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Tips To Find The Best Mattress For Kids & Top-7 Models For Children

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Best mattress for kids

Jan 19, 2021

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.