According to the NIH, sleep has many positive effects on children -- from supporting growth to their cognitive development. Sleep can be one of the most important factors in the development of a child and that means that less tossing and turning at night can directly help their development and success.
That said, parents are often driven by budgets too. That is one of the reasons why some of our recommendations range from high end to budget conscious.
For those that are sensitive to chemicals and have allergies, it is important to know what's inside your mattress. Some types of foam mattresses and bedding offgas toxins. For this reason, it is very important to check the certifications. Certipur-US is the baseline standard for low-emission foam in the US. Additionally for those that are very sensitive, Greenguard is the most scrupulous certification available for emissions and non-toxic bedding.
Below, we've selected some of our favorites ranging from overall comfort, to budget friendly, to low-emission. Many of these also have generous trial periods so if they don't work for your child, you can get a full refund.
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Meet Awara, the pressure relieving latex hybrid mattress, featuring certified organic latex, and a sustainable mission for a price point that comparatively carries much more value for its 13'' thick mattress than many other latex mattress companies. Whether you are sensitive to chemicals or enjoy the invigorating feel of latex, you can rest easy that your purchase is eco-conscious since Awara holds a certification with the Rainforest Alliance and a partnership with Trees For The Future that plants trees for every mattress purchased. With a universally comfortable medium-plush feel, Awara brings a comfy sigh of relief to its sleepers.
Overall Score for Kids: 9.6/10
Customer Satisfaction: 9.5/10
Price Value: 9.6/10
Back Support: 9.4/10
Price: $1299-$1799
Avocado is a high quality organic and latex mattress brand. Their flagship Green Mattress is an organic latex hybrid mattress that doesn't skimp. For chemical sensitive folks or those that suffer from airborne allergies, having an all-natural mattress is a must, but Avocado goes a step further. They are certified organic, not only using some organic materials, but going through a stringent process to have their source materials, factory and products certified GOTS organic. They also offer a Certified Vegan Mattress and a firmer organic all Latex Mattress.
Overall Score for Kids: 9.5/10
Customer Satisfaction: 9.5/10
Price Value: 9.5/10
Back Support: 9.5/10
Price: $899-$2589
If you have allergies or are concerned by harmful chemicals, Plushbeds has you covered! They are GreenGuard certified, which means that their mattresses don't have harmful compounds or allergens, which is great for those with chemical sensitivities. They have a wide array of offerings including latex, memory foam, and coil mattresses. With deep sales throughout the year, you may even be able to snag one of these mattresses at a discount.
Overall Score for Kids: 9.4/10
Customer Satisfaction: 9.3/10
Price Value: 9.2/10
Back Support: 9.4/10
Price: $549-$3198
My Green Mattress was founded with the mission to create an all-natural mattress that wouldn't harm those that are sensitive to off-gassing or other forms of toxicity in and around mattresses. They offer a variety of Dunlop latex and pocket coil mattresses for both adults and children that are Greenguard, GOLS, and GOTS certified, which are some of the highest organic and safe certifications out there. Their mattresses get high marks from most customers and should be on your shortlist if you are looking at eco-friendly and all-natural options.
Overall Score for Kids: 9.3/10
Customer Satisfaction: 9.4/10
Price Value: 9.4/10
Back Support: 9.2/10
Price: $689-$1699
The Green Thyme mattress is a competitive latex mattress hybrid brand that makes both a 11'' and 13'' latex hybrid mattress. Coming in a slimmer plush-top or a plusher pillow-top, they also offer a split-firmness option as well so that both partners get the firmness they want. They use high quality all natural latex and are pursuing the extremely stringent Greenguard certification for emissions standards. With a socially conscious mission, a portion of each purchase goes to offsetting carbon emissions and protecting natural resources. For eco-conscious and all-natural lovers, this mattress brand should be one to look at!
Overall Score for Kids: 9.3/10
Customer Satisfaction: 9.1/10
Price Value: 9.4/10
Back Support: 9.3/10
Price: $959-$2199
Zenhaven is another brand by the factory-direct Saatva brand, which has done very well with their Saatva and Loom and Leaf brands. The Zenhaven mattress is an all-natural alternative with high-end materials like organic wool and 100% Talalay latex. What's more incredible: the price point is much more affordable than major retailer varieties of the same quality, which is why it is such a great find for eco-conscious shoppers.
Overall Score for Kids: 9.2/10
Customer Satisfaction: 9.1/10
Price Value: 9.3/10
Back Support: 9.3/10
Price: $1399-$3199
Naturepedic makes a variety of mattresses for adults and children. Their popularity stems from being an organic mattress maker. What does organic mean in the mattress context? It means that they only use organic textiles (think cotton) and organic foams (think latex). This differentiator is a big plus for those that suffer from allergy sensitivities or have young children that do. You are going to expect to pay a premium for such materials.
Overall Score for Kids: 9.1/10
Customer Satisfaction: 8.9/10
Price Value: 8.8/10
Back Support: 9/10
Price: $1199-$4799
Spindle is a consumer-direct mattress brand that offers an all natural, latex mattress, which is ideal for those that suffer from allergies and want something that is all-natural and eco-friendly. Building their mattresses with organic cotton, natural wool, and US-made Dunlop latex, take a look to see if these could be right for you.
Overall Score for Kids: 9.1/10
Customer Satisfaction: 9.1/10
Price Value: 9/10
Back Support: 9/10
Price: $1200-$1900
Dreamfoam Bedding is a lower cost brand by Brooklyn Bedding. These economy mattresses offer competitive options for the budget conscious shopper, while still having a good selection of choices featuring hypoallergenic latex, foam, and coil. Because of the lower prices, there are lower quality materials used in the mattresses, which isn't ideal for all sleepers, but for those that are looking for a temporary solution or a guest room mattress, these might work just fine.
Overall Score for Kids: 9.1/10
Customer Satisfaction: 8.6/10
Price Value: 9.3/10
Back Support: 8.6/10
Price: $149-$999
Savvy Rest is well known for their organic and all-natural bedding, mattresses, and furniture. Their mattresses specifically are all certified GOTS-organic, which means that the textiles they use are organic only. Also, their Dunlop latex is USDA certified and GOLS certified as well. You can even customize the individual layers of latex in your mattress. Of course, this customization and quality in material comes at a price.
Overall Score for Kids: 8.5/10
Customer Satisfaction: 8.6/10
Price Value: 8.4/10
Back Support: 8.4/10
Price: $999-$4999