Many parents go to doctors because their kids have behavioral problems. Some of them don’t know that the reason is the lack of sleep that leads to different disorders and issues. Sleep plays a vital role in the correct development of children. Parents should make sure that the kid has a comfortable, silent place where he/she can rest. The role of the mattress is very important here. Choose the best mattress for kids and invest in the good night’s sleep of the kid. How do children’s mattresses differ from those adults use? What should you keep in mind when choosing a mattress for the kid? Keep on reading to learn how not to purchase a durable, high-quality child mattress.
Best Mattresses for Kids: 5 Top-Rated Products
It would seem that today there is nothing easier than buying a mattress for a kid. Technologies simply amaze the imagination. Each manufacturer offers some kind of innovation. But parents feel puzzled, not knowing what child mattresses to choose. A large number of various innovative materials and spring blocks have appeared, and even covers are not only aesthetic in nature but also have various useful qualities. Check the review of the best kids mattresses that are worth your attention.
Nectar Mattress
- Price Range: $499-$999
- Type: Foam
- Firmness: Medium firm (6)
- Warranty: Lifetime
Pros:
- There is a large selection of sizes, from twin to king size.
- The warranty lasts for a lifetime.
- The price is competitive.
- Provide comfort and relieve pressure.
- The presence of the hugging sensation.
- A long trial period (365 nights).
Cons:
- There is only one firmness option.
- There is only a foam mattress type.
Overall Description
Products of this brand consist of 3 layers of foam. Thanks to this, kids feel comfortable and have a sensation that someone hugs them. The price for a high-quality mattress is fair. It costs less than many other products with similar features. The mattress has a temperature regulation. You can use the mattress as the kid gets older.
What Makes It Good?
The foam used in the Nectar mattress has been tested on the presence of any harmful substances. It has a certification that proves that the foams are safe and hypoallergenic. Nectar is a good choice as you can try it for a year and enjoy a lifetime warranty.
Tuft and Needle
- Price Range: $450-$850
- Type: Foam
- Firmness: Medium firm (6)
- Warranty: It’s limited to 10 years.
Pros:
- Many different sizes are available.
- An affordable cost.
- It can be used at different ages.
- The firmness meets the requirements of the growing kid’s body.
- Relieve pressure.
Cons:
- The warranty is limited.
Overall Description
Children mattresses of this brand are certified and designed in accordance with the requirements for the kid’s development. The medium type of firmness is a good choice for growing children. It has 2 layers of foam that provide maximum comfort to the body during the night’s sleep.
You can try the mattress within 100 nights. It is made from durable materials. Even if there are any defects, you have the right to turn to the producer within 10 years and ask to replace the product.
What Makes It Good?
Among the obvious advantages are responsiveness and contouring. Mattresses have been tested and got many certificates. This means that you have nothing to worry about. The materials are free from any harmful emissions or substances.
Saatva Youth
- Price Range: $699-$899
- Type: Innerspring
- Firmness: medium, firm
- Warranty: limited to 12 years
Pros:
- 3 different sizes are available.
- Temperature control.
- Fits kids who change several positions during the night.
- Has a special construction that meets all the health requirements of the growing kid’s body.
- 2 levels of firmness.
- A long trial period.
Cons:
- The warranty isn’t a lifetime.
- The price is a bit higher than for the models with similar features.
Overall Description
Saatva provides comfort to the kid during the night thanks to the support it provides to the back. It’s a good choice for hot sleepers as it has a system of cooling. You shouldn’t worry that the kid will fall off the bed. It is made of high-quality, durable materials.
What Makes It Good?
These mattresses have been designed based on the needs of the growing kid. The temperature control makes it possible to enjoy a healthy sleep during the night. It’s supportive and comfortable for kids of different ages.
Vaya
- Price Range: $650-$1000
- Type: Foam
- Firmness: Medium
- Warranty: 10 years
Pros:
- 6 different sizes are available.
- A long trial period (100 nights).
- Provide a hugging sensation.
- A breathable design.
- Fits all age groups.
Cons:
- There is a limited warranty.
- The price isn’t the cheapest one.
- Mattresses can be used by children whose weight doesn’t exceed 130 pounds.
Overall Description
If a kid is a side and back sleeper, then this mattress is a good choice for him/her. The mattress has been tested and certified. It has a simple and convenient construction supporting the back. The material used in the construction of the mattress is breathable and doesn’t contain any harmful substances. The firmness (medium) helps to decrease the motion transfer.
What Makes It Good?
The mattress has a certificate that proves that the polyfoam it is made of is of the best quality. The producer offers a long trial period and a possibility to return the mattress and get money back.
Nest Big
- Price Range: $349-$549
- Type: Foam
- Firmness: Firm
- Warranty: Lifetime
Pros:
- 3 sizes are available.
- A trial period (100 nights).
- A hugging sensation.
- Excellent support.
- The producer’s warranty lasts for a lifetime.
- An affordable cost.
Cons:
- Mattresses fit kids whose weight is lower than 100 pounds.
Overall Description
The company is one of the veterans in the market. They design products in accordance with all the needs of the kid’s body. The models have an all-foam construction and relieve pressure. The materials are free from harmful substances. These mattresses provide comfort thanks to the hugging sensation and softness.
What Makes It Good?
The company sells products with a lifetime warranty and offers a money refund within 30 days. The price for a good quality mattress for a kid is very budget-friendly. The mattress has a support core for the stabilization of the surface.
How to Choose the Best Kids Mattress that Will Meet Age Requirements?
An adult needs to sleep about 8 hours a day for good health. For children, this value increases. On average, a full sleep of school-age children should be about 10 hours for them to feel rested. Therefore, you need to correctly and seriously approach the choice of a mattress so that the spine is in the anatomically correct position. If the child sleeps on an uncomfortable mattress, the muscles will not be able to relax, which will cause backache. Consequently, headaches and fatigue can occur, which is completely unacceptable. Look at the requirements for a mattress for children of different age groups:
- Children under the age of 3 should sleep on a hard mattress without springs, made from natural fillers;
- Children from 3 to 7 years old should sleep on a medium-firm mattress. This is due to the fact that it is at this age that children begin to grow actively. Their musculoskeletal system begins to form. The mattress can be either spring or without spring. Choose a full-size mattress for toddler;
- School-age children should rest on an orthopedic mattress that can adapt to a rapidly growing body.
Consider these simple guidelines, and you can be sure that your child feels well after a good night’s sleep. His/her musculoskeletal system is in the anatomically correct position. Next, let’s talk about the types of mattresses for children. Mattress dimensions should be taken into account when choosing the mattress. Children grow up quickly, so you need to select the optimal size of the best mattress for a child. The best option would be to take a mattress that is at least 10-15 cm larger than the child’s height. Thanks to this, your child will be able to sleep comfortably and feel vigorous and rested.
How to Choose a Mattress for a Child: Types of Mattresses
All parents want their child to have the very best. But to make the right choice of mattress for kids, you need to understand what types of mattresses exist and what differences they have.
Check the main types of the best mattresses for kids:
Spring Mattresses
Such models are not suitable for children under the age of 3. Spring block mattresses are affordable and safe for a child. The disadvantage of such products is that they can sag, which will negatively affect the unformed spine of the child. If we talk about mattresses with an independent spring block, then they will not sag even after long service life. They will delight their owner with orthopedic properties, providing the spine with an anatomically correct position during sleep;
Springless Mattresses
It is not easy to choose such a mattress since there are a large number of its varieties that have different filling materials and properties.
- Latex coconut fabric. Such mattresses are considered environmentally friendly, have maximum rigidity, and long service life. The presented models will be an ideal solution for kids up to the age of 3;
- PPU or polyurethane foam. It is this filler that is most famous among consumers, as it has an affordable price. Such mattresses can last a long time, and over time they don’t lose their properties. It is optimal to take this option for a child;
- Natural or artificial latex. Such materials are widely used for high-end mattresses. These materials are non-allergenic and considered environmentally friendly. They are soft, elastic, and are recommended for the correct development of the child’s spine. The big advantage of such mattresses is the possibility of their thermoregulation. Moreover, such models will delight you with long service life. Therefore, it’s possible to conclude that mattresses with such fillers will be an excellent solution for equipping a child’s sleeping place;
- Memory foam. A feature of the presented model is that it repeats the anatomy of the child’s body. Such mattresses are not recommended for use in summer, as they have poor thermoregulation, which will be uncomfortable for the child;
Combined Mattresses
Given that any filler can have both advantages and disadvantages, many manufacturers are trying to combine them. It is worth noting that the combined models of mattresses have one soft and one hard side. Such an option will be an ideal solution for arranging a sleeping place for a child, from infancy to adulthood. It is safe to say that it is these mattresses that are in the greatest demand among consumers who are looking for the perfect mattress for their child of any age. It can be a youth bed mattress as well.
Which Mattress Firmness is Best for Children?
The basic rule is that the firmness of a children’s mattress depends on the age and weight of the child. The opinions of pediatricians on different issues sometimes differ, but on one thing, they are the same – a child from birth to graduation from school shouldn’t sleep on soft surfaces, i.e., children’s mattresses should be hard or medium-hard.
From birth to 1 year old, the child must definitely fall asleep on a hard surface. The kid has not yet matured, his/her bones are soft and pliable, and muscles are only at the very beginning of formation. A newborn baby has neither a muscle corset nor a correct S-shaped curvature of the spine, and up to a year, the baby sleeps most of the time. If you buy the toughest mattress for a newborn, then you will not harm the baby at all, but on the contrary, allow the spine to form correctly, cut off the prerequisites for the development of childhood scoliosis. But do not think that a hard mattress is equated to an oak surface, not at all. Sufficient firmness means that it will not sag or buckle under the child’s body.
By the age of 3, the S-shaped curvature of the spine is already fully formed. However, the cervical and lumbar regions are still developing. When the child is older than 3, he/she doesn’t need a very hard sleeping place. Experts don’t recommend kids to sleep on a too soft bed. A hard surface of children mattresses assumes that all parts of the body are at the same level. When the kid gets older, this position can lead to an unnatural bending of the spine up. That’s why you should choose the best mattress for 3 year old kid.
The soft berth flexes strongly under the weight of the body and creates a hammock effect, leading to the back arching down during sleep. Medium-hard is the best mattress for children from 3 years old. On such a bed, the horizontal position of the spine is maintained. However, the shoulders and hips can sink a little deeper into the mattress without interfering with the correct development of the back.
Conclusion
When choosing the best kid mattress, you need to take into account a large number of nuances to choose exactly what you need. Before buying this product, be sure to check the certificates for the mattress, which will confirm its safety and environmental friendliness. If a child has problems with the musculoskeletal system, it is better to consult with a specialist regarding the rigidity of the product to choose so that the child is comfortable. Do not skimp on the mattress because the high cost of the product fully justifies its quality.
Now, you know all the advantages and disadvantages of each type of mattress for a child, and you can make the right choice easily. Consider the child’s age, materials, and manufacturer. Only a reliable manufacturer can guarantee that the product is made of the best quality materials.
