Your 3-Year-Old and 8-Year-Old Need Different Mattresses — Here's Why
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The Ultimate Kids Mattress Buying Guide (2025)
Congratulations, your little one is graduating from a toddler bed to a big kid mattress! As a parent, you know how important sleep is to a child’s health and development—and just how much of it they need. You can’t force a child to sleep, but you can create a positive sleep environment that encourages healthy sleeping habits, including regular physical activity, a consistent bedtime routine, and a comfortable and supportive space to lay their heads.
While we can’t give you the best bedtime routine, we can tell you what to look for when purchasing a kid’s mattress, including the best mattress types, ideal firmness levels, and important safety standards to keep in mind. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know when it comes to buying a children’s mattress.
Best Mattress Types for Kids
There are many types of mattresses, but the ones most commonly recommended for children are innerspring, memory foam, latex, and hybrid. Ultimately, the best mattress for a child depends on their age or developmental stage, any existing health concerns, sleeping styles, and support preferences. To help you pick the perfect mattress for your child, we’ll break down each type of mattress and who they’re best suited for.
Innerspring Mattress
Innerspring mattresses use metal coils that are topped with padding or foam to support the body, giving them that signature mattress “bounce” kids love. Made for medium-firm back and stomach sleepers, they’re affordable and cooling, but can wear out over time, leading to less support, increased motion transfer, and creaks and squeaks.
Memory Foam Mattresses
Developed by NASA in the 1960s, memory foam mattresses are known for their pillowy cushioning and softness – no bouncing here. Perfect for side sleepers, they provide support by contouring the body, which relieves pressure while maintaining proper spinal alignment.
Latex Mattresses
Latex mattresses are made of layers of latex, offering a firm and supportive sleep surface that contours to the general shape of your body. While breathable, hypoallergenic, and sustainable, they are slightly more expensive than memory foam options, and considerably heavier to move around.
Hybrid Mattresses
Combining the support of innerspring coils with foam, latex, or gel comfort layers, hybrid mattresses balance comfort, support, and cooling. They’re great for those who change positions often, run hot while sleeping, or want both pressure relief and motion isolation. That said, they are also commonly more expensive and heavier than other options here.
Kids Mattress Firmness Levels
As you know, your kids are always, always growing. Each new stage of development requires a mattress that supports physical growth and encourages healthy sleep habits. Here are general guidelines of what mattresses your kiddos need, based on their age range:
- Ages 0-2: Crib-size mattresses are typically made extra-firm for infants and toddlers, providing a safe, snug space for early development. Most toddler beds fit a crib mattress, which measures 27 inches wide by 52 inches long.
- Ages 3-7: For young tots, firmer mattresses promote proper spinal alignment and let them toss and turn easily throughout the night. The Nectar Kids mattress is tailored to this age group, leading to deeper sleep and encouraging healthy spinal development as they grow.
- Ages 8-12: A medium or medium-firm mattress is ideal for active, growing children, offering the right blend of comfort and support. Opt for a mattress with gel memory foam, known for its contouring and pressure-relieving properties. Specifically designed for kids aged 8 and older, Nectar Kids mattress is designed to provide the ideal balance of cushioning and support for their developing bodies.
- Ages 13+ : For teens aged 13 and older, choosing the right mattress is key to supporting their growth and changing sleep needs. Keep growth spurts in mind and select a mattress that they’ll love for years to come. A medium-firm option typically works for most teenagers, but it’s essential to involve your teen in the decision, especially if they have specific sleep preferences or issues. Our recommended mattress size will depend on their individual needs, but the most common options are either a twin, twin XL, or full-size mattress.
As you begin your mattress search, start by thinking about your child’s sleep habits and comfort needs. Sleep experts often recommend medium or medium-firm mattresses, as they offer the right balance of support for pressure points and help maintain proper spinal alignment—especially for younger children or those who move a lot during the night.
Nectar Kids’ durable dual-sided mattress is designed to grow with your child, featuring a flippable design that adapts to their evolving sleep needs. A firmer side promotes proper spinal alignment for those under 8, while a softer side has more cushioning and comfort for those over it. That is to say, Nectar Kids was built to last.
Pro Tip: If your child has nighttime accidents, you’ll rest easy knowing that Nectar Kids also includes a machine-washable cover that is stain-resistant, moisture-repellant, and antimicrobial.
Mattress Safety and Certifications
As a parent or caregiver, safety is always a top priority when choosing products for your child, and mattresses are no exception. All of these labels and certifications can get confusing, so let’s break them down.
Firstly, it’s important to note that the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) ensures that all children’s products, including mattresses for kids under 12, meet strict safety rules. To comply, manufacturers must have safety tests—like flammability, phthalates, and lead tests—done by approved labs. These tests must be repeated regularly to ensure the mattresses meet safety standards over time.
You can also look for other safety standards and certifications that ensure any potential mattress is free from harmful chemicals and meets specific health criteria. Here are four common certifications you may see :
- CertiPUR-US®: Mattress foam can be made from some questionable materials. A CertiPUR-US® label ensures the material in your mattress is made without harmful chemicals like ozone depleters, flame retardants, heavy metals, formaldehyde, or phthalates regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. It also ensures low VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) emissions, improving indoor air quality to less than 0.5 parts per million.
- Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS): If you prefer sustainable organic cotton, a GOTS certification guarantees that the mattress contains a significant percentage of organic fibers and meets environmental and social criteria throughout the manufacturing process.
- OEKO-TEX® Standard 100: Every item bearing the STANDARD 100 label is certified as having passed safety tests for the presence of harmful substances.
Comfort Features in Kids' Mattresses
Comfort Features in Kids’ Mattresses
There are a lot of different features to consider when buying a mattress, especially when you’re looking at mattress types, manufacturing materials, and enhanced features. You may know you want a medium-firm mattress, but breaking everything else down can get incredibly confusing.
To make your journey easier, we’ve compiled a list of key features and benefits of children’s mattresses, all designed to enhance comfort and improve kids’ sleep:
Breathable Materials
- What It Does: Allows airflow through the mattress or resist heat, which can also discourage allergen or mold build-up and pesky pests.
- How It Helps: Materials like cotton, wool, silk, latex prevent overheating and keep your child cool and cozy all night.
Durable Foam or Coils
- What It Does: Higher quality foam prevents t sagging, while thicker coils resist breakdowns and offer long-lasting support.
- How It Helps: Keeps the mattress in great shape as your child grows, ensuring consistent comfort.
Edge Support
- What It Does: Reinforces the edges of a mattress to maintain its shape.
- How It Helps: Prevents your child from rolling off their bed and adds stability for sitting or playing on the sleep surface.
Flippable Design
- What It Does: A mattress that has two sides with different firmness levels—a key design feature of Nectar’s Kids Memory Foam Mattress.
- How It Helps: Extends the life of a mattress by growing with your child, and providing the right support at different developmental stages.
Hypoallergenic Materials
- What It Does: Materials that are less likely to trigger allergic reactions to dust mites, mold, pet dander, and other allergens. (We’ll share more on the relationship between allergens and mattress materials later)
- How It Helps: Reduces allergy triggers, so kids with sensitivities can sleep soundly.
Low-VOC and Non-Toxic Materials
- What It Does: It assures that your mattress emits minimal to no harmful chemicals, prioritizing health and safety—most credible when coupled with a legitimate third-party designation like CertiPUR-US® and OEKO-TEX® Standard 100.
- How It Helps: Aims to create a healthier sleeping space, so your child isn’t exposed to materials that may cause them harm.
Organic Materials
- What It Does: Made from natural materials like organic cotton, wool, and natural latex, certified to be grown without harmful pesticides or chemicals,
- How It Helps: Like Low-VOC and non-toxic mattresses, it aims to create a healthier sleeping space with the added benefit of environmental friendliness and sustainability.
Waterproof or Stain-Resistant Covers
- What It Does: Shields the mattress from accidents or spills.
- How It Helps: Maintains your mattress’s cleanliness, helping it last longer and potentially keeping allergens away.
These design features work separately or together to give your child a safe, supportive, and sustainable place to get the high-quality sleep they need. Put together a short list of the features that are most important to you as you start shopping.
What to Look for When Buying a Kids Mattress
As a caregiver or parent, you want to provide the best for your child—and you’re already doing a great job by reading this article! Now that you have the information you need to make an informed purchasing decision, here are eight expert shopping tips to consider when buying a kid’s mattress:
- Budget: Quality doesn’t have to break the bank. Compare features and prices to find the best value.
- Durability: Kids can be tough on mattresses, so pick one with sturdy materials and a good warranty.
- Firmness: Growing bodies need proper support. Look for a medium-firm mattress that answers those needs without compromising on comfort.
- Hypoallergenic: Choose a mattress made with hypoallergenic materials to reduce allergens like dust mites and mold.
- Safety: Make sure your mattress meets safety certifications for low emissions and non-toxic materials.
- Size: Think about how long you want the mattress to last. A twin size is great for younger kids, but full size may be better as they grow.
- Easy Maintenance: Look for features like a removable, washable cover or a water-resistant layer for easy cleanup.
- Trial Periods and Returns: Choose a mattress with a trial period to ensure it works well for you and your child. Nectar prides itself on our 365-night trial and Forever Warranty, which gives customers free shipping and returns, a full year to try their mattress (more than triple the industry standard), and a long-lasting product guarantee (the longest warranty in the mattress industry).
Where To Buy The Best Kids Mattress
Children spend about half of their lives sleeping, a critical step to proper growth. All kids have unique needs, but experts consistently recommend medium-firm mattresses free of harmful allergens or chemicals. As your child transitions from a crib to big-kidbed aim to buy for adaptability, durability, and quality. These days, that doesn’t have to break the bank.
Built to grow with your child, Nectar’s Kids Memory Foam Mattress features a dual-sided flippable design for long-lasting use. It has a removable, machine-washable cover that resists stains and moisture and is made with non-toxic, CertiPUR-US® certified foams for safe, durable comfort, plus a 100% fiberglass-free construction for extra peace of mind. Need help ordering? Call, chat, email, or visit a Nectar store near you for a more personalized consultation with a member of our sleep team.
