As your child grows older, they will need different levels of support in their mattress. This is not only for their safety, but comfort as well. With different types of mattresses available, is a memory foam mattress good for a child?
The short answer to that question is that it depends on the age of your child. Whereas babies and toddlers need a certain level of firmness in their mattress, finding the right mattress for a child really depends on the child’s preference and the parents’ budget.
Are Memory Foam Mattresses Good for Toddlers?
Memory foam can be harmful to toddlers, although older children and adults usually enjoy sleeping on it.
A memory foam mattress is characterized by its natural slow recovery, which allows the body to sink into it during sleep. The result is customized pressure point relief for the body depending on your curves.
Whether you’ve piled on the pounds or have a slim body, memory foam’s natural sink-in can be the key to a comfortable night’s sleep all night long. Unfortunately, this feature means you have to work a little harder to toss and turn while you sleep.
While older children, teens, and adults have no trouble shifting from one position to another on memory foam, the situation can be different for toddlers. With their small body frame and limited strength, a 3-year-old – or younger – might feel too slumped to change positions when necessary.
This can lead to sleep disturbances that keep them awake all night and can also disrupt a parent’s sleep routine.
What to Look for in a Mattress for Kids
There are three important things to consider when looking for a mattress for your child:
- Mattress Size
- Mattress Material
- Mattress Firmness
For babies and toddlers, these things are usually decided for you. All baby mattresses are federally regulated to be 27 ¼” by 51 ¼”. This is so the mattress can fit snuggly inside of the crib. Most crib mattresses can convert to toddler mattresses when they get a little older.
Where size, material, and firmness come into play is when you’re looking for a good mattress for your child once they reach a certain age (usually around 4 or 5 years old). Whereas babies and toddlers need the firmness, this decision falls to the child and, ultimately, the parents.
Best Memory Foam Mattresses for Kids
An innerspring mattress or a hybrid mattress would work for your older child, but a memory foam mattress might be the best solution.
Memory foam mattresses are naturally hypoallergenic, so it’s ideal if your child suffers from allergies. Another perk of a memory foam mattress is that it’s good for all sleeping positions. Children sleep in many different positions throughout the night, so having a mattress that works to keep your child resting comfortably is the way to go.
For parents, getting a memory foam mattress for your child might also help your wallet in the long run. Innerspring mattresses and hybrid mattresses usually cost more than memory foam mattresses just because they’re made of different things – there are no coils in memory foam.
Where to Get the Best Memory Foam Mattress for your Kids
Many memory foam mattresses come wrapped and sealed in a box now. That’s great – and definitely helps with delivery – but what if you want to make sure your child is going to be comfortable on the mattress?
By visiting your nearest Mattress Warehouse store, your child can test out the memory foam mattresses before you buy, so everyone can be on the same page. Mattress Warehouse carries the biggest names in memory foam mattresses: Casper, Nectar, SomosBeds, Simmons and more.
While you’re there, you can also try bedMATCH®, our patented diagnostic sleep system, to see if you need a new mattress for yourself. Whether you’re buying a new mattress for your child or looking for a new mattress yourself, the sleep experts at Mattress Warehouse are there to help you get your best night’s sleep!