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5 “Twin Mattresses” Perfect for Kids – We Tested Dozens

As your child grows there will be a point where they move out of a crib or toddler mattress and into a twin size “big” bed. When this time comes and you begin to search for mattresses you may find that some prices are extremely high and wonder what mattress is right for this stage.

The good news is that kids mattresses are built to support lighter weights and therefore are generally on the more affordable end (there are luxury options as well that we will include in this post)

Quick Picks

  1. BEST OVERALL (EDITOR’S PICK) – 5 Little Monkeys
  2. BEST INNERSPRING – Helix Kids Mattress
  3. BEST MEMORY FOAM OPTION – Chill
  4. BEST NATURAL OPTION – Birch Natural
  5. BEST LUXURY OPTION – Brooklyn Signature

TOP 8 – Best Twin Mattresses for Kids


1. The Kids Mattress by 5 Little Monkeys

Best Overall (Editor's Pick)
by 5 Little Monkeys

BUILT FOR KIDS

The Kids Mattress by 5 Little Monkeys is built just for your kids and makes for the perfect single mattress option. It is non-toxic, waterproof, hypoallergenic and the perfect firmness for children. 5 little monkeys also sells a variety of accessories that you can get with the mattress, from bed frames to pillows and mattress protectors. If you are looking for a kids mattress, this is one of the best on the market and the only mattress designed exclusively with your child’s needs in mind. 

What we love:
  • Waterproof
  • Temperature regulating
  • Non-toxic and hypoallergenic
  • Supportive for young growing bodies
  • Organic cotton cover
  • Made in the USA
Buy Here

What our testers are saying:

The Kids Mattress by 5 Little Monkeys is built just for your kids and makes for the perfect first twin mattress option. It is non-toxic, waterproof, hypoallergenic and the perfect firmness for children. 5 little monkeys also sells a variety of accessories that you can get with the mattress, from bed frames to pillows and mattress protectors. If you are looking for a kids mattress, this is one of the best on the market and the only mattress designed exclusively with your child’s needs in mind. 

kids-sleep-system-mattress-and-accessories
The 5 little monkey’s mattress comes in a bundle that includes a mattress protector and a natural pillow
single-kids-mattress-monkeys
This mattress measures 8 inches thick and is available in a twin, full or queen size option, making it the perfect fit for a daybed.
  • Waterproof
  • Temperature regulating – Temperature responsive foam keeps your child’s body temperature comfortable the whole year long. 
  • Non-toxic and hypoallergenic
  • Supportive for young growing bodies
  • Organic cotton cover
  • Made in the USA
  • 100 night risk free trial with free shipping and free returns

What Customers love: Non-toxic, waterproof and a perfect comfort level for kids

2. The Kids Mattress by Helix

Best Innerspring Option
by Helix Sleep

The Helix Kids mattress is built specifically with the sleep needs of young growing bodies in mind. The mattress utilizes a pocketed coil innerspring unit in order to provide lasting support that will cradle a variety of body types, even as they grow and get heavier. The mattress is flippable with 2-sides (a firmer side for kids 3-7 years old and slightly softer side for kids 8-12 years old). This mattress is non-toxic and naturally hypoallergenic. The cover has a microbe-shield to protect against bacteria and is also naturally water-repellant to protect against any accidents.

What we love:
  • Built specifically for young growing bodies
  • Flippable 2-Sided Design (kids from ages 3-12)
  • Made in the USA
  • Non-toxic and Hypoallergenic
  • Supportive Pocketed Coil Design
  • Bacteria Fighting & Water-repellant Cover
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What our testers are saying:

The Kids Mattress by Helix is built just for your kids and makes for the perfect single mattress option. It is non-toxic, waterproof, hypoallergenic and 2-sided for the perfect firmness for children. If you are looking for a kids mattress, this is one of the best on the market and one of the only mattresses designed exclusively with your child’s needs in mind. 

  • Waterproof
  • Temperature regulating – Temperature responsive foam keeps your child’s body temperature comfortable the whole year long. 
  • Non-toxic and hypoallergenic
  • Supportive for young growing bodies
  • 2 sided with 2 different comfort levels for growing bodies of all ages
  • Made in the USA
  • 100 night risk free trial with free shipping and free returns
2-sided-kids-mattress
This mattress is 2 sided meeting the firmness and comfort needs of kids ages 3-12 years old
kids-mattress-awarded
Highly awarded and built specifically for kids growing bodies.

What Customers love: Double-sided, waterproof and a perfect comfort level for kids


3. The Chill by Brooklyn Bedding

Best Memory Foam
by Brooklyn Bedding

BUDGET FRIENDLY

This may be the best budget friendly mattress on the market. The combination of high density support foam and memory foam comfort layers makes for a supportive, pressure relieving sleep experience. If you like the feel of memory foam and are looking for an affordable sleeping option then this is the best mattress you will find. Brooklyn Bedding makes all of their mattresses in their own factories in Arizona and are able to cut out the middle man and offer customers factory direct prices.

What we love:
  • Budget friendly price point
  • High quality, supportive memory foam design
  • Made in the USA (Arizona Factory)
  • Available in custom sizes and thicknesses
Buy Here

What our testers are saying:

The Chill is probably the best kept secret when it comes to quality entry level and budget friendly mattresses. This is a great option if you are looking for a quality memory foam mattress at a great price. The high density base foam coupled with the memory foam make it a supportive and comfortable mattress for kids or adults. It also comes in a variety of thicknesses to meet the needs of bunk beds, daybeds, trundle beds and much more. The reviews of this mattress are highly positive. If you are looking for an affordable single mattress that will last for years, then this is likely the best choice for you. 

a-look-inside-the-mattress-layers
Very supportive base foam provides spinal alignment and enough support for even the heaviest of sleepers. The memory foam top layer offers the unique pressure relief that memory foam is known for.
high-quality-zippered-cover
Luxuriously soft knit cover. Can easily be unzipped and thrown in the wash for quick and simple cleaning. Sleeps cool and great for kids or guest rooms.

What Customers love: High quality, affordable memory foam mattress


4. The Birch Natural by Birch

Best Natural Latex Option
by Birch

The Birch Natural mattress is a high quality natural mattress at a highly competitive price point. The wrapped coils provide a luxuriously supportive base that offers industry leading spinal alignment and cradles the natural curves of the body. Birch has built this mattress around optimizing pressure relief with the use of natural latex and wool comfort layers. Latex is one of the best foams on the market for providing pressure relief while still being supportive. The wool adds comfort while naturally wicking moisture and sleeping cool. Birch then has topped the mattress off with an organic cotton cover, making is naturally hypoallergenic and dust mite resistant. This mattress is a great all-around natural option for anyone looking for a medium-firm hybrid mattress that is chemical free.

What we love:
  • 100% Made in the USA
  • Non-Toxic
  • Supportive, hybrid wrapped coil design
  • Luxury pressure relief
  • Natural and Organic Materials (Latex, Organic Wool & Cotton)
  • Universal "Medium-Firm" Feel
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What our testers are saying:

Birch is known throughout the industry for their high quality natural latex mattress options. The Birch is their most budget friendly latex mattress and provides all the healthy benefits of a latex with the benefits of a pocketed coil innerspring unit. The Birch comes in a medium-firm comfort level to suit the vast majority of comfort levels and preferences. This mattress also has an organic cotton cover and is perfect for any individuals with allergies or who are sensitive to non-organic fabrics. While there are other latex mattress options on the market that may cost more, this mattress is by the the best bang-for-your-buck natural mattress.

inside-the-birch-mattress-layers
Utilizes a pocketed coil innerspring unit for luxurious support and spinal alignment. The top layers feature organic cotton and wool for a hypoallergenic and non-toxic sleeping environment. If you are using your single mattress for kids or guests this will be a great healthy mattress that comes at a reasonable price for the quality.
healthy-cover-breathable-organic
The cover is made from organic cotton and organic wool and is naturally moisture wicking and breathable. This mattress will sleep cool while also being dust-mite resistant and hypoallergenic.

What Customers love: Natural latex mattress at an affordable price.


5. The Brooklyn Signature Hybrid by Brooklyn Bedding

Best Luxury Option
by Brooklyn Bedding

GREAT ALL AROUND VALUE

TRADITIONAL INNERSPRING FEEL

An all around hybrid mattress that combines the benefits of a traditional innerspring mattress with Brooklyn Bedding's patented “Titan foam” comfort layers (combining the best properties of latex and memory foam to appeal to all sleeping and comfort preferences). Brooklyn Bedding has been in the mattress industry for years and makes each mattress at their own factory, meaning they can cut out the middle man and provide a great price. This mattress has thousands of 5-star reviews from customers who rave about its value and universal comfort.

What we love:
  • Unbeatable comfort for the price
  • Luxury hybrid innerspring design
  • High quality support and pressure relief
  • Choose soft, medium or firm
  • Over 2,000 5-star reviews.
  • Made in the USA
Buy Now

What our testers are saying:

The Signature Hybrid by Brooklyn Bedding is our favorite option for purchasing in a twin size. The quality construction combined with the highly competitive price point make this mattress one of the best values on the market. It also has a universal hybrid design and comes in a soft, medium or firm option to meet the needs of all types of sleepers. The profile is under 12″ thick, which is the perfect thickness for the needs of most people looking for a smaller single size mattress. The Titan foam and Innersprings combined in this mattress offer the best of both worlds. It combines the support you get from the standard innerspring, however, your child can enjoy the pressure relief and comfort of foam layers. That layer of foam helps minimize pressure on your kid’s spine.

tester-on-mattress
This mattress gives quality support and pressure relief at a great price point. The luxurious tufted cover is high end and is comparable to a multi-thousand dollar mattress.
luxurious-cover-and-build
Luxurious build available in a soft, medium or firm feeling option. This mattress is not too thick and works perfectly for a single or full size mattress.

Quick Buyer Guide: What To Consider When Buying a Twin Mattress for Your Kid

When buying a twin mattress for your child, you have a lot to think about. Not every mattress will work for every kid, so you should think about each child individually.

Here are some factors to keep in mind as you shop for the best twin mattress for kids.

1. The Different Kinds of Twin Mattresses To Consider for Your Kid

First, you should know about the different kinds of mattresses out there. You can find gel memory foam, latex/natural and spring mattresses. Some beds even combine the materials, such as memory foam over innerspring.

Spring Mattresses: Springs are a traditional choice, and can provide high end support and pressure relief, but they can be uncomfortable when made cheaply. If the mattress doesn’t have a thick top layer of foam, your child will be able to feel the coils. When it comes to entry level innerspring mattresses, they will generally be more expensive than their foam counterparts if you want to get one that is comfortable.

Memory Foam: Memory foam mattresses are great for young kids, will last for many years and are budget friendly. It is important to note that memory foam comes in a variety of different densities and quality. Buying a cheap memory foam mattress on Amazon won’t last as long or be as supportive as a high end one made by a reputable company with USA made materials.

Latex Mattresses: Latex is a natural foam that comes from the rubber tree. It is generally used in mattresses that are chemical free, hypoallergenic and that use organic cotton covers. If you are looking for a healthy sleep surface for your child, free from chemicals and are willing to spend a bit more money, then a latex mattress is a great way to go.

2. What Factors To Take Into Consideration

Thickness: When choosing the best twin mattress, consider the thickness. Some thinner mattresses are more affordable and are great for bunk beds or trundle beds, but they also don’t offer as much support. Thicker mattresses can be nice if your child needs extra materials and will be sleeping on it for a longer period of time. In general we recommend an 8″ to 10″ thick mattress for younger children.

Firmness: You might also want to think about firmness. Children tend to prefer a slightly softer mattress that offers a more comfortable and cushiony feel. Their growing bodies are adaptable and don’t require as much firmness as someone who is older that may be suffering from back or joint pain.

Materials: The materials can also come into play, especially if your child has allergies or occasionally has an accident in bed (waterproof). Make sure to look for materials that fit your child’s specific needs. Even if you add sheets over your mattress, it can still trigger allergies. You may also want to consider a breathable mattress. That way, your child won’t get too hot as they sleep throughout the night. Some mattresses have air channels or other technology to help air circulate and keep your child comfortable.

Motion transfer: Another thing to think about is motion isolation. Quiet motion isolation that pocketed coils and memory foam offer, is nice if they share a room with a sibling so they don’t wake them when tossing and turning throughout the night.

3. How Much Should You Spend?

You can find a good twin mattress for anywhere between $100 and over $1,000. The amount you should spend depends on the quality of the mattress and how long it will last. If your child is older, they might be almost ready for a full bed, so you can get a cheaper twin that only needs to last a year or 2.

On the other hand, if your child is just moving to a twin bed, you can spend more. That way, they’ll be able to sleep on the bed for longer. And in that case, make sure the bed is flexible so that it can support your child and relieve pressure as they get taller and heavier.

4. What Age Kids Will a Twin Mattress Be Best For?

Most kids move from a toddler to a twin bed at three or four years old. Your child can continue to use a twin bed for as long as they want or as they can comfortably fit.

If your child gets to be quite tall, they may need to switch to a twin XL mattress. That way, their feet won’t hang off the end, and they can sleep comfortably.

A twin bed works well for as long as you or your child wants to use one. Just make sure you get a good quality mattress so that you can get good use out of it.


What size is a twin mattress?

A twin mattress measures 38 inches wide by 75 inches long and is the smallest “standard size” mattress on the market today. A twin mattress is perfect for kids, guest rooms, hospital beds, bunk beds, trundle beds or anywhere that needs to sleep an individual in a smaller footprint.

Twin vs twin xl mattresses for kids

twin-xl-vs-twin-size-topper

A twin xl mattress is 5 inches longer than a standard twin and works best for individuals over 5’9″ tall. The extra 5 inches makes a twin xl the same length as a queen or king size mattress that most adults sleep in. However, a standard twin will work perfect for the vast majority of young kids to sleep in for many years.

When should a kid move from a crib mattress to a twin mattress?

In general, a crib mattress can sleep most children until the age of 3 years old. The problem with crib mattresses often isn’t the size of the bed but actually the fact that the crib mattress is too firm for a child’s heavier body and becomes more uncomfortable. Many parents find when they move their child to a twin mattress they begin to sleep much better with less tossing and turning.