If your child is big enough to sleep separately on a different bed or in a different room, it is important that you pick the right mattress as a parent. Since the sleep posture is equally important as the sitting or standing position, sleeping right impacts a child’s health in the growth years. Besides this, a comfortable sleep ensures that your child has the right mood and routine throughout the day because of the proper functioning of the entire body.
It is important to understand that a child’s mattress support requirements are different from those of an adult. After all, they are still growing, and their bodies are developing. So, picking the right mattress for a child is more important than buying a mattress for an adult.
This is a wholesome mattress guide for children of different age groups. So, based on your child’s weight, height, sleeping habits and age, you can pick the right mattress for their bed and ensure that they sleep comfortably and wake up fresh every morning.
Why Choosing the Right Mattress for Kids Is Important
There are multiple factors that affect a child’s sleep duration and quality. And these factors largely revolve around the mattress you pick. Here are some of the key factors that affect a child’s sleep:
- Spinal support for growing bodies, which is very much needed when the kids are in a growth spurt
- Pressure relief and balanced firmness so that your child does not sink into the bed instantly whenever they lie down to sleep
- Breathability and temperature control, to avoid excessive sweating when your child’s body needs to relax
- Durability for active everyday use
- Hygiene and hypoallergenic materials are used to ensure that the skin is safe
What to Look for in a Mattress for Your Child’s Bedroom
Mattress Firmness
It is important to understand that everyone prefers different mattress firmness levels when it comes to sleeping. And these preferences usually change with the age group. Usually, a medium-firm mattress is preferred during growth years because it ensures proper spine alignment, which ultimately leads to proper growth in a child. Softer mattresses are usually preferred by older children who love the feeling of sinking into the bed after playing a sport or having a tiring day at school. An extremely firm mattress is usually avoided for kids because it might be uncomfortable for a child to relax.
Here are some good medium-firm recommendations for your child’s bed:
Mattress Materials That Work Well for Kids
Usually, while picking kids' mattresses, it is advisable to go for memory foam or hybrid mattresses for comfort. These mattresses are designed to adjust well with the growing needs of the body and ensure that your child can sleep comfortably throughout the night, irrespective of being a back sleeper, side sleeper or adventurous sleeper. Spring and coir mattresses are also preferred in some cases when the child prefers the mattress to be on a firmer side rather than a softer one.
As a parent, you must ensure that the mattress you are picking has a breathable surface and does not increase body temperature while sleeping. This prevents excessive sweating and ensures that the child’s body relaxes completely every night. If you have two children who will be using the same bed, do not forget to go for a mattress that has been designed with motion isolation technology. So, one child waking up or turning around will not disturb the other sleeper. Besides this, kids tend to jump a lot on the beds just for fun. So, do not forget to keep the durability aspect in mind while choosing a mattress for your growing kid.
Here are some reversible mattress options that you can consider for your kids:
Mattresses with motion isolation:
Choosing the Right Mattress Size
Age Group
| Recommended Mattress Size
|
Toddlers
| Toddler/Twin
|
Young kids
| Twin
|
Pre-teens
| Twin XL/Full
|
Teenagers
| Full/Queen
|
It is important to ensure that while choosing a mattress for your kids, there should always be room to grow. After all, you will not want to buy a mattress from which your kids outgrow in a year or two.
Best memory foam mattresses that you can consider for your child:
Breathability and Cooling Comfort
For a comfortable sleep, it is important that the mattress has a proper airflow mechanism. This prevents excessive sweating and ensures that the sleep is not disturbed, irrespective of the weather. This problem can be solved by breathable mattress covers, gel-infused foam or mattress toppers and a premium mattress.
Here are some of the best gel-infused mattresses that you can consider for your child:
Mattress Recommendations Based on Different Needs
Best Mattress for Toddlers
It is advisable that you go for waterproof mattresses or mattresses with easy-to-clean covers. These mattresses need not be too thick, but they must be firm yet comfortable to support a child’s natural sleeping position.
Here are some of the best options to consider:
Best Mattress for School-Going Kids
Usually, single-bed mattresses are said to be ideal for special kids' beds because of the size and the space they need while sleeping. Just ensure that the mattress is breathable and is durable enough to be used by an active kid.
Here are some of the best options in single-bed mattresses that you may consider:
Best Mattress for Teenagers
If you have a teenager at home, you should ensure that the mattress is pressure-relieving. Teenagers usually leave an active lifestyle and are juggling between their studies, hobbies, sports and more. And, it is important that their mattress relaxes their bodies completely while they are resting. Ensure that there is enough space on the mattress for your child to spread out and grow taller without the feet hanging outside.
Here are some of the queen-sized mattresses that you can consider:
Features Parents Should Consider While Buying A Mattress
- Waterproof protection
Kids are less responsible and more likely to be involved in their own world. This might lead to accidental spills on the mattress. Make sure that the mattress or the mattress topper you are picking is waterproof
- Washable covers
A lot of health issues depend on hygiene. And your child will be spending 6-8 hours every day on the mattress. So, make sure that your mattress cover can be washed easily to ensure that you never compromise with the hygiene levels and your child’s health
- Durability
While the weight is not usually a concern when you are buying mattresses for kids, it is still important to ensure that the mattress is durable. Go for the option which comes with a warranty of at least 6 years or a mattress that is designed with anti-sag technology. So, your child will be able to use the mattress for years to come
- Trial periods
Many mattresses come with a trial period offer, which might be seen in offline and online stores. So, if you are unsure about what you should get for your child, you can go for a mattress with a trial offer
Common Mattress Buying Mistakes To Avoid
- Choosing overly soft mattresses
- Ignoring mattress height for bunk beds
- Thinking that the most expensive mattress is the best mattress
- Skipping mattress protectors
- Not considering the future growth of your child
As a parent, it is your responsibility to ensure that your child sleeps well. Understand that it is not just about the comfort, but the growth and health of your child depend on their sleeping habits. With our popular mattress recommendations listed above, you can easily pick the right mattress for your child when you are shopping online.