Our Top Rated Kid (Youth) Beds For 2021

So far we were mostly focused on beds for adults, but kids’ mattresses are equally important, and it’s never too early to invest in a quality-made, comfortable, supportive bed for your children.

Investing in a new bed for your child can be tricky, mainly because they grow up fast. But nothing should be more important than your child’s carefree sleep and growth and what’s a better thing than seeing them resting on a mattress that keeps their body aligned and in a natural posture.

Let’s check a few great options for kids that may interest you; also check our tips and pieces of advice that will make buying a new mattress for your little ones much more relaxed.

Tips for Picking a Bed for Children

Consider Their Age (Kid or Toddler)

They grow so fast, but it’s important to provide them the highest quality bed where they will sleep safe and sound without any danger of falling or feeling discomfort.

The first and most important thing is whether you have a toddler or a kid that won’t have any problems sleeping on a bed without frames. Your toddler grows fast and will need excellent support, especially for the spine (during this age it develops super fast).

Have in mind that your kid will spend half of the day sleeping, so even though they will outgrow it within a short time, make sure you invest in a quality made mattress that is hypoallergenic, contains natural fabrics, and so on.

An older kid can sleep on an actual bed without any problems, so this will be an investment that will last far longer (again it should have a proper construction, with all the features you’d pick for yourself – cooling, comfort, support, hypoallergenic, etc.).

What Sizes Are There?

• Single – This is the most common choice for a kid’s bed, and it comes in size for toddlers and older children. This is a mattress that is the most common choice. It is easy to be adjusted in a standard frame and is wide enough for your child to have enough space to toss and turn without any problems.

This size is also a good option for smaller rooms. A single kid’s mattress is excellent for toddlers, and older children just make sure the size is adapted to their height and weight.

• Twin-Sized – If you have an older kid that is already in school, then this is perhaps the best option. It’s a long-term investment that will give your kid a great comfort, space, and support even when they are in their teen years.

This choice is excellent if you don’t have a lot of room (if your kids share a room for example) and can be used in a standard bed frame or for bunk beds. If this is your choice for a younger child, you can always mount rails on both sides so you can be sure that your kid won’t fall on the floor.

• Twin-XL – This size is an excellent choice if you have a bigger room for your child and want to provide him or her with better comfort, space, and support. Also, this size is quite suitable for a college dorm; it’s wide enough to give enough comfort and space to your adolescent, and yet it won’t take too much space of the room (especially if your child shares it with a roommate).

This size is ideal if your kid is tall and needs more room of his or her legs. Besides everything, this is a great and affordable option.

• Full-Size – Although this isn’t the most popular option, often you can find this size in motels or hotels, and more often than not in dorm rooms. These beds are wide enough so two kids can easily sleep on it (excellent choice if your kids have friends for a sleepover). Also, this may not be the most popular kid’s size, but sometimes parents decide to invest in it if they have twins who don’t mind sharing the bed together.

You can get this size if you want to invest in a long-time solution; your kid will grow up and you wouldn’t have to buy a new mattress every few years.

• Off-gassing – This is a dangerous thing when comes to your kid’s health (it’s an essential thing for everyone’s health). Some cheap mattresses are built with chemicals that are slowly released and with time penetrate the respiratory system, skin, hair and so on.

This process can last for years; the evaporation of harmful chemicals may not be noticeable ( even though you might not be able to smell it). This is why we always recommend investing more money in a bed that was made only from natural materials and with zero chemicals.

• Value – You can’t expect to get the top-rated product for a low price; the same goes for the bed for your kid. More expensive options may seem like a waste of money (especially for toddlers), but you will get a high-end mattress, made of natural fabrics, great construction and support, cooling system and hypoallergenic abilities.

Also, this may be a short-term investment, but if you want to spend less money, you may face a non-durable mattress made of poor materials (and you will have to spend money in less than a year).

Tip for Adults:

• Queen size – If you want to get them a much bigger bed, a queen size is an ideal option as well. It’s bigger than the full-size and they will be able to enjoy a full night’s rest. Just make sure your room will be able to fit this type as it does require a bit larger bedroom.

Is It Firm or Soft Better for Kids?

This can be a real dilemma, and since kids (especially toddlers) tend to toss and turn during their rest, perhaps the best choice is somewhere in the middle.

Some doctors recommend a firm sleeping surface since children need great support for their backs and should have their spines well aligned. Babies and toddlers are better at sleeping on a firmer mattress, while older kids can sleep just fine on moderately firm or even soft surfaces.

Today you can find many types of research and studies that recommend beds with contouring layers that will keep the spine in a natural position and will cradle the body. This is why there are too many kids beds that contain comfort layers with latex or foam, or extra padded cover and bedding.

Best Bed Type for Youth

Memory Foam

This is the material that most companies use to make kid and youth beds. Memory foam can have a different level of density; therefore it can be softer or firmer.

So if you pick an all-foam mattress for your child, then always check for the comfort; let them sit or lie down (if you have an older kid) and check how it feels for themselves.

Usually, foam beds are great for all sleeping positions (if they are moderately firm). What you need to pay attention to is whether this foam allows airflow (ask whether it’s gel-infused, or if it has open-cell structure).

Make sure that the base is stable and made of thick and firm foam, so there won’t be any sinking into the core.

For much more information on memory foam, we highly recommended reading our in-depth buyer’s guide.

Spring

Spring constructions are the classics and often the first choice for many parents. These type of constructions have the finest of both worlds – pocketed springs that give enough bounce (super important feature for a kid that will toss, turn and jump), but also responsive foam layers for extra contouring.

The springs are ideal for keeping the frame of the child in a natural position, without any harsh pressure.

The kid will be able to rest well, without pain or discomfort which is extremely important in the developing years. Springs are known for their longevity and will last for years without any risk of dropping. Also, they are great for letting constant airflow, even if the top layers aren’t so breathable.

Latex

This is a material that came to prominence recently. It’s often used for its cooling features, but also because it’s a material that is responsive, provides excellent contouring and makes the rest pleasant, fresh and comfortable.

When comes to kids and youth beds, this material is often used because it draws heat off the sleeping surface but also because it has hypoallergenic and antibacterial features and doesn’t collect dust as other fabrics do.

Besides that, this is a fabric that won’t evaporate harmful chemicals (you can be sure that there won’t be off-gassing). These mattresses will offer a firm surface, pressure relief and will undoubtedly last much longer than you expect.

It’s great when a construction contains a little bit of everything (foam, springs, and latex) but if you cannot afford that, at least make sure that the latex is natural.

Want to learn more about Latex? Check out our top latex buyer’s guide.

Airbed

This shouldn’t be a primary option for your child’s rest, especially not for a long time. Airbeds are perhaps the best solution for a vacation in a cabin or a place where you can’t be sure whether they can sleep on a proper mattress.

Also, an airbed is often a choice for guestrooms or as a spare bed for a sleepover night. However, many people (college students) who are on a budget often invest in these type of mattresses. This isn’t an uncomfortable bed, au contraire (with the right bedding it will be as good as a regular mattress), but should only be an option for vacations, trips, camping or places that don’t have enough space. You can find many cheaper alternatives online.

If you are in search of an airbed, see our highest quality air mattresses.

Don’t Consider an Inexpensive Mattress If:

Back Pain

You get what you pay for, and you can’t expect to get the best comfort and support if you go for invest in a cheaper mattress.

This should never be an option if your children have any history of back pain, signs of scoliosis or simply if they had problems with back pain with the previous mattress. Inexpensive mattresses can cause serious complication in the development of your kid, and you wouldn’t want to put them at risk.

Young people may not experience harsh reactions, but with time they can get serious problems and pains, only because the parents thought that it was a waste of money to get the more expensive option.

If you are experiencing back pain see our buyer’s guide for back sufferers.

Hip Problems

Your kid’s body is developing faster than you can imagine.

No matter if you have a toddler or an older child that is still going through physical development, they can have hip problems caused from a mattress that was either too firm and had a poor construction (non-pocketed coils, thin layers, unstable base, poor layering and transition, terrible edge support, etc).

We’re sure you wouldn’t want to provide your kid with such thing; their bones are not as strong as in an adult person, so very quickly a poor construction can cause irregular hip development or other problems and even diagnosis.

Neck Discomfort

Just as for the back and the hips, a cheaper bed can cause severe pressure and pain in the neck.

If the neck is not in a natural position and if your child feels that it should constantly toss and turn until they find a position where they won’t feel any pressure, then the cheap mattress already causes problems.

Your investment (though cheaper) will be futile if you have to buy a new and more expensive one, not to mention if your child suffers pain and you’ll have to pay for doctor’s appointments and medicine.

Make sure they have a proper pillow (with the right thickness) and that there is no pressure falling on any part of their bodies, including their neck. If the neck goes through pain, it will manifest in other parts of the body such as spine and shoulders.

Other Injuries

No matter how old your children are, if they ever went through any sort of injury (broken arms or legs, trauma, car accidents and so on) they should rest on a comfortable construction.

It should be made of breathable and natural materials that provide support, contorting and the right firmness to keep their young bodies in a natural position.

No child that went through any injury should be exposed of risk that comes with a cheaper bed; thin layers, harsh chemicals, allergies, unstable foundation, and harsh covers and so on, can be the reason of many problems. For instance, if the kid had a broken leg or shoulder, he or she must not sleep on layers that don’t transition well into each other; they should never feel pocked by springs or sink into the very core of the foundation.

Top 3 Youth (Kid) Mattresses Reviewed

Casper Essential is the perfect choice for young people who are just moving out of their parents’ homes (dorm, new apartment, etc.).

Its firm construction is a great choice to keep your spine aligned and your body weight properly distributed.

The design is simple – there are three layers and a cover made of breathable materials. The memory foam in the first layer allows airflow through it. The foam in the middle layer is super responsive and firm enough to keep back and stomach sleepers in a natural position. Casper’s base is made of firm foam to keep the mattress stable and supported.

However, there is deep compression when you sit, and the edge support isn’t the best, but the weight distribution is excellent so you won’t fall. This is a great choice if you’re on-budget; you get free shipping and 100 nights sleep trial.

The BKB has a lovely and simple design. It has two layers and cover which is soft to the touch and is produced from cotton and polyester. There are no harmful chemicals in it, it’s quite stretchy and durable (something that every parent will appreciate).

The first layer is made of Energex foam is pretty soft and reduces pressure and provides the sleeper with excellent support. Even adult sleepers confirm that it’s durable and it distributes the weight equally (you can imagine how well it will support and cradle a kid that is below 120 lbs).

When comes to sinkage and edge support, BKB does a great job; considering that children (under the age of 15) will sleep on it, there is barely any dropping into the layers, and the edge support works great. The compression is minimal due to proper weight distribution, and when a kid sits near the edges, there is only minimum sinking.

This is another simple yet excellent design that will provide your kid with a great cooling system, excellent support, bounce and lovely comfort.

The mattress is constructed with three layers and cover. Its firmness is excellent for every sleeping position (don’t let the firmness rate confuse you, kids don’t put a significant compression when they sleep on their sides, therefore, they won’t have to deal with any pressure in their spine, knees, and shoulders).

The first layer is made of quilting foam, while the layer below that provides the comfort is made of super elastic foam infused with a gel that will keep the sleeping surface pleasant and cool.

Also, this layer responds well and fast to the sleeper’s body. The middle layer (polyfoam) transitions into the solid base which is firm and provides stability. You get 120 nights sleep trial and ten years of warranty.

Parent’s FAQ Guide

What’s the Best Size for a Kid?

This question can be answered by the age of the child.

If you have a toddler then seek a toddler single sized bed that is made of natural materials and offers the right firmness for a carefree sleep and excellent development.

Older children can rest well on twin size or XL twin size (depending on how much space you have in the room).

Adolescents as well can sleep without any problems on twin size but also on full size, since in this age they tend to grow in height and need more space.

Every age requires a different size, but if you want to invest in a long-term solution (and if you don’t have a toddler) always invest in a mattress that will last as long as possible.

 Should I be Concerned if My Child Has Allergies?

In general, this is a condition that causes worries, but if the bedding caused any allergies, then the answer is yes.

This can happen due to low-quality materials (chemical infused fabrics, cheap foams or latex) that evaporate harmful gasses and are an excellent home for dust mites that that are also the main culprits for skin allergies.

Immediately remove the mattress and don’t let your child sleep on it anymore. Before buying a new bed, always check what sort of materials it has, but also if the cover (or the layers) is hypoallergenic and if it provides cooling, water resistance (dump areas are an excellent home for bacteria that can cause problems).

A high-end mattress for kids should never ever cause this problem; avoid cheaper prices (or high discounts) at all costs.

Our Final Thoughts

Getting the best mattress for your child is not an easy thing, especially if you are on a budget but still want to get the highest-quality product.

Additionally, kids grow fast, so it’s unavoidable to make this investment within several years. There are various sizes that are suitable for different ages; think well before you invest in a bed that won’t fit your child in a few years.

However, always make sure you invest in a bed made of natural fabrics that provides comfort, support, protects from allergies and dust mites and keeps your little one pressure and pain-free.