Best mattress for kids

Tips To Find The Best Mattress For Kids & Top-7 Models For Children
The best mattress for kids should meet specific criteria. It should not be too high — it is not safe. It should be supportive and breathable enough. Responsiveness is also important for active sleepers and cooling features are always appreciated. Hence, finding an ideal mattress for a child is not a simple task. The good news is we did all the work for you.
Check out the top-7 mattresses for children we picked for you. Each of them is great in its own way, so consider your own priorities and make a choice!
Best mattress for kids: Koala’s top-7 mattresses for children
Name | Price For Twin Size | Price For Twin XL Size | Price For Full Size | Koala’s Award |
---|---|---|---|---|
Nolah Original | $499 | $599 | $699 | The best pressure-relieving mattress |
Zinus Cooling Gel Mattress | $198 | - | $254 | The most affordable mattress |
Puffy Mattress | $495 | $525 | $695 | The easiest to clean, hypoallergenic mattress |
Tuft & Needle Original Mattress | $350 | $395 | $495 | The most responsive mattress for active kids |
Leesa Original Mattress | $624 | $674 | $799 | The best cooling foam mattress |
Brooklyn Bedding Bowery | $399 | $439 | $519 | The most versatile mattress |
Spindle Natural Latex Mattress | $1,199 | $1,199 | $1,599 | The best luxurious all-natural mattress |
* Note that these are the current prices with and without discounts. We update them regularly, but you can click the link to check if the price has changed.
Nolah overview: the best pressure-relieving mattress

Mattress type: foam mattress
Firmness: medium-firm
Thickness: 10 inches
Trial and Warranty: 120-night trial, lifetime warranty
This unique mattress is made of proprietary AirFoam — the material that was initially designed as a better version of memory foam. The thing is it relieves pressure perfectly which makes this mattress absolutely comfortable for kids, as well as for adults. By the way, this material is also more breathable, so if your child is a hot sleeper, consider this criterion, too. It is not too high, and that is perfect — 10 inches is a great thickness for a kid’s mattress. Note that there is a 120-night trial, which means that you will have enough time to make sure that this mattress works for your child.
Generally speaking, it is a perfect option for kids. Motion isolation is not one of Nolah’s benefits, but you don’t really need it when you sleep alone. It is perfect for lightweight sleepers. it is super responsive and pressure-relieving, and it works amazing for back, side, and especially active combo sleepers.
Pros
- A really comfortable mattress
- Great cooling and pressure relief
- More breathable than memory foam mattresses
- Not too high, safe for kids
- Can be used on any type of bed frame
- Super durable for the price
Cons
- May be too soft for stomach sleepers
Other similar mattresses for your choice
Name | Price For Twin Size | Price For Twin XL Size | Price For Full Size |
---|---|---|---|
Layla Memory Foam Mattress | $499 | $599 | $799 |
Puffy Mattress | $495 | $525 | $695 |
Zinus overview: the most affordable mattress

Mattress type: memory foam mattress
Firmness: depends on the thickness that you choose
Thickness: 8, 10, 12, or 14 inches
Trial and Warranty: 100-night trial
There are 4 versions of the mattress to choose from. We, however, recommend 8-inch or 10-inch Zinus mattresses — not too high beds are much safer for kids. Thinner versions will be a bit firmer, too, so if your child is a back or a stomach sleeper, this might be an ideal option. There are air channels and gel into almost all the Zinus mattresses, so they are pretty cooling as well, and this model is not an exception.
This Zinus mattress is also not too bouncy, which is good because kids usually jump on their beds (which is not safe), and the mattress wears out faster. By the way, if you are looking for a mattress and a bed frame, you can buy it from Zinus for a more than reasonable price, too.
Pros
- Super affordable mattress
- 4 thickness and therefore firmness options
- Overall comfort is great
- Relieves any sort of pressure
Cons
- Not supportive enough for heavier kids
- Not the best edge support
- Not the most durable mattress
Other similar mattresses for your choice
Name | Price For Twin Size | Price For Twin XL Size | Price For Full Size |
---|---|---|---|
Brooklyn Bowery mattress | $399.20 | $439 | $519 |
Linenspa Hybrid Mattress | $239 | $460 | - |
Puffy overview: the easiest to clean, hypoallergenic mattress

Mattress type: all-foam
Firmness: firm (7 out of 10)
Thickness: 10 inches
Trial and Warranty: 101-night trial, lifetime warranty
A Puffy mattress gets the “easiest to clean” award from us. The thing is it comes with a stain-resistant, machine-washable cover, and you’d better not take it off. More importantly, it provides great pressure relief, especially for lightweight and medium-weight side and back sleepers, and has that great balanced and a bit bouncy foam feel. This mattress is also great for children who rotate between different sleeping positions. If your kid is a combo sleeper, they will not feel stuck in their bed.
Pros
- Neutral accommodating feel
- Cooling and breathable
- Comes with a hypoallergenic, stain-resistant cover
- Can be placed on any surface
- Works for all sleeper types
Cons
- Not the best edge support
- Slight chemical odor after unpacking
Other similar mattresses for your choice
Name | Price For Twin Size | Price For Twin XL Size | Price For Full Size |
---|---|---|---|
The Purple mattress | $599 | $799 | $999 |
Casper Original mattress | $536 | $626 | $896 |
Tuft & Needle overview: the most responsive mattress for active kids

Mattress type: all-foam
Firmness: medium-firm
Thickness: 10 inches
Trial and Warranty: 100-night trial, 10-year warranty
What makes a T&N mattress stand out? The thing is it features the so-called Adaptive Foam that is much more responsive than classic memory foam and provides great pressure relief. Moreover, the top layer is also graphite-infused which helps with cooling. Generally speaking, this is a classic foam mattress with that classic, neutral, soft foam feel most customers are usually looking for. It is very responsive, so if your child is a very active sleeper who tosses and turns all the time, they will not feel stuck in their bed. In general, this is one of the most versatile and at the same time budget-friendly options.
Pros
- Great balance of support and comfort
- Perfect height for children
- Works perfectly for side and back sleepers
- Is great for combo sleepers
- Doesn’t trap too much heat
Cons
- Not really soft and not really firm
- Not the best edge support
- Not the most durable mattress on the market
Other similar mattresses for your choice
Name | Price For Twin Size | Price For Twin XL Size | Price For Full Size |
---|---|---|---|
Brooklyn Bowery mattress | $399.20 | $439 | $519 |
Layla Memory Foam Mattress | $499 | $599 | $799 |
Leesa overview: the best cooling foam mattress

Mattress type: all-foam
Firmness: medium-firm
Thickness: 10 inches
Trial and Warranty: 100-night trial, 10-year warranty
This is a great all-foam mattress with 3 layers of memory foam. The top layer is a comfortable, breathable, and responsive foam, the middle layer is standard foam, and the bottom layer is good old polyfoam base. Leesa Original mattress will not make a kid sleep hot or feel stuck, so if your child is a hot combo sleeper, this is definitely one of the best memory foam mattress for kids. It is also good when it comes to relieving pressure, but you should note that this mattress is not exactly soft or firm, so if your kid’s pediatrician says that there is a need for a firmer mattress to prevent any health issues, you may have to choose another mattress.
Pros
- Pretty bouncy and responsive
- Decent contouring
- Good edge support
- Perfect for side, back, and combo sleepers
- Quite durable due to the high-quality foam
- Comes with a soft and breathable cover
Cons
- Not perfect for stomach sleepers
- Not really soft and not really firm
Other similar mattresses for your choice
Name | Price For Twin Size | Price For Twin XL Size | Price For Full Size |
---|---|---|---|
Casper Original Mattress | $536 | $626 | $896 |
Purple mattress | $599 | $799 | $999 |
Brooklyn Bedding Bowery overview: the most versatile mattress

Mattress type: all-foam
Firmness: medium-firm
Thickness: 10 inches
Trial and Warranty: 120-night trial, 10-year warranty
There are plenty of mattress models offered by Brooklyn Bedding, and this one is the simplest one. This, however, doesn’t mean that this is the worst one. In fact, this is one of the most versatile options for kids and for adults on the market. It is good at everything: it feels nice and soft, provides enough support and pressure relief, and is pretty responsive.
By the way, you can purchase this mattress just from the manufacturer — Brooklyn Bedding doesn’t cooperate with middlemen and provides its customers with an opportunity to save a lot of money by buying a factory-direct product. This makes this mattress the best value pick.
Pros
- Great support and pressure relief
- Nice soft foam feel
- Doesn’t get hot
- Responsive enough
- Great for all types of sleepers
Cons
- Doesn’t work well enough for heavier sleepers
Other similar mattresses for your choice
Name | Price For Twin Size | Price For Twin XL Size | Price For Full Size |
---|---|---|---|
Linenspa Hybrid Mattress | $239 | - | $460 |
The Allswell | $265 | $295 | $345 |
Spindle overview: the best all-natural mattress

Mattress type: latex
Firmness: customizable
Trial and Warranty: 365-night trial, 10-year warranty
So, this is the best organic mattress for kids on our list. It is made of Dunlop latex — one of the best and therefore the most expensive natural materials on the market. Still, a lot of people say that it is worth it, and not only because of the absence of chemicals. First, it works for hot sleepers because it doesn’t trap much heat. Second, it supports a sleeper’s body and relieves the pressure perfectly. But the best thing about this mattress is that you can rearrange the layers of the mattress to make it feel softer or firmer, so you may experiment and find out what exact level of firmness your child needs. It can be proudly presented as the best full size mattress for kids.
Pros
- All-natural mattress
- Super responsive, supportive option
- Customizable firmness
- Doesn’t trap much heat
- Super breathable
- Very durable
Cons
- High price
- May be a bit too bouncy for a kid
Other similar mattresses for your choice
Name | Price For Twin Size | Price For Twin XL Size | Price For Full Size |
---|---|---|---|
Birch Natural mattress | $1,049 | $1,099 | $1,299 |
Avocado Green mattress | $899$ | $999 | $1,199 |
Do kids need special mattresses?
It's complicated. On the one hand, they don’t need special mattresses — you should focus on the standard characteristics of a product like the level of support, firmness, responsiveness and take into account the sleeping position, weight, and height of a sleeper. On the other hand, there are a few special criteria to consider when choosing a mattress for a kid, too.
If you are going to choose a mattress for a child, check out the list below. We included standard as well as special criteria to consider, so it can be used as a full checklist by a parent.
- Height. The mattress for a kid shouldn’t be too high. 8-10” thick mattresses are perfect.
- Durability. You need something your kid can grow into.
- Size. Buy a bigger mattress — as you know, children grow up really fast. Still, the best twin mattress for kids is among our choice.
- Cover. Is it strain-resistant and waterproof? Is it washable? This is important, too.
- Materials. Latex organic mattresses are pricey, and you can actually find a cheaper foam mattress or hybrid, but make sure that they are made of quality materials.
- Firmness. Consider the sleeping position and decide if you need a softer (side sleepers) or a firmer (back, stomach sleepers) mattress.
- Bounciness. A mattress should be responsive enough to allow a kid to move around without stucking in the bed, but not too bouncy.
- Breathability. Air mattress for kids is a good solution, if one of them is a hot sleeper as they need some extra cooling.
What features are important when choosing the best mattress for a baby?
- Size — it should fit in the crib properly.
- Firmness — don’t choose a too soft mattress, it is not safe. A baby should not sink into it too deep.
- Type — choose a foam or an innerspring mattress (the latter is heavier.)
- Breathability — make sure that there are ventilation pockets in the mattress.
What features are important when choosing the best mattress for a toddler? Well, basically, you should consider all those things that we listed above as the criteria for choosing a mattress for a child. They are the same. And as you could have noticed, they are not very different from the criteria one should consider when choosing a mattress for an adult.
F.A.Q
Should I buy a breathable mattress for a kid?
Yes, you should, especially if your child is a hot sleeper. Make sure that materials are breathable and/or that there are air channels or additives like cooling gel.
What mattress firmness to choose for a child?
It depends. We recommend seeing a pediatrician who will consider all the factors. Still, you can consider your child’s sleeping position. Choose a firmer mattress for back and stomach sleepers and softer mattresses for side sleepers. Make sure that the mattress is responsive enough if your kiddo is a combo sleeper.
What’s the best mattress for kids?
Depends on your priorities. Still, the best mattress is supposed to be supportive, comfortable, responsive, cooling, and breathable. Firmness depends on sleeping position. If you are looking for a specific model, choose one of the 7 best mattresses in our article.
Should I choose a memory foam mattress for kids?
There are plenty of quality all-foam mattresses for children on the market, and they are safe, supportive, and comfy enough. If you want to narrow the search, feel free to choose any option in this article.
Should I choose the best organic mattress for kids?
Consider that organic latex mattresses are much more expensive. If you can afford a luxurious, all-natural mattress, why not? We describe the great latex Spindle mattress in our article. But you can also find cheaper options with natural hypoallergenic covers made of hypoallergenic materials.
Conclusion
What are your priorities? Versatility, breathability or natural materials? Consider this and your child’s sleeping habits and choose a mattress. We tried to narrow the search for you, so feel free to pick any of 7 great options we described in this article.