A good night’s sleep is important for everyone, of course. But it’s particularly important for children. Not only does bad sleep make life more difficult for parents — hello temper tantrums — but poor sleep can also have a lasting impact on a kids’ long term health and well being. Studies have shown that kids who get enough sleep have better attention, behavior, learning, memory, and overall mental and physical health. In addition, for infants, unsafe sleep conditions can increase the risks of SIDS.
This means that for parents, choosing the right mattress for their little one is a very big deal. But how do you pick the right mattress for your child?
There are a few factors to consider:
Size
To determine the right size mattress, you should consider your child’s age, size, and how long you plan to have them use the mattress. For newborns and infants sleeping in a crib, you’ll want to look at crib mattresses that fit snugly in your crib of choice, but once kids move into their “big kid beds,” you could get them a Twin, Twin XL, or Full mattress, depending on how long you plan for them to use this mattress.
Budget vs. Quality
Knowing how much you have to spend can narrow your search, but before you opt for the cheapest mattress you can find, make sure you’re considering quality too. Paying more upfront could save you money down the line because you won’t have to replace the mattress as often. After all, kids can be harder on mattresses than adults. (Think jumping on the bed, potty training accidents, and other mishaps) Plus, a cheap mattress might not be comfortable, leading to more late-night wake-ups.
Whatever mattress you choose, make sure it meets all the latest safety standards and, if you’re buying a crib mattress, that it has been certified as safe for infants.
Firmness
This is especially important when you’re shopping for a newborn or young child. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, a crib mattress should be firm — it should not indent when a baby rests on it.
If you plan to use your crib mattress as a toddler bed too, you might want to opt for a dual-firmness mattress: one side will be firm for infants, the other side will be softer for toddlers.
Once your child is over 18 months old, the firmness of a mattress is really a matter of preference, but you’ll still want to make sure that the mattress is designed for maximum spinal support and alignment.
Breathability
This is obviously important if you live in a warm climate because no one likes waking up sweaty in the middle of the night. But breathability is also important for a baby’s safety because overheating can increase the risk of SIDS. When you’re looking for a crib for your little one, try to look for one that is breathable. Some mattresses also offer cooling technology.
If all of this sounds overwhelming, don’t worry. To make your search a little easier, we’ve rounded up our favorite mattresses for kids, which you can see below. One thing to note: we have focused our search on crib, twin, and full-sized mattresses only as these are the most common sizes for young kids. However, some of these mattress companies do offer larger mattress sizes as well.
