don’t Recommend the Saatva Youth For
- Unfortunately, as this is constructed for younger sleepers, I wouldn’t recommend that adults hop into this mattress for a snooze.
- The Saatva Youth only has a weight capacity of 250 pounds, so it’s not a viable option for sleepers over 230 pounds.
- If you’re a budget shopper, you may want to look at another kids mattress that isn’t in a luxury price bracket.
Saatva Youth Pricing and Sizing
Ready to buy? The Saatva Youth is available in twin, twin XL, and full sizes for your kid’s bedroom. Here’s what it’ll cost you before any sales or coupons.
| Size | Dimensions | Price |
| Twin | 38″ x 75″ x 10″ | $795.00 |
| Twin XL | 38″ x 80″ x 10″ | $935.00 |
| Full | 54” x 75” x 10″ | $1055.00 |
Saatva Youth Policies
| Warranty | Lifetime warranty |
| Sleep Trial Period | 365 nights |
| Shipping/Returns | Saatva offers free white glove delivery, meaning a team of experts will come to your house and deliver your mattress. If you want to return your mattress, it will cost you $99. |
| Unboxing | Since Saatva mattresses aren’t compressed in a box, there’s no unboxing or off-gassing to speak of! |
| Customer Reviews | Out of 32 reviews on Saatva’s site, the majority are positive, resulting in a total rating of 4.8 stars out of 5. Only one review cites issues when it came to delivery. |
Saatva Youth vs. Competitor
There are plenty of great mattresses for kids out there, so it’s natural to want to consider other options. Take a look at how the Saatva Youth compares to another kids mattress we often recommend.
Saatva Youth vs Nectar Kids
Like Saatva, Nectar is another well-known mattress brand. Where Saatva specializes in luxury, Nectar prioritizes affordable yet high-quality products. Their kids bed might be the better option if you’re on a stricter budget, as it’s flippable like the Saatva Youth.
- Price: A full-size Nectar Kids mattress only costs about $600, which is quite a bit less than the Saatva Youth. The same size Saatva Youth costs $1,000.
- Sleeping position: Both of these mattresses performed great for back sleepers. The Nectar Kids is a touch firmer than the Saatva Youth, so it might be the better choice for stomach-sleeping kids. Side sleepers might like the Saatva Youth, especially on the softer 8–12 side.
- Cooling: The Nectar Kids mattress scored a half-point higher than the Saatva Youth mattress in this category. Nectar’s 8-and-up layer does have cooling gel infused into its foam layer, which might be what gives it the edge over the Saatva Youth.
- Body weight: Neither will be a good option for sleepers over 230 pounds, who will likely sink right through the bed and glean no support.
Read more in our full Nectar Kids mattress review.
Nectar Kids Mattress
Product Details
Our Recommendation
Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Other Models From Saatva
Looking for a bed that’ll last your child into college? Saatva has multiple luxury mattresses to suit your needs.
Saatva Youth vs Saatva Classic
Saatva’s flagship mattress is the Saatva Classic, a luxury innerspring mattress that comes in three firmnesses. It happens to be the mattress I sleep on every night. Though I’m not a kid anymore, I love it and recommend it as another option if you’re looking to invest in a mattress that’ll last beyond your child’s formative years.
- Price: On average, a Saatva Classic will cost twice as much as the Saatva Youth. A full-size Saatva Youth costs just a bit over $1,000, while the Saatva Classic in the same size will run you nearly $2,000.
- Sleeping position: The Luxury Firm Saatva Classic has a similar feel to the Saatva Youth. It’s bouncy and firm-feeling, which makes it a great fit for combination sleepers. I can also side-sleep on the Saatva without much incident, though it definitely has that same lifted feeling. Unlike the Saatva Youth, you can choose from Plush Soft or Firm options if medium-firm doesn’t fit the bill.
- Cooling: Both of these beds kept it cool in our studio, thanks to the air flowing through their coil unit and breathable organic cotton cover. I’m a hot sleeper myself, and I have no qualms about the Classic’s cooling capability.
- Body weight: The Saatva Classic has a higher weight capacity than the Saatva Youth, as well as a super-supportive feel, both of which should make it more appealing to sleepers over 230 pounds.
Read more in our full Saatva Classic mattress review.
Saatva Classic
Product Details
Our Recommendation
Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Saatva Youth vs Zenhaven
Another mattress by Saatva that might interest you is the Zenhaven, a latex mattress that has a buoyant, medium-firm feel. If your kid likes to jump on the bed, they’ll love this bed’s springy feel.
- Price: Latex mattresses tend to cost a pretty penny, and that’s the case here. A full-size Zenhaven will run you three times as much as a Saatva Youth at $3,000.
- Sleeping position: While it doesn’t offer the same sinkage as foam, our testers found this mattress contoured and cradled their hips and shoulders in a side-sleeping position. The Saatva Youth has a firmer feel that should be better suited to stomach sleepers. Both beds are good options for back sleepers.
- Cooling: The Zenhaven and Saatva Youth scored similarly in our cooling test. Don’t expect Arctic-level chill, but hot sleepers shouldn’t sweat on either bed.
- Body weight: The Zenhaven has a higher weight capacity that should better serve sleepers over 230 pounds. The Saatva Youth will work better for lightweight sleepers as it’s made for kids.
Read more in our full Zenhaven mattress review.
Zenhaven Mattress
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.
FAQ
Is a Saatva mattress worth it?
If it’s in your budget, Saatva mattresses are definitely worth it! The free white glove delivery, year-long trial, and lifetime warranty make it easier to take the plunge on this bed; you can always return it if you decide it isn’t for you.
What is the difference between Saatva Youth and Helix Kids?
Both the Saatva Youth and Helix Kids are flippable hybrid mattresses designed for young sleepers. The Helix Kids mattress is available in two heights, 8 inches and 6 inches, while the Saatva Youth is only available in its 10-inch size. The Helix Kids is also a bit more affordable than the Saatva Youth, but it comes with a shorter trial period (only 100 nights, versus Saatva’s year-long trial).
Do Saatva mattresses sag over time?
I’ve had a Saatva mattress for nearly a year now, and it’s shown no signs of sagging. It has robust edge support, which we often look for in beds that are unlikely to sag.