The best twin mattresses for kids help growing children transition into a regular size bed from their crib or toddler bed with less fuss. A twin offers that just-right feel for young children, offering room to stretch out but not so much that they’ll feel dwarfed by its size. Yet, the right mattress pick can support kids into their teenage years. After speaking with experts and testing a number of these mattresses in our own homes, we like the Avocado Eco Organic Kids Mattress as the best overall for its natural materials, and the Helix Kids Mattress for its flippable design, supporting kids from the toddler years to tweendom. We also found several more beds that might better match your individual child’s needs or your budget.
The best twin mattress for kids is designed to support their lighter but still growing bodies.
Illustration: Forbes / Photo: Helix
In general, you’ll want to select a kids mattress with a medium-firm to firm feel, says Michael Bauer, M.D., medical director at Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital and a pediatrician. This “can provide both a level of comfort as well as the appropriate support needed for their spine and neck,” he says. “Making sure the mattress is made of nontoxic materials and has passed all safety standards is a must.” Dr. Bauer continues: “If allergies are an issue, I suggest considering a mattress made from organic materials.”
See the best twin mattresses for kids below to set your child up for a better night’s sleep. After reading this story, you might want to consider reading about our favorite bunk beds for kids and the best weighted blankets for kids.
Best Twin Mattress For Kids Overall: Avocado Eco Organic Kids Mattress
Best Flippable Twin Mattress For Kids: Helix Kids Mattress
Best Organic Twin Mattress For Kids: Naturepedic 2-In-1 Organic Kids Waterproof Mattress
Best Latex Twin Mattress For Kids: Birch Kids Natural Mattress
Best Value Twin Mattress For Kids: Nectar Memory Foam Mattress
Best Delivery Of A Twin Mattress For Kids: Saatva Youth Mattress
Best Memory Foam Twin Mattress For Kids: Leesa Kids Mattress
Best Hybrid Twin Mattress For Kids: Nolah Nurture Kids Mattress
Best Twin Mattress For Teens: The DreamCloud Hybrid Mattress
Best Twin Mattress For Kids’ Bunk Beds: Kiwi Organic Bunk Mattress
Best Twin Mattress For Kids On Amazon: Linenspa Innerspring Twin Mattress
MOST POPULAR
Avocado Green Mattress
Avocado Eco Organic Kids Mattress
Thickness: 7 inches | Type: Hybrid (latex) | Firmness level: Medium-firm | Additional sizes: Twin XL, full
The Avocado Eco Organic Kids mattress is crafted from a mix of organic materials, including GOTS-certified organic cotton and wool and GOLS-certified organic latex. This hybrid kids mattress features 6-inch pocketed recycled-steel coils for support and has a lower profile than most, making it easy to use for a toddler or as a bunk bed mattress. The mattress’ wool helps to keep your child cool and dry in the summer and nice and snug in the winter. What this mattress doesn’t have: Toxic chemicals, off-gassing, chemical flame retardants, fiberglass or polyurethane foams that are more commonly found in memory foam beds. It’s certified free of formaldehyde and phthalates and carries the Greenguard Gold certified and rarer Made Safe seal to screen for additional potentially hazardous materials. Keep in mind that this Avocado mattress is truly designed for kids and supports only up to 115 pounds, so you’ll need to size up for teens.
What the parent tester says: The organic element is a huge plus for plenty of parents. “The transparency in materials and the use of natural components like latex and certified organic wool and cotton are really the reason I selected an Avocado mattress for my asthmatic, dust-allergic child,” says Rose Gordon Sala, deputy editor at Vetted. “He was 8 when I bought him the full-size of this mattress, so already past the flippable kiddie mattresses. It’s firm enough to support his back sleeping but the latex offers a bit of give, too, which is nice for his growing body, which experiences more aches and pains as he heads toward teendom.”
Key features
10-year warranty100-day sleep trialCertified GOTS-organic and Greenguard Gold certified
Thickness: 8 inches | Type: Hybrid | Firmness level: Medium-firm | Additional sizes: Twin, full
The Helix Mattress for Kids offers plenty of options for your growing child as this hybrid pick is flippable. One side of the mattress is designed for the younger set (ages 3 to 7) and has firmer support that’s more in line with what they experienced in a crib mattress. The other side of this CertiPur-US memory foam and 6-inch innerspring twin mattress offers up a little more softness and pressure relief for ages 8 to 12. Helix protects its kid mattress with a plant-based stain- and water-repellent formula in case of accidents and an odor-fighting antimicrobial. It’s also Greenguard Gold certified to further reduce off-gassing concerns and free of fiberglass.
What the parent tester says: Many parents prefer a kid-focused bed like the Helix, which is flippable as children grow, especially if you buy it when they’re young enough for the first stage of it. Karen Tietjen, our senior updates editor, turned to this Helix mattress as her son’s first big kid bed and says “overall, the mattress offers the right amount of firmness to support his little body.” He’s a restless sleeper, she shares, and yet, “he usually sleeps completely through the night,” on his Helix.
Key features
10-year limited warrantyFlippable designStain- and water-repellent
Naturepedic
Naturpedic 2-In-1 Organic Kids Waterproof Mattress
Thickness: 7 inches | Type: Hybrid | Firmness level: Medium-firm | Additional sizes: Twin trundle, Twin trundle short, full
The kid-centric Naturepedic 2-in-1 mattress offers a flippble mattress with a waterproof side for the potty training years. The waterproof layer is composed from sugarcane, not chemicals. In fact, the whole mattress has a focus on ditching chemicals for more natural ingredients. There is no foam here, fire retardants or glues. It combines 6-inch coil springs with layers of GOTS-certified organic cotton for a hybrid construction and a firmer feel. This organic mattress also carries a number of excellent health, environmental and safety certifications, including the Made-Safe seal, Greenguard Gold, GOTS-organic and formaldehyde free. The twin size can hold up to 325 pounds, meaning this kids mattress works for all ages. (The brand also makes our top tested crib mattress.)
What the parent testers say: My daughter is using this mattress now, and we both find it quite comfortable. In fact, I even fell asleep on it with her during naptime. I love the built-in waterproofing, as well as the organic and safety certifications. It doesn’t have much edge support, though.
Key features
Flippable with a waterproof side for potty training100-night sleep trial25-year warranty
Editor’s Pick
Birch
Birch Kids Natural Mattress
Thickness: 8 inches | Type: Hybrid (latex) | Firmness level: Medium-firm | Additional sizes: Full
The Birch Kids mattress relies on Talalay latex to offer gentle, pressure-relieving support and breathability, making it a good option for hot sleepers. The brand doesn’t just use any latex, though—it’s been tested by the eco-Institut to certify that it has no emissions or VOCs. An organic wool layer helps the mattress have flame resistance without chemicals or fiberglass, as well as prevent dust mites and allergens from building up in the mattress. There are no added antimicrobials or water repellents here. Birch also skipped the use of chemical adhesives like glue and is GOTS certified, so you don’t need to worry about off-gassing. This mattress is flippable, with a firmer side for kids ages 3 to 7 and softer side for 8- to 12-year-olds.
What the parent testers say: The Birch mattress gets thumbs up from parents for its clean ingredients and comfort. “My oldest daughter raves about her Birch mattress,” says Sala. “Again, I selected it because of the more natural ingredient profile given that she’s a developing tween girl, but the Talalay latex turned out to be just right for her preferred side sleeping position. She no longer wakes up complaining of aches and pains, and she loves to sprawl out on it.”
Key features
Flippable100-night sleep trialNo chemical fire retardants or chemical adhesives
Nectar sleep
Nectar Memory Foam Mattress
Thickness: 12 inches | Type: Memory foam | Firmness level: Medium-firm | Additional sizes: Twin XL, full, queen, king, California king, split king
Nectar is known for delivering quality mattresses to your doorstep at low prices, and the brand’s twin mattress doesn’t disappoint. It features several inches of memory foam to cushion your child as they snooze, along with a sturdy base layer (crucial with kiddos) and a shift-resistant lower cover to round everything out. It also comes with a 365-day home trial and the brand’s Forever Warranty, which ensures your mattress will either be repaired or replaced if something happens to it—ever. Because this is made of memory foam, you’ll want to let it air out before your child sleeps on it, and wash the sheets regularly. It’s also a pretty tall bed for young children, making it more ideal for older kids versus toddlers.
What the reviews say: Nectar’s memory foam mattress has plenty of repeat customers, with several saying that more than one family member has the sleep surface. “I bought one for my son and I’m about to buy another one—this is the best mattress we’ve ever had,” said a happy customer. The brand also scored Vetted’s pick as the best mattress overall with its Nectar Premier Cooper bed.
Key features
Lifetime warranty365-day home trialAffordable
Thickness: 10 inches | Type: Hybrid | Firmness level: Medium-firm | Additional sizes: Twin XL, full
The Saatva Youth mattress is specifically designed with kids in mind like many of the mattresses included in this story. The firmer side is designed for 3- to 7-year-olds, while the slightly more cushy side of this twin mattress is made for 8- to 12-year-olds. Simply flip the mattress when your child gets older. One thing that parents might particularly enjoy about the Saatva bed is the included white glove delivery. Saatva delivers each mattress directly to the room of your choosing—and this makes a big difference with these heavier, higher-quality mattresses.
The mattress is 10 inches high, so it’s a bit taller than some of our picks but not too lofty for little ones to crawl onto. It features a mix of CertiPur-US memory foam and recycled steel coils for good, long-lasting support. It has a 100% plant-based antimicrobial barrier that’s made with essential oils and minerals like lemongrass and mint, and the cover is made with organic cotton. The flame-retardant barrier comes from a thistle pulp rather than chemicals or fiberglass. There’s also a 365-day trial period just in case.
What the parent tester says: I’ve been testing this mattress with my 7-year-old, and we both appreciate the firm, supportive feel. He immediately started sleeping better when it arrived—and I am a fan of the white glove delivery and setup. I do want to point out that at 10 inches tall this isn’t the right bed for a bunk.
Key features
Lifetime warrantyFlippableWater-resistant finish
Good Value
Thickness: 7.5 inches | Type: Memory foam | Firmness level: Medium-firm | Additional sizes: Youth mattress, kids mattress
Leesa makes several affordable memory foam mattresses for kids: this kids mattress, which is 7.5 inches in height; a youth mattress that’s 10-inches high and best for older kids and teens; and a trundle mattress that’s just 5 inches in height. Leesa’s mattresses are made in the U.S., and come with a 10-year warranty and two certifications aimed at keeping those VOCs and off-gassing issues common with furniture and mattresses in check: CertiPUR-US and Greenguard Gold certification. The fire barrier is also free of chemicals and fiberglass. You can find its mattresses at Pottery Barn Kids and West Elm, making them easy to bundle with a new bed.
It includes an inch of aerated foam to keep the mattress cooler, an inch of responsive memory foam to cradle their growing joints and another 5 inches of foam core to keep it sturdy over the years. Again, foam is prone to off-gassing, so Miriam Diamond, Ph.D., an environmental chemist and a professor at the University of Toronto whom I interviewed, recommends letting your mattress air out before using it, and changing the sheets often.
What the parent testers say: My parents have six grandkids, ranging in age from 8 months to 16 years, and they regularly host sleepovers for the older children. When it came time to upgrade their old trundle mattress (which is a holdover from when I was a kid), they opted for the Leesa trundle mattress. It’s a significant upgrade from the previous mattress and feels high quality. Everyone has enjoyed sleeping on it.
Key features
CertiPur-US and Greenguard Gold certified10-year limited warranty100-night sleep trial
Nolah Sleep
Nolah Nurture Kids Mattress
Thickness: 8 inches | Type: Hybrid | Firmness level: Medium-firm | Additional sizes: Twin XL, full
The Nolah Nurture Kids mattress offers a hybrid construction, combining a layer of individually wrapped coils, as well as two different layers of CertiPUR-US foam and additional layers of GOTS-organic cotton and wool as the fire barrier. It’s also Greenguard Gold certified. I like that it’s flippable, offering a firmer feeling side and a softer side for fickle kids or teens in need of more pressure relief. It has a higher weight limit for a kids mattress at 200 pounds, meaning you could use it for teens. It’s also 8 inches thick, making it small enough for toddlers to climb on and off of, but not so short that teens will feel they don’t have enough support. You do need to pay extra for mattress setup and removal.
What the reviews say: Parents can’t get over how comfortable this mattress is, with one raving that their child now probably has “the softest bed in the house.” A fellow happy customer called the mattress “just right,” adding, “the kids love them and once in a while, I managed to sleep on them.”
Key features
Organic, natural materials combined with coils and foam layersFlippable for different firmness levels120-night sleep trial
DreamCloud
DreamCloud Hybrid Mattress
Thickness: 14 inches | Type: Hybrid | Firmness level: Medium-firm | Additional sizes: Twin XL, full, queen, king, California king
Can’t decide between memory foam or innerspring? This DreamCloud mattress gives you the best of both worlds. It boasts several layers of pressure-relieving gel memory foam gel, along with 8.5-inch individually-wrapped coils for a supportive-yet-comfortable feel. There’s a 1.5-inch plush foam layer on top for extra softness, along with a breathable cover to minimize the risk of overheating at night. At 14 inches high, this is a sizable mattress that may be tricky for smaller children to climb onto. However, older kids and teens should have no issues. Again, let it air out for a few days before having your child sleep on it, but hybrid mattresses do come with fewer concerns than 100% memory foam mattresses in terms of the off-gassing.
What the testers say: Fans rave about the mattress’ support and feel. Vetted sleep editor McKenzie Dillion called it a medium-firm mattress best for back or stomach sleepers in her review and says it aced her motion isolation tests, making it great for restless sleepers. A happy customer wrote in an online review that the DreamCloud is “such a great mattress at an affordable price,” adding, “I feel like I am sleeping on a hotel bed.”
Key features
Lifetime warrantyAmple support for older kids365-night trial
My Green Mattress
Kiwi Organic Bunk Bed Mattress
Thickness: 6 inches | Type: Hybrid | Firmness level: Medium-firm | Additional sizes: Twin XL, Full
At baseline, it can be difficult to find a mattress that’s organic and low in VOC emissions. It’s also tricky to find one that checks all the boxes and works as a bunk mattress. The Kiwi Organic Bunk Bed Mattress manages to do it all. The low-profile mattress features GOLS-certified organic latex, along with a GOTS-certified organic wool and cotton quilted cover for breathability and comfort. It can support up to 400 pounds and is made without toxic chemicals, flame retardants and polyurethane foams. At 6 inches in height, you likely won’t have to worry about the mattress getting too lofty for the top bunk’s safety bar, but please do read the specifications of your particular bunk.
What the reviews say: Parents rave about the mattress’ support and lack of chemicals. “I am obsessed with this mattress!” said one. “The firmness is just right and I love lying on it to read my son a book. I’m hoping to replace my current memory foam mattress with a king size version of Kiwi!”
Key features
20-year warranty365-night sleep trialMade Safe, GOTS, Greenguard Gold Certified
Amazon
Linenspa Innerspring Twin Mattress
Thickness: 6 inches | Type: Innerspring | Firmness level: Firm | Additional sizes: Twin XL, narrow twin, full, full XL, queen, king, California king
At just $100, you can’t beat the price of the Linenspa Innerspring twin mattress in a box. This firm mattress features steel coils for constant support, along with a quilted fabric cover and a single inch foam layer to help your child sleep. It is fairly petite at 6-inches in height, making it another option for bunk beds, trundles and toddlers. Just beware that those coils make for good bouncing conditions for more active kids, and they aren’t individually wrapped to you’re going to hear a few more squeaks. This budget pick does not come with layer upon layer of pressure relief but that might be just fine for some kids. Please also note that this mattress is not U.S.-made unlike many others on this list. It does come with more than 67,000 reviews on Amazon and an overall 4.3 rating.
What the reviews say: Parents say they picked up this mattress for everything from trundles to regular beds. “I was surprised at how comfortable it was. Great value for the money,” shared one, who purchased the mattress for a trundle.
Key features
10-year limited warrantyExtra affordableGood support
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
The team at Forbes Vetted has done extensive research into the best mattresses and bedding brands, as well as tested and reviewed hundreds of baby and kids gear products. We combined these two passions to put together this list of the best twin mattresses for kids. In the parenting category, we always come at our stories from a safety perspective first as we are parents too and want to ensure we’re recommending the very best, most safe items, which is why we dug into the makeup of these mattress materials.
I have also tested or am testing some of these mattresses in my own home (Saatva, Leesa, Naturepedic and others), as has my editor, Rose Gordon Sala (Avocado, Birch, Nectar and Linenspa) and other Forbes Vetted parents and team members have tested and slept on additional beds in this article, including DreamCloud. We continue to review and update this article with our latest testing notes and feedback on these mattresses. It was most recently revised in January 2024 to add in additional firsthand testing notes on several mattresses, including the Avocado, Helix, Saatva and Birch models.
How We Chose The Best Twin Mattresses For Kids
To choose the best twin mattresses for kids, I interviewed several pediatricians and environmental safety experts quoted throughout the piece to determine how to find the safest and most appropriate bed for kids. I took into consideration additional feedback from experts about what makes for the best mattress for kids. This meant putting a focus on mattresses sized and designed for children, hybrid picks and those with more natural materials.
I also spoke to other parents for their top picks, analyzed the most popular options out there as a professional reviews and shopping writer and mother and drew on our existing experience in the category. I also tested a number of these beds, as did my editor and other Forbes staff. I then narrowed the list down by factors like durability, size, materials and kid-friendly features. I considered the value of each mattress, the price and thought about what might be best or most useful for families. We tried to include a mix of mattresses to meet different family budgets as well.
How To Select The Best Twin Mattress For Your Child
There are several factors to consider when picking a twin mattress for your child.
Thickness: With mattress thickness, bigger isn’t always better, says Daniel Ganjian, M.D., a pediatrician at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California. You’ll want to consider elements like the age of your child (a less-thick option is often ideal for younger kids), along with the bed frame you’re working with.
Materials: “Making sure the mattress is made of non-toxic materials and has passed all safety standards is a must,” Dr. Bauer continues. “If allergies are an issue, I suggest considering a mattress made from organic materials.”
Firmness level: In general, you want a mattress with a medium-firm to firm feel, says Dr. Bauer. This “can provide both a level of comfort as well as the appropriate support needed for their spine and neck,” he says.
Warranty: Kids are rough on their gear and mattresses are no exception. Getting a mattress with a solid, multi-year warranty is a good idea if you’re able.
Is A Memory Foam Mattress Good For A Child?
It depends. Memory foam mattresses are more likely to off-gas than mattresses made with natural materials like wool or cotton or metal coils, Tasha Stoiber, Ph.D., an Environmental Working Group (EWG) senior scientist, points out. But memory foam mattresses tend to be less expensive than other types and they have the safety benefit of being tough to bounce on, lowering the risk on injuries to your child, Dr. Ganjian says.
But you don’t have to get your child a memory foam mattress. “Traditional coil spring mattresses are a standard and are quite suitable,” Dr. Bauer says. “A reasonable option is a so-called hybrid, which is a combination of both coil springs and memory foam.”
Is A Hybrid Mattress Good For A Child?
In general, experts say that hybrid can be a good fit for kids. They have less bounciness than more traditional innerspring mattresses, but also contain less foam than a strictly memory foam mattress. They’re also known to last longer if they have the support of innersprings or latex. This style of mattress, along with innerspring mattresses, are typically better for hot sleepers vs. memory foam, which can trap heat more. A latex mattress tends to be a good pick. “Latex can be a good choice since natural latex will off-gas much less than polyurethane foam,” Stoiber says. “Latex can also be used in certified organic mattresses [and] price points for natural latex mattresses are becoming comparable to mattresses with polyurethane foam.”
What Type Of Mattress Is Best For Kids?
It depends. Some toddlers may prefer a toddler bed and the crib-sized mattress that goes with it. But, eventually, they’ll outgrow this and be ready for a twin mattress.
There are a few factors to consider, including firmness (medium-firm is best, Dr. Bauer says), mattress materials and whether your child has allergies (if they do, a hypoallergenic or organic mattress may be a better fit, says Dr. Ganjian.
A big concern with kids mattresses should be the materials used for fireproofing and waterproofing, says Stoiber. She also suggested looking closely at any antimicrobial elements should also cause you to dig a little deeper. These can contain harmful volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) which can increase your child’s risk of developing asthma, says Diamond. They also can contain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, PFAS or so-called “forever chemicals,” which may even mimic chemicals in the body, causing health issues for your child, she says. “Previous studies showed elevated levels in the sleeping environment [due to mattresses],” Diamond says.
However, some mattress manufacturers have focused on creating products that won’t off-gas, don’t contain PFAS and that use natural materials like latex, wool, cotton and steel springs—Stoiber recommends focusing on these.
You’ll also want to consider the height or thickness of the mattress as it relates to your child’s size and bed specifications. But, with a slew of mattress options out there, you’re near-guaranteed to find a twin mattress you and your child will love.
How Long Will My Kid’s Twin Mattress Last?
Twin mattresses have the same shelf life as other mattresses, which is in the range of 7 to 10 years, depending on how much use the mattress gets over time and how it’s treated. It’s tempting to pass mattresses down between children—and you absolutely can do that—but there is a time limit to this practice. “Mattresses are not made to last a lifetime and typically need to be replaced every 7 to 10 years—sometimes sooner depending on the type used and how roughly it’s been treated,” says Dr. Bauer. “Keep this in mind when passing down from one child to the next.”
How Thick Should A Kids Twin Mattress Be?
You’ll want to consider a few things here, including the age of your child, Dr. Ganjian says. “Generally, the younger the kid, the thinner you want the mattress to be—within reason,” he says. “You don’t want to go too thick for younger children, because they can fall off and may hurt themselves if the mattress is high.” At the same time, Dr. Ganjian says, “you don’t want to go too thin” and get a mattress that doesn’t have enough support for you child. He recommends looking for a mattress that’s between 5 to 8 inches thick, and looking for a thicker mattress with older children. If you’re planning to use the mattress in a bunk bed, Dr. Ganjian recommends looking at the suggested height for the mattress frame to ensure you get a mattress that won’t be too tall for the top bunk’s guardrail.
Is Spring Or Foam Mattress Better For Kids?
Technically, you can get either. Again, spring mattresses are less likely to off-gas than memory foam mattresses, but the overall safety of the mattress in terms of VOCs largely depends on what type of chemicals the mattress maker may put in and on the mattress, Diamond says. A hybrid mattress is often thought to be a good middle ground—it’s less likely to off-gas and is less bouncy than an innerspring mattress.
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