As parents, you always want what’s best for your kids. Choosing the right mattress is no exception. Children need a lot of support when they sleep. Proper support ensures that their developing bones and spines are aligned correctly. A supportive mattress reduces fidgeting, discomfort, and rolling, thus allowing your child to sleep soundly through the night. Given that your child may be sleeping on the same mattress for more than ten years, it is essential that you buy one that will grow with your child.
Tips To Consider When Buying A Kids Mattresses
Children sleep better at night than any other age group. They also tend to have rubber band bones, stretchy muscles and heal fast. Your child may never complain that their mattress is terrible. However, a lousy mattress will affect their development. To help you choose the right mattress we’ve assembled important tips before selecting a mattress for your young ones.
Type of Mattress Matters
Just as with adult mattresses, consider the different types of mattresses. The best support mattress ensures your child will get the most sleep. The top three mattress types are memory foam, innerspring, and pocket coil mattresses.
Memory foam mattresses are designed to form to the child’s body. This type of mattress is hypoallergenic and comes in many comfort levels. The typical heights for kids memory foam mattresses are 6″, 8″, or 10″ inches. The upgraded version is a gel infusion mattress. This mattress keeps your child cooler throughout the night.
Innerspring mattresses are the most common type on the market. The open coil design that allows pressure points to settle in but support the spine from bending. The comfort level is usually softer to springy due to the thinner spring gauges. This mattress is 7″ to 10″ height with 8″ as the most common thickness.
Pocket coil mattress is the upgrade design from the innerspring. This mattress offers individually wrapped coils that allow the mattress to work independently. This feature helps the mattress to reduce motion transfer. This mattress often is more expensive but offer the best of support and comfort.
The right type of mattress will last for years. A younger child will not be heavy enough to cause continuous stress the mattress. As they get into adolescence, they will need greater support and a comfortable mattress.
Buy a Mattress Your Child Can Grow Into
One thing you need to consider as a parent is that your child is growing daily. You need to invest in a mattress that will be great now, but one that they will still love when they are older. In many cases, a child will sleep in the same bed from ages 4 to18 and often beyond. Smaller children usually sleep in their crib mattress between the ages of 1 and 3. A crib mattress will fit a toddler bed, but it’ only a temporary fix as your child continue to grow. Ideally, a twin size child’s mattress, a twin xl, or a full-size bed will work as a permanent solution that will last for years. Twin size is the most common mattress for children. This mattress size is the next step up from a crib mattress. A twin size mattress is a good starting point and will last as the child gets into adolescence. The twin xl mattress is longer than a twin mattress and is best for taller kids. The one downfall with this size mattress is the limited selection of bed frames. The full-size mattress is wider than the twin size. Due to the size, this mattress works for larger rooms.
| Size | Mattress Dimensions |
| Crib | 27 1/4”L x 51 5/8”W |
| Twin | 75″L x 39″W |
| Twin XL | 80″L x 39″W |
| Full | 75″L x 54″W |
Know the Size of Your Child’s Bed Frame
Like with any other bed, the bed frame will determine the type, size, and thickness of the mattress you will buy. If you are purchasing a mattress for a toddler bed, you will need a crib mattress. If you are purchasing a mattress for a single sized bed, you will need a twin mattress. If you are buying a mattress for a double bed, you will need a full-size mattress. A trundle bed & top bunk bed requires a thinner mattress that is 5-6″ in height. Trundle beds need this space to roll in and out correctly. This information may seem obvious, but from experience, fitting the correct mattress to the bed frame may not always go as plan.
Child’s Mattress Price Range
How much money are you willing to spend? The truth is that with evolving technology and new mattresses are made every day, it’s pretty easy to find yourself confused. The price range can be quite steep. Just know you don’t have to buy an overly expensive mattress as your children are still young. Considering what your child needs are, weigh your options and consider how much the new mattress is going to cost you, both today and 10 years from now. We always recommend aiming for a mattress that is high-quality and durable.
Never Buy Used Mattresses
This is not a good idea; used mattresses bring stains, body-fluid residue, bacteria, lice, and bedbugs with them. These can be unhygienic and hazardous to the life of your child. Such issues could make sleeping a nightmare for them, keeping you awake in the middle of the night. The
In Conclusion
Buying a mattress for your child shouldn’t be a difficult task. You should choose a type that will fit into their beds, is reasonably priced, and one that will be comfortable for them as adults. To get the most out of it, remember to flip and rotate the mattress every six months – a routine that will increase the lifespan of every mattress in your house!
