Best mattresses for kids – hands-on performance tests

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Finding a kid-sized mattress can be a big hassle. There are hundreds of companies offering mattresses for kids and it can be hard to determine which one is best for your child’s unique needs. We tested out all of the most popular brands and determined that these are the nine best options to consider. The overall best mattress for kids is the Helix Kids Mattress.

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Best mattresses for kids and performance test results

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#1. Helix Kids

Pros

• Flippable two-sided design
• Good for all sleeper types
• Dimensions are good for both bunk beds and standalone beds
• Greenguard Gold-certified

Cons

• Height profile may be too low for larger kids
• Only comes in two sizes

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Why it’s one of the best

The best thing about the Helix Kids mattress is that you get a wide breadth of choices from firmness levels to height profiles which makes it good for people with different needs.

Featuring a flippable design, the Helix Kids mattress is soft on one side and firmer on the other which is especially crucial for growing bodies that need extra support.

The mattress also has a water-repellent cover, making it resistant to stains and accidental spills.

I also like that the Helix Kids mattress is certified by the Greenguard Gold association, ensuring that your child will be sleeping on a mattress that is not only low in VOCs but also fiberglass-free.

Specs at a glance

Helix Kids Performance

The Helix Kids mattress has a flippable design with two different firmness levels: soft and firm.

Younger kids need a firmer mattress which helps with growing bones and developing bodies while children who are older need something a bit more compressing and pressure relieving.

We rate the Helix Kids mattress a 9 out of 10 when it comes to comfort and pressure relief.

Based on my tests, the mattress not only helps with compression and pressure relief but helps little bodies achieve proper spinal alignment as well.

We rate the Helix Kids mattress an 8 out of 10 when it comes to cooling.

The mattress doesn’t retain any heat. This is likely because of the pocketed coils which help distribute airflow and prevent heat pockets from forming.

We rate the Helix Kids mattress an 8 out of 10 when it comes to motion isolation.

Kids mattresses are not really meant for more than one person since they have simple construction and come in smaller sizes but for testing purposes, we found this mattress absorbs a good amount of motion transfer.

We rate the Helix Kids mattress a 9 out of 10 when it comes to edge support.

Even though it contains a coil unit, it really does not have reinforced edges. I was pleasantly surprised to find that, despite that negative, it actually still has very good edge support.

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#2. Bear Cub

Pros

• Pressure-relieving
• Supports back and joints
• Fiberglass-free
• Hypoallergenic

Cons

• Slight off-gassing
• Only comes in two sizes

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Why it’s one of the best

Aside from its very cute and apropos name, the Bear Cub mattress’ hybrid design offers a very well-balanced combo of spinal support and pressure relief thanks to its memory foam and support layers along with its very robust coil unit.

The thickest mattress of the bunch, it looks and feels more like a big kid mattress but is still suitable for kids aged 5 and below (just make sure their beds have side rails ok).

While you may associate Bear mattresses with its notable Celliant covers (found in their adult mattresses like the Elite Hybrid and Star Hybrid), the Cub does not contain that but instead features a Tencel cover which is still breathable.

Specs at a glance

Bear Cub Performance

The Bear Cub sits on a 6.5 on the mattress firmness scale which gives it a medium-firm feel.

While this firmness level is OK for all sleeper types including side sleepers, the Bear Cub is best for kids who sleep mostly on their backs and stomachs.

We rate the Bear Cub mattress a 9 out of 10 when it comes to comfort and pressure relief.

I found that this mattress did very well when it comes to comfort and pressure relief. The coil unit is thicker than most other kids’ mattresses, which helps a lot with back pain.

We rate the Bear Cub mattress an 8 out of 10 when it comes to cooling.

Once again, the mattress’ thicker coil unit gives it more of an airier feel and helps do away with any heat retention.

We rate the Bear Cub mattress a 7 out of 10 when it comes to motion isolation.

I noticed that the mattress is springier than most hybrid mattresses when I tried it out. This is likely because the coil unit is disproportionately large. Motion transfer isn’t bad here, but it isn’t the best either.

We rate the Bear Cub mattress a 9 out of 10 when it comes to edge support.

The mattress does not contain reinforced edge coils but it still offers really good edge support.

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#3. Brooklyn Bedding BB Kids

Pros

• Comes in three sizes
• Support joints and relieves pressure points
• Stain-resistant
• Affordable

Cons

• Can retain heat

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Why it’s one of the best

The Brooklyn Bedding BB Kids is fiberglass-free, which means it’s perfectly safe to sleep on.

I also like the fact that it’s intentionally low profile, making it a good option for bunk beds and bed frames with higher foundations.

Specs at a glance

Brooklyn Bedding BB Kids Performance

The Brooklyn Bedding BB Kids sits on a 6.5 on the mattress firmness scale which gives it a medium-firm feel.

This firmness level is good for all sleeper types.

We rate the Brooklyn Bedding BB Kids a 9 out of 10 when it comes to comfort and pressure relief.

I found that the mattress did a great job at providing comfort and pressure relief (especially for hips and shoulders).

We rate the Brooklyn Bedding BB Kids a 6 out of 10 when it comes to cooling.

Unfortunately, the foam layers retained a significant amount of heat during my tests, which is why I don’t recommend it if your kid sleeps hot.

We rate the Brooklyn Bedding BB Kids a 9 out of 10 when it comes to motion isolation.

I barely felt any motion transfer when I tried it out.

We rate the Brooklyn Bedding BB Kids an 8 out of 10 when it comes to edge support.

I found the edge support to be very good, despite the fact that it doesn’t contain any edge coils or extra support.

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#4. Birch Kids Natural

Pros

• Certified-organic
• Supports back and joints
• Flippable
• For those who lead clean and green lifestyles

Cons

• Expensive
• Comes in only two sizes

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Why it’s one the best

Parents who follow a clean and green lifestyle will be happy to note that the Birch Kids Natural is certified-organic and not only that, it also comes backed by the Greenguard Gold association which is the be-all and end-all when it comes to organic mattress certifications.

Pure latex is naturally cooling and hypoallergenic which makes the Birch Kids Natural good for kids who suffer from chronic allergies as well as those that tend to sleep hot.

Specs at a glance

Birch Kids Natural Performance

The Birch Kids Natural has a flippable, dual-sided design. Each side has its own corresponding firmness level: soft and firm. This makes the Birch Kids Natural good for all kids of any shape and size.

We rate the Birch Kids Natural an 8.5 out of 10 when it comes to comfort and pressure relief.

The mattress did very well in my comfort and pressure relief tests. Your kids will get more than enough pressure relief as well as support for back and joints.

We rate the Birch Kids Natural a 9 out of 10 when it comes to cooling.

The mattress passed my cooling tests with flying colors. That’s no surprise for a latex mattress since the material is naturally cooling (when compared to memory foam).

We rate the Birch Kids Natural an 8 out of 10 when it comes to motion isolation.

Although latex hybrid mattresses tend to be bouncier than other mattress types, I still found that it did a stellar job at absorbing cross-mattress movement.

We rate the Birch Kids Natural a 9.5 out of 10 when it comes to edge support.

Unlike a lot of other kids mattresses, this one contains reinforced edge coils giving the mattress excellent edge support all throughout. Your child won’t be in any danger of rolling off the edge of the bed.

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#5. Leesa Kids

Pros

• Supports back and joints
• Pressure-relieving
• Sleeps cool
• Good for all sleeper types

Cons

• Not good for heavier-set kids older than 8
• Can retain heat

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Why it’s one of the best

I found the Leesa Kids mattress to be the best mattress for children who are transitioning into their very own big kids bed due to its intentionally low profile and all-foam construction.

I also like that the mattress sleeps cool: it contains aerated foam layers that allow air to flow through continuously, preventing ‘heat pockets’ from forming in the foam.

Specs at a glance

Leesa Kids Performance

The Leesa Kids mattress has a medium-firm feel which is around a 6 on the mattress firmness scale.

This firmness level is good for all sleeper types.

We rate the Leesa Kids mattress a 10 out of 10 when it comes to comfort and pressure relief.

The mattress scored top marks in comfort and pressure relief during my performance tests. It really is a comfortable mattress.

We rate the Leesa Kids mattress an 8 out of 10 when it comes to cooling.

For an all-foam mattress, it did a good job at keeping heat retention at bay thanks to its open-cell construction and aerated features.

We rate the Leesa Kids mattress a 9 out of 10 when it comes to motion isolation.

Most all-foam mattresses are great at absorbing motion transfer and this one is no exception. I did not feel any movement when I tried the mattress out with a partner.

We rate the Leesa Kids mattress a 7.5 out of 10 when it comes to edge support.

Although not the best, the edge support isn’t the worst either. Kids won’t find themselves rolling off the edge of the bed.

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#6. Nolah Nurture

Pros

• Flippable
• Cooling
• Supports back and joints
• Helps with spinal alignment

Cons

• Can be pricey
• May be too firm for older kids

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Why it’s one of the best

The Nolah Nurture did exceptionally well in my comfort and support tests.

If you need a mattress that will help support your child’s back and joints, this is one that should be on your short list.

Since the design is flippable (with a soft and a firm side), the mattress is good for children of any age or size.

Specs at a glance

Nolah Nurture Performance

The Nolah Nurture is flippable with two different firmness levels: soft and firm.

This makes the mattress good for all sleeper types.

We rate the Nolah Nurture a 9 out of 10 when it comes to comfort and pressure relief.

I found that my back felt much more aligned and well-supported on this mattress compared to most other brands.

We rate the Nolah Nurture a 9 out of 10 when it comes to cooling.

The mattress sleeps very cool. I didn’t overheat at all during my sleep test.

We rate the Nolah Nurture a 7 out of 10 when it comes to motion isolation.

You will feel a tiny amount of bounce and movement (because of the coils).

We rate the Nolah Nurture an 8 out of 10 when it comes to edge support.

Though not explicitly stated, the mattress feels as though it contains reinforced edge coils which in turn gives the mattress extra edge support throughout. This allows your child to use all of the mattress surface without any danger of rolling off.

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#7. Max & Lily Cooling Comfort

Pros

• Cooling
• Machine-washable cover
• Comes in multiple sizes
• Affordable

Cons

• Slight off-gassing
• Not suitable for heavier-set kids

Why it’s one of the best

The price is the best thing about the Max & Lily Cooling Comfort.

It’s an extremely low-cost mattress.

For a mattress that’s very affordable, I appreciate the fact that the Max & Lily Cooling Comfort is still made with premium-grade, high quality, and non-toxic materials that are safe for your child to sleep on.

I’ve found that its all-foam construction fully helps with pressure point relief while still providing enough support for growing bones.

Specs at a glance

Max & Lily Cooling Comfort Performance

The Max & Lily Cooling Comfort sits at a 6.5 on the mattress firmness scale, giving it a medium-firm feel.

This firmness level is good for all sleeper types.

We rate the Max & Lily Cooling Comfort a 9 out of 10 when it comes to comfort and pressure relief.

I was surprised to find that it actually did VERY well on my pressure relief tests. Cheap mattresses usually don’t do this well.

We rate the Max & Lily Cooling Comfort a 7 out of 10 when it comes to cooling.

The memory foam does retain a small amount of heat but not enough to make your child’s sleeping experience uncomfortable.

We rate the Max & Lily Cooling Comfort a 9 out of 10 when it comes to motion isolation.

As with most all-foam mattresses, this one absorbs any motion transfer. I barely felt any movement when I tried the mattress out with a partner.

We rate the Max & Lily Cooling Comfort a 6.5 out of 10 when it comes to edge support.

The mattress does not contain any reinforced edges and while that may spell a problem for adult-sized mattresses, as a kids’ mattress this one is meant to be used with bed frames that have side railings (or bunk beds with rails). Take a look at my Max & Lily Jack Captain’s Bed review for an example.

>> View my full Max & Lily Cooling Comfort review for more details

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#8. Maxtrix 5-inch Memory Foam Mattress

Pros

• Budget–friendly
• Low profile
• Pressure relieving
• Offers compression

Cons

• Slight off-gassing
• Not to be used with standalone beds

Why it’s one of the best

True, the Maxtrix 5-inch Memory Foam mattress is the thinnest mattress on this list but that’s because it is meant to be used with bunk beds, loft beds and trundle beds.

I found that the foam layers did a good job at cradling and supporting joints and bones, which is crucial as your little one continues to grow over time.

I appreciate the fact that the Maxtrix 5-inch Memory Foam mattress uses a perforated and breathable mattress cover that allows heat to escape (great for hot sleepers).

Specs at a glance

Maxtrix 5-inch Memory Foam Performance

The Maxtrix 5-inch Memory Foam sits on a 5.5 on the mattress firmness scale.

Maxtrix states that it has a plush yet firm feel and I would have to say I agree.

This firmness level is good for all sleeper types.

We rate the Maxtrix 5-inch Memory Foam mattress a 9 out of 10 when it comes to comfort and pressure relief.

Simple as the construction may be with only three layers, it’s still enough to provide ample support and pressure point relief for growing bodies. It did well during my testing process.

We rate the Maxtrix 5-inch Memory Foam mattress a 7.5 out of 10 when it comes to cooling.

The mattress did very well on my heat retention tests. If your child sleeps hot, this is a mattress you should definitely consider.

We rate the Maxtrix 5-inch Memory Foam mattress a 9 out of 10 when it comes to motion isolation.

Its thinness and all-foam construction give it excellent motion-isolating capabilities.

We rate the Maxtrix 5-inch Memory Foam mattress a 7 out of 10 when it comes to edge support.

Used alone, there won’t be much edge support, but it is meant to be used with bunk beds and trundle beds which should help.

>> View my full Maxtrix mattress review for more details

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#9. 5 Little Monkeys 8” Memory Foam Mattress

Pros

• Relieves pressure on hips and shoulders
• Helps with spinal alignment
• Affordable
• Machine-washable cover

Cons

• Slight off-gassing
• Not good for hot sleepers

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Why it’s one of the best

This mattress is both comfortable and affordable.

A rare combo that earns 5 Little Monkeys a spot on this list.

I also like the fact that the 5 Little Monkeys has a removable and machine-washable mattress cover that makes it very convenient for busy parents to help keep their kids’ beds clean.

Specs at a glance

5 Little Monkeys 8” Memory Foam Performance

The 5 Little Monkeys 8-inch Memory Foam Mattress sits on a 7 on the mattress firmness scale, giving it a firmer feel.

This is best for children who prefer sleeping on their backs or stomachs.

We rate the 5 Little Monkeys 8-inch Memory Foam mattress a 9 out of 10 when it comes to comfort and pressure relief.

The mattress did very well in my pressure relief and comfort tests. The different layers of foam work well together to reduce pressure on the parts of your body that need it (hips and shoulders specifically)

We rate the 5 Little Monkeys 8-inch Memory Foam mattress a 7.5 out of 10 when it comes to cooling.

Although its foam layers may retain a tiny amount of heat, the open-cell construction and phase change gel helps with cooling and airflow.

We rate the 5 Little Monkeys 8-inch Memory Foam mattress a 9 out of 10 when it comes to motion isolation.

As all-foam mattresses go, this one has very good motion isolating capabilities. I barely felt any motion transfer when I tried the mattress out with a partner.

We rate the 5 Little Monkeys 8-inch Memory Foam mattress a 7 out of 10 when it comes to edge support.

The mattress does not contain any reinforced edges due to its all-foam construction, but I wouldn’t say that the edge support on the mattress is non-existent – it’s pretty much average.

>> View my full 5 Little Monkeys mattress review for more details

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How we chose these mattresses

We picked these mattresses based on a complete list of factors that we believe make up a great mattress for kids. We base them all off the following criteria:

• Pressure relief – Everyone has pressure points and this is important when it comes to choosing the right mattress. Depending on a person’s sleeping position, mattress firmness can greatly affect whether you get enough pressure relief or not. We chose mattresses that offer maximum pressure relief.
• Cooling – Sleeping hot is a major cause of sleeplessness. Choosing mattresses that offer superb cooling capabilities is crucial to getting a good night’s sleep.
• Firmness – Mattress firmness correlates to one’s preferred sleeping position and we chose mattresses that can suit most, if not all, sleeping positions from back sleeping to stomach sleeping and side sleeping.
• Motion isolation – Picking a mattress that offers good motion isolation is important if you share a bed with a partner. We chose mattresses that are suitable for couples.
• Edge support – Not only does edge support help (and protect) those who prefer sleeping close to the edge of the bed, having a mattress with good edge support also effectively gives you a wider mattress surface.
• Durability – We chose mattresses that we know would last long and ones that come with reasonable return policies.

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Conclusion

Having a good, supportive mattress is very crucial during your child’s growing stage.

I based my rankings off of hands-on performance tests conducted here in the Sleepline Testing Studio. The tests covered factors including comfort, cooling, edge support, pressure relief, and more.

I’m confident any one of the brands on this list would be an excellent choice for your child.

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How we rate mattresses

We personally test and rate mattresses using the following strict quantitative criteria:

1. Comfort
2. Structural integrity and durability
3. Firmness and support
4. Cooling capabilities
5. Pressure relief
6. Edge support
7. Motion isolation

Learn more about our mattress rating process and methodology here.

Psst… the sleep review industry is full of liars, sharks, and thieves. It’s a modern-day version of getting ripped off at your local mattress store. So, why should you trust us?