Best Mattress for Kids

Posted on by Emma

Like adults, our kids need their sleep too. In fact, kids and teens need more sleep than we do according to the National Sleep Foundation.

Adults need 7 to 9 hours sleep a night. The number reduces to 7 to 8 hours as we get older. Kids and teens on the other hand, need 8 to 13 hours of sleep. Younger children below the age of 3 even more.

That’s why the best mattress for kids is very important. It lets them sleep comfortably. And, just as importantly, is conducive to helping their bones grow properly.

In this article, we explain what makes for a good children’s mattress whether they’re school age kids or teens.

 

Our Top Choices: Kids Mattresses That Help Your Kids Sleep Better

 

Choosing the Best Mattress for Kids

Kids spend a lot of time sleeping. Depending on how old they are, they can sleep between 7 and 12 hours a day. In addition, they need to get good quality sleep to help them reach the growth potential.

Here’s a list of things to consider then buying kid’s mattresses.

1. Choose the Right Size

With children, a mattress that offers room for growth is important. Young kids and teens grown quickly. And, since you plan on using the bed for years to come, leaving extra room for their growth spurt saves you from replacing the mattress too soon.

For young kids, twin and twin XL mattresses are the most popular. Their very affordable and you get a lot of extra space for them to grow into.

For teens and bigger kids, twin and twin XL works as well. You may want to consider full sized mattresses too. These are wider which gives them more room as their bodies fill in.

Here’s a breakdown of standard mattress sizes that are suitable for kids.

  • Twin size: 75 inches long by 38 inches wide.
  • Twin XL size: 80 inches long by 38 inches wide.
  • Full size: 75 inches long by 54 inches wide.
  • Queen size: 80 inches long by 60 inches wide.

You’ll notice that twin XL works better for taller kids. Full size mattresses work well for bigger kids, like football players. We’ve included the queen size for the big and tall kids.

2. Right Support

Support is often mentioned alongside comfort when mattresses are concerned. The two are different though.

  • Support refers to the mattress’ ability to provide good spine alignment during sleep.
  • Comfort meanwhile, refers to feeling good when you lie on it. This often involves both the feel and firmness of the bed.

For kids, support is essential. A mattress with the right amount of support will help promote proper growth and physical development. The opposite can inhibit it.

When it comes to mattress support, there are 2 things to consider.

  • The type of mattress. Some mattresses are ideal for growing kids. These include innerspring and latex. These materials are both firm and don’t have a lot of give. This makes them ideal in promoting a neutral spine which helps with proper bone growth. This is less true of memory foam, which conforms to your body. It is however, hypoallergenic, ideal for pressure and pain relief and lasts longer then innerspring.
  • Your child’s sleeping position. Whether your child sleeps on their back, side or stomach will determine what firmness they should get. Different sleeping positions call for varying levels of firmness.

3. Comfort

Kids are notorious for poor sleeping habits. An uncomfortable mattress worsens this. It will keep them away from their beds.

On the other hand, a comfortable mattress helps relieve or prevent soreness and pain. Kids often experience these issues, but neglect to tell parents. This will help eliminate or prevent these issues.

In all, a comfortable mattress will help your child get the proper amount of sleep. More importantly, they’re able to get quality sleep. This results it proper growth as well as better grades and overall well-being.

4. Quality and Durability

Mattresses are an investment. A good mattress lasts anywhere between 8 to 12 years. For this reason, spending a bit more on a good quality product now saves you more in the long run.

With kids, durability is also an issue. Kids tend to play on their beds. This means at some point they’ll be jumping or stepping on the bed, especially if they’re under 15.

Other common issues include stains and spills. So, besides durability, something easy to clean is ideal.

A kid’s mattress should be able to withstand all the abuse your child will dish out over the next decade.

5. Match the Bed or Foundation

When selecting a mattress, keep in mind the type of bed your kids have. Platform beds and bunk beds are the most popular frames for kids. This makes them easy to match with most mattresses.

If you do have other types of beds, make sure that the mattress is well suited for that type of bed. Certain types of mattresses aren’t ideal to match with some beds. For example, some memory foam mattresses can be damaged when used with platform beds or bed with wide slats. Using these products on such beds will void your warranty.

6. Type of Mattress and Material

When it comes to types of mattresses there are many available options. Among the most popular include innerspring, regular foam and memory foam.

  • Innerspring mattresses are what most of us grew up on. They’re popular with parents because they’re very affordable. Plus, they’re generally durable. Innerspring mattresses aren’t the softest or most comfortable. This is a good thing for kids, whose bodies are growing. Instead of something that conforms to your body’s shape, kids benefit from a firmer, more stable surface. This keeps their spine neutral which helps it grow properly.
  • Regular foam is another popular option. It is inexpensive and comfortable. It isn’t as supportive as innerspring though.
  • Memory foam is the most comfortable among the three. It is also more expensive. This type of material hugs your body which makes it feel great to sleep on. It is hypoallergenic. Plus, it works very well for soothing aches and pains thanks to its ability to relieve pressure points.
  • Latex mattresses are another option. It isn’t the most popular nor practical because it is expensive. It generally costs more than memory foam. Latex is the best option if price wasn’t a concern. It offers the firmness that promoted proper skeletal development. Plus, you get the support along with feature that memory foam offers.

7. Chemicals, Sensitivities & Allergies

Kids can be sensitive to some types of materials. An example is synthetic mattresses. This is especially true with younger kids. Sensitivities and allergies can result in breathing issues as well as skin irritation.

In addition to sensitivities, there’s also the issues of toxic materials. Some mattresses use materials that can be toxic to kids.

Compared to adults, our kids’ immune systems are still developing. This means that their bodies may not be able to get rid of some toxins. The younger the kids the more susceptible they are because their bodies aren’t fully grown yet.

Since we spend long periods in bed each night, this can have a cumulative effect that affects your child’s long term physical and mental development.

  • Mattresses made from organic and natural materials are ideal for children with allergies and sensitivities. These materials prevent bacterial growth and get rid of dust mites naturally.
  • Another option is to choose CertiPUR-US certified mattresses. These are tested to be safer, free of many hazardous materials, and have low VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) emission for better indoor air quality.

8. Consider Your Child’s Specific Needs

In addition to comfort, support and firmness, it is important to see whether it suits your child’s particular needs. Some issues include bedwetting, pain and allergies.

In these situations, you may need to look at specific types of beds that are designed for their particular need.

9. Price

For adults you may purchase mattresses that are $500 or upwards of $1000. This is especially true if you’re looking for a specific type of mattress. Or, want something that designed for certain issues.

For kids, this approach isn’t always the most practical thing to do. Of course, kids who have specific needs will require certain types of mattresses that may cost more.

For most kids though, many affordable mattresses will do very well for kids. Depending on how you’re your child is, you’ll be able to find mattresses that cost anywhere from $30 for younger kids to under $150 for teens and bigger kids.

 

Best Mattress for Kids Reviews

Signature Sleep Contour 8 Inch Independently Encased Coil Mattress

This is our value for money choice as far as kids mattresses go. It is an 8 inch thick innerspring mattress.

Just to note, the mattress comes in 8 and 10 inch thickness. This lets you choose between the two. It is also available in twin, full, queen and king sizes.

The size and thickness options make them ideal for kids and teens. This lets you fit it into different bed frame sizes. Additionally, they’re great for anyone who wants to get an affordable mattress as well. The price does differ depending on the thickness and size.

This mattress uses 15 gauge steel coils. This makes them softer in feel and bounce compare to other products. We like that despite it being softer, it offers good support. This is something we look for when choosing mattresses for teens and kids.

The reason is they’re still growing. Many experts recommend innerspring mattresses for growing children because it keeps their bodies aligned. Other types of mattress, especially those that conform to your body don’t offer this.

By adjusting to your body’s shape, they give way. This makes it more comfortable to sleep on. But, it also allows your bones to curve.

Of the mattress’ 8 inches, 7 inches are from the encased spring coils. Atop that is a 1.6 inch thick high density foam for comfort and softness.

LinenSpa 8″ Memory Foam and Innerspring Hybrid Mattress

This one’s for kids who don’t like the firmer feel of innersprings. It is also ideal for those who have a hard time sleeping on harder surfaces or health issues.

We like this LinenSpa mattress for kids because it offers a mix between innerspring and memory foam. The spring still makes up majority of this hybrid mattress. But, it offers more comfort and pressure point relief thanks to the memory foam.

This addition makes it easier and comfortable for your child to get their night’s rest.

The mattress comes in all standard sizes. It also has a twin XL and California king version for the taller and bigger kids. The sizes also make this something adults can enjoy.

  • The base of the bed is a 6 inch high layer of steel spring coils. They provide the bounce and support of the mattress.
  • Above that is a 1.5 inch comfort layer that’s designed for a softer more conforming feel.
  • The top layer is a quilted memory foam.

Zinus Memory Foam 12 Inch Green Tea Mattress

If you want to give your kids a more comfortable mattress, this is what we recommend. It is an affordable bed made with memory foam.

The mattress is thick at 12 inches. This makes it suitable for kids, teens and adults as well. It works very well for bigger teens who may not be comfortable with the harder spring mattresses.

Its 12 inch thickness also makes it comfortable for heavier individuals. This works well if you’re raising a football player. Its thick layering makes it suitable for anyone up to 300 pounds.

We do like that this memory foam offers parents buying options. You can select between 6, 8, 10 and 12 inch thickness. The thinner the mattress, the cheaper the cost. This lets you choose something that balances budget with your child’s comfort.

In addition, you get to pick its size as well. It comes in 6 sizes ranging from twin all the way to California king.

The 12 inch version, which we like offers 3 different layers.

  • A 7 inch thick airflow support foam. This is made from high density foam that’s breathable. This helps keep the sleeper cool while offering more support.
  • A 2 inch comfort form layer
  • A 3 inch memory foam layer. This makes the top layer where your child sleeps on. The memory foam makes it more comfortable. And it helps relieve pressure as well.

Overall, this costs a bit more than spring mattresses. It is more comfortable though. Kids do well with either spring or memory foam.

Zinus Sleep Master 6 Inch Spring Mattress

This is our pick for the best cheap mattress for kids. It very affordable so you don’t spend a lot for your kids’ beddings.

The mattress is a 6 inch thick spring mattress. It comes in twin size. This makes it a good fit for many bed frames including platform and bunk beds. You can also use it on a box spring. Its size also makes it easier to move between beds in case you need to. This makes it something your kids can use in their dorm room as well.

The base of the mattress is a 5 inch high spring support system. This makes up majority of the bed’s thickness. It uses durable coil springs that can take a beating. That’s something kids will put it through. I know my kids jump on their beds when we’re not looking.

Above the spring coil layer are two thin foam layers. Each layer is half an inch thick softening the springs.

As you would guess, this mattress has a firm feel to it. That’s because of the thinner comfort layer. This also makes it ideal for kids who are still growing. It works well for teens as well.

There are a few exceptions though. We don’t believe it is the best for adults because you’ll weigh more. That means that you’ll feel through the thinner foam layers. If your teen is big as some teens are it may also not be the best of choices. In these cases, going more something better is a good choice.

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