Best Mattress for Kids

Kids’ mattress buying guide

It’s a truth universally acknowledged that sleep is good for us. Studies have shown that children need more sleep than adults, with sleep affecting their development and the quality of their days. Children between the ages of 3 and 5 need between 10 and 13 hours’ sleep per night. Children between the ages of 6 and 12 need between 9 and 12 hours of sleep per night. The bonus is that, if they sleep better, you sleep better, which is good for everyone.

Very often, children get hand-me-downs or the cheapest budget beds on the market out of fear they will outgrow their mattresses quickly. This can lead to poor sleep quality, developmental hindrances, and fast wear-and-tear of materials. Done properly, the mattress buying you do early on for your children can have benefits that last for up to a decade and even beyond.

Here are a few helpful pointers as you shop for the best mattress for your children.

The benefits of investing in a high-quality mattress for kids

What does a good night’s sleep mean for children? The value of sleep is frequently underestimated. In fact, sleep will have an impact on the major area of your child’s life, which makes picking the right mattress especially important. A few benefits include:

• Learning, attention, memory, and overall school performance
• Mood and behavior
• Emotional balance
• Mental health
• Physical health
• General wellbeing

What size mattress is best for kids?

The hazard with buying a child’s mattress is that it will be outgrown over a couple of years. If your kid’s first big bed is of the right quality and size, you reduce the likelihood of having to replace beds every few years. Now, this doesn’t mean going out and buying a queen-sized mattress. Most parents will buy a twin, twin XL, or full-sized mattress without any worry about growing pains. Think of what bedtime looks like and buy around that. Are there railings on your child’s bed which need to be catered for? Do you end up sleeping in your child’s bed for some or most of the night? These kinds of things will all have a bearing on what size to pick.

• The dimensions of a twin are 38” x 75”
• The dimensions of a twin XL are 38” x 80”
• The dimensions of a full are 53” x 75”

The height of your child’s mattress is also going to matter. High-profile beds can be too high for smaller children to climb in and out with confidence. Sticking to 10 or 11-inch heights is best if you are shopping for real youngsters.

How to buy the best mattress for kids

Here are a few things to think about while you shop which will help you to make your final decision.

Specific Needs

The first question to ask yourself is whether your child has any special needs around sleep. If your child struggles with allergies or health concerns, you’re going to steer away from VOCs and your pediatrician may even recommend a bed made from latex or other natural materials to waylay any health concerns. If your child gets rashes or has skin complaints, things like organic cotton covers can make a difference.

Age will also play a role in what your children need. For instance, infants have quite specific sleep requirements around safety. Memory foam is also not recommended for toddlers, while pretty much everything goes beyond the age of four or five.

Safety

You will notice that many of the foams currently used in mattresses are CertiPUR-US certified. This means they do not contain harmful toxins and chemicals. When buying a bed-in-a-box mattress, many parents are perturbed by a lingering chemical smell called off-gassing. This certification gives peace of mind around the health implications of this. That said, eco-buying is becoming more and more prevalent. Children spend so much time in their beds and natural materials have the added assurance of wellness. Keep an eye out for other certifications and take the time to find out what they mean for the properties of the materials used.

Sleep preference

Young children are still working out their sleep preferences. Few will definitively be side, back, or stomach sleepers. This means you should go for something with the most accommodating feel possible while they work out what they prefer. Get them involved in the buying process to find out what they like.

Support

Finding a mattress which offers good support is fundamental. This is important for growth and general health. Generally, firmer mattresses offer better support and spinal alignment.

Mattress Type

Mattress type will be up to you. There are a range of foam, hybrid, and natural mattresses on the market which are suitable for children. Each will have certain features around durability, support, and comfort.

Comfort and Durability

A foremost consideration is comfort but, if you are shopping for a long-term bed for your child, you should look for the combination of comfort and durability. High-quality materials should be at the top of your durability checklist. These days, you can buy mattresses which provide great value for reasonable prices. This means investing in a high-quality first mattress should serve you well throughout the growing years.