The 9 Best Kids Mattresses, Tested By Kids And Parents
At baseline, kids mattresses are designed to provide a comfortable sleep space for little ones at a size that makes sense for growing bodies. But the best kids mattresses come with features to help them survive kid-life, including waterproofing to protect against inevitable accidents and a flippable design with age-appropriate support. Top-tier kids mattresses also take a pass on using concerning materials like fiberglass. After consulting experts and conducting months of testing the top beds by our editors’ and contributors’ children, we believe the best mattress for kids is the Avocado Eco Organic Kids Mattress given its natural materials and supportive feel for kids up to age 12.
Some of the best kids mattresses grow with children like the Helix Kids bed that offers an … [+]
The kids mattress space has become crowded over the past few years, giving parents plenty of options to choose from. That can also make it difficult to know which of these mattresses are safe, supportive and worth your money. “The top concerns for parents for kids mattresses are the materials used for fireproofing and waterproofing,” says Tasha Stoiber, Ph.D., and a senior scientist with the Environmental Working Group (EWG). “It’s best to check with the manufacturer to find out what is used for fireproofing in the mattress since there is a possibility it may contain fiberglass.” Stoiber’s recommendation: “Look for natural materials like wool, cotton and steel springs, which will not off-gas harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs).”
We researched and tested the most popular mattresses on the market, along with exciting new launches, to track down the best sleep surfaces for children. These are the best kids mattresses available now, based on our findings. (All prices and specifications below are based on a twin size of the child’s mattress.)
Avocado’s Eco Organic Kids Mattress is one of the cleanest kid bed options you’ll find. It is made with pocketed, recycled steel coils, organic wool and cotton and GOLS-certified organic latex for support. The mattress has a soft-to-the-touch feel on top with firm support and good structure, making it a great fit for most sleepers. The low-profile mattress works for bunks and trundles, as well as younger kids like toddlers, and smaller spaces.
The mattress also has GOTS-certified organic cotton and wool to help kids stay cool while they sleep. It’s free of chemical flame retardants, fiberglass and polyurethane foams and has been awarded the Made Safe seal for safety, which marks it as free of a slew of toxic ingredients. It’s also Greenguard Gold certified and certified formaldehyde-free by UL Environment.
What our editors say: “I feel great about my son sleeping on this ultra clean mattress, because he has quite a few allergies and asthma,” says Rose Gordon Sala, deputy editor at Forbes Vetted. “He also sleeps hot, so I was eager to try a more breathable hybrid bed and latex—and I haven’t had any complaints from him with this Avocado mattress. The latex and layers of support provide my back-sleeping third grader with gentle pressure relief, too. He loves it.”
It can be a challenge to find a comfortable mattress for kids who toss and turn at night—and many of them do. If your kid does this, choose a mattress with motion isolation, so they don’t feel a wave of movement every time they shift around. The Helix kids mattress has several layers to minimize motion, including a supportive polyfoam layer and 6 inches of wrapped coils. Its reinforced edges help prevent kids from rolling off the bed. We also love that this mattress is flippable, with clearly labeled sides (3- to 7-year-olds and 8- to 12-year-olds).
While the cover has a water-repellent finish, Miriam Diamond, Ph.D., an environmental chemist and a professor at the University of Toronto, appreciates that it lacks fluorine (a forever chemical). It’s also free of fiberglass and carries two certifications: the more common CertiPur-US but also the Greenguard Gold Certified label, reducing emissions concerns. It’s important to note that this mattress does have an antimicrobial finish, and experts generally recommend against these given that it’s hard to know what they’re made of. Helix says the finish is bound to the fabric surface and won’t migrate. Let it air out upon arrival and change the sheets frequently if you’re concerned.
What our editors say: Karen Tietjen, the Forbes Vetted senior updates editor, found her toddler’s transition from the crib mattress to the Helix Kids bed easy and her child continued sleeping soundly. “I love that this bed flips to support him as he grows, so we won’t have to worry about upgrading for many more years,” she adds.
The Leesa Kids mattress has three layers of foam for impressive support and a comfortable, cushiony bed. At about $500 (or less on sale), it’s not the cheapest memory foam mattress you’ll find, but it is a good value as it comes without fiberglass, phthalate-filled foam and other junk that can make mattresses cheaper to produce. It carries Greenguard Gold and CertiPUR-US certifications, meaning its materials are low VOC. Diamond does suggest letting it air out before using it.
The top layer is crafted from responsive memory foam for a cool and semi-plush feel; the middle layer is made of aerated foam for a little give and buoyancy; and the bottom layer adds support and stability. The mattresses are made to order, so it may take a little longer than some other brands to arrive on your doorstep. Still, they’re typically ready to ship in three to five business days. This particular 7.5-inch Leesa mattress is designed to fit most bunk bed setups, but the brand also makes a loftier 10-inch Youth mattress for kids ages 8 and up if you’re shopping for a tween or teen—and a shorter 5-inch Trundle mattress.
What our writers say: This mattress is on heavy rotation with the grandkids at the grandparents’ house. We replaced a worn out bed for the Leesa trundle mattress for when the grandkids stay overnight, and everyone, including a 4-year-old and my teenage nephew, was happy with the upgrade. It’s not springy, so we don’t have to stress about late-night bouncy hijinks, and it’s comfortable to lie on. Keep in mind that this mattress isn’t waterproof, but we’ve skirted that potential landmine by using a waterproof mattress cover. I’ve laid on the mattress for story time and cuddles, and found that it provides a cushiony feel without making it hard to roll over.
The Saatva Youth mattress is flippable with one side intended for kids aged 3 to 7, and the other side aimed at 8- to 12-year-olds with additional support for their bigger bodies. The hybrid mattress offers a mix of CertiPur-US memory foam and recycled steel coils to provide support and comfort. Keep in mind that, because this is a hybrid bed, there is some bounce. That also can mean you need to be a little more stealthy when sneaking out of your child’s bed after a long tuck-in.
The Youth mattress includes an antimicrobial barrier that’s made with essential oils and minerals like thyme, lemongrass and mint to block mold and mildew buildup. The brand says the barrier is entirely plant-based. The organic cotton cover is treated with Ruco-Guard, which is an alternative to PFAS that more brands are gravitating toward, Diamond explains. Its interior waterproofing protection is helped with a polyurethane barrier, a material that the EWG’s Stoiber prefers to PVC. While this isn’t the cheapest mattress out there, the lifetime warranty means you can keep your child comfortable until they’re big enough for an adult mattress. Plus, Saatva offers free in-home delivery of its beds (no driveway drop here) and removal of your old mattress, saving our backs and a bit of money, too.
What our writers say: My 4-year-old is currently sleeping on this mattress and loves how big it makes her feel thanks to its 10-inch height. That loft makes it too high for most top bunks, but just right for a bed frame that’s lower to the ground. I can personally attest to the waterproofing. The mattress has had a water bottle spilled on it, along with my 2-year-old deliberately peeing on her big sister’s bed to upset her. It’s cleaned up nicely each time and hasn’t created any issues with odor or moisture buildup. My daughter and her little sister often end up in my bed in the middle of the night, and I look forward to times when I can slip out of my crowded bed and curl up on her Saatva. It’s supportive in all the right places, although the bed is definitely on the firmer side. It’s also flippable to give you options. I hope to enjoy plenty of mileage out of this one thanks to the lifetime warranty.
Naturepedic makes high-quality organic mattresses, including several designed specifically for children. We found its crib mattress to be the best crib mattress overall after rigorous testing. This particular Naturepedic kids mattress keeps families in mind with built-in waterproofing in case of accidents—and clean, organic materials. The waterproof side is made from food-grade polyethylene that’s created with non-GMO sugarcane. It’s flippable to a quilted side that’s ideal for older kids. The mattress is crafted from 100% GOTS certified organic cotton and is free of glues, adhesives and polyurethane foam (the latter is the typical memory foam material). It’s also Made Safe-certified, a well-regarded certification that screens for a range of problematic materials, from potential carcinogens and endocrine disruptors to hazardous flame retardants.
This is an innerspring mattress, which means that it can easily turn into a bedroom trampoline. As a result, it’s not a good fit for a top bunk or for rowdier kids. But if you’re positioning the mattress closer to the ground (and your child is on the calmer side), it’s less of a concern.
The drawbacks I found during testing included a clay-like scent when first unboxed and a lack of strong edge support. If you use it in a bunk bed with a railing, the edge support matters less. Have a low bunk bed railing? Choose a trundle size—it’s a thinner version of the 2-in-1.
What our writers say: One of my children is using this mattress on the bottom of his bunk bed now. While I was originally nervous about the traditional innersprings serving as a trampoline, it has proved a comfortable bed. (The bottom bunk placement eliminates bouncing, too.) My son, who has always slept on a memory foam mattress, pointed out that this has a different, bouncier feel. Also, the waterproofing works. When my son’s water bottle leaked onto the bed, only the comforter and sheets were wet—the mattress was just fine. Be aware that you may need to let this mattress air out before use due to the strong earthy scent. I had to open the windows and turn on a fan in hopes of tamping down on the smell after I unboxed it and, while it dissipated over time, it took a good few weeks until it was completely gone.