Before adding to your cart, parents and caregivers, consider the construction of the mattress and materials. Some of them may offer a waterproof casing, and some are hypoallergenic. It’s also important to pick a mattress with the right amount of firmness for your child’s body and age, so they are supported comfortably as they continue to grow. When mattress shopping, a basic rule of thumb to remember is that a firmer mattress is ideal for toddlers, while softer options are better for big kids. Here are the best twin mattresses for kids and toddlers. Not to mention, it’s super comfortable with its pillow top, individually wrapped coils, and added support. The mattress comes in luxury firm, plush soft, and firm options and in both twin and twin XL sizes. Choose between the Custom Slim option, which is 11.5 inches thick, and the Premier Luxury option, which is 14.5 inches thick. Your child’s mattress will come with free white glove delivery and a 120-night home trial. Construction Type: Pillow Top and Spring Coil | Firmness: Soft, Medium, or Firm | Thickness: 11.5 inches or 14.5 inches | Sizes Available: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King, Split King, Split California King | Price at time of publication: $1,770 Construction Type: Springs, Memory Foam, and Foam | Firmness: Medium | Thickness: 8 - 12 Inches | Sizes Available: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King | Price at time of publication: $140 While this isn’t an all-organic mattress, it has a CertiPUR-US certification, which means it uses very few chemicals in the manufacturing process. The mattress is 10 inches thick and comes in both twin and twin XL sizes. It also comes with a 10-year limited warranty and 100-night sleep trial. Construction Type: Foam | Firmness: Medium Firm | Thickness: 10 Inches | Sizes Available: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King | Price at time of publication: $745 If your budget allows, Dr. Baer recommends investing in a mattress that is as organic as possible. “GOTS- and GOLS-certified are best,” she says. Additionally, there is a layer of perforated foam in the mattress to provide air circulation so your kiddo doesn’t wake up a sweaty mess throughout the night. Finally, it’s designed to support any sleeper—whether they sleep on their back, side, belly, or all over the place. The medium-firm mattress is delivered in a box and comes with a 100-night free trial. Construction Type: Memory Foam | Firmness: Medium | Thickness: 11 inches | Sizes Available: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King | Price at time of publication: $1,295 Linenspa created the low-profile bed specifically for kids to keep them closer to the ground (in case of falls) and to fit traditional kid bed frames like daybeds, trundle beds, and bunk beds. The bed comes in twin and twin XL sizes and can be purchased with a platform bed frame. Construction Type: Innerspring | Firmness: Firm | Thickness: 6 inches | Sizes Available: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King | Price at time of publication: $100 This mattress is vacuum-sealed and shipped in a small box, so it’s easy to drag to any room in your house. Once you cut it out of the bag, it expands to its full size. Construction Type: Innerspring | Firmness: Firm | Thickness: 8-10 inches | Sizes Available: Twin, Full, Queen, King | Price at time of publication: $280 The Naturepedic Verse Organic Mattress is Certified to the GOTS Standard and is made with only certified organic, non-toxic ingredients—this means no polyurethane foam, flame retardants, glues, biocides, chemical water repellent treatments, and other harmful materials. The mattress is designed to promote air circulation to prevent overheating while sleeping and has a firm feel which is perfect for growing kids. It’s made from organic cotton and wool and will snuggly fit most bed frames. Construction Type: Foam and Soy Foam | Firmness: Medium-Firm | Thickness: 9 inches | Sizes Available: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen | Price at time of publication: $899 The 12-inch thick foam mattress has four layers to provide stability, air circulation, and support. It will fit most bed frames and can also perform well when placed directly on the floor. With a 20-year warranty, the manufacturer promises it won’t sag in the middle over time. The mattress comes in both twin and twin XL sizes. Amerisleep will ship your mattress compressed in an eco-friendly box, and you have 100 nights to try it before committing. Construction Type: Foam | Firmness: Firm | Thickness: 12 inches | Sizes Available: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King | Price at time of publication: $1,199 While the mattress is on the softer side, the memory foam layer offers added support, and the hybrid design also creates better airflow for temperature regulation. With a 10-year warranty and a 100-night sleep trial, you can test the USA-made mattress out before committing. Construction Type: Foam and memory foam | Firmness: Med-Soft to Soft | Thickness: 12 inches | Sizes Available: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King | Price at time of publication: $799 Dr. Baer likes that this mattress is compliant with all federal and state flammability requirements without the use of fire retardant chemicals, which she says can be especially dangerous for kids. Parents and caregivers will appreciate the easy-to-clean waterproof cover for late-night potty accidents. Construction Type: Foam | Firmness: Medium-Firm | Thickness: 7.5 inches | Sizes Available: Twin | Price at time of publication: $429 The 12-inch twin mattress is made with extra coils for added firmness and is especially great for kids who sleep on their stomachs. Don’t worry, though, it’s not hard as a rock—it has three layers of foam on top of those coils to provide added comfort. It’s also CertiPUR-US certified and is made without the use of chemical flame retardants. Construction Type: Innerspring | Firmness: Extra Firm | Thickness: 10-12 inches | Sizes Available: Twin, Full, Queen, King | Price at time of publication: $237

What to Look for in a Twin Mattress for Kids and Toddlers 

Materials

One of the most important features to look for in a twin mattress is the material, especially if your child has allergies of any kind. Not all mattresses are made from organic fabrics and fillers; some are hypoallergenic while others aren’t, and some have waterproof casings. Consider all of your options carefully by first understanding the different types of mattresses commonly used.

Foam: Whether they’re infused with gel or regular memory foam, this type of mattress feels anywhere from soft to medium, is great at holding in motion, and isn’t as noisy as a mattress with coils. However, these mattresses may not be supportive enough for certain sleep positions or children, and can hold more body heat. Innerspring: This traditional type of mattress contains coils that shrink when holding weight. Innerspring mattresses provide support, specifically for the back, and are usually budget-friendly enough for many families. Keep in mind that the coils can wear over time, creating a squeaking noise, and the mattress may need to be replaced sooner.Hybrid: A hybrid mattress is essentially a combination of foam and innerspring mattresses because the materials include both foam and coils.

Firmness

Consider what firmness your child needs to get a full, restful night of sleep. When selecting the mattress, make sure it’s designed to support their spine and bones, as their developing body will constantly change and you want a mattress that evolves with them. Mattresses come in various levels of firmness, but you will commonly see soft, medium, and firm.

Soft: A mattress that’s soft will have you feeling as if you’re in the bed rather than on the top of the mattress, similar to a sinking feeling. Soft mattresses may be infused with foam inside for extra softness, feel best for those who sleep on their side, and are better for older children instead of young.Medium: Medium-firm mattresses are a combination of soft and firm. The top layers typically consist of a softer material, like memory foam, while the bottom half may be infused with coils for better support.Firm: Firm mattresses are best for young children, like babies and toddlers, because they are supposed to sleep on a hard, firm surface. When a younger child lies down on a mattress, there should be no indentations.

Hybrid vs. Non-Hybrid

Many parents and caregivers may struggle with picking between a hybrid mattress and a non-hybrid mattress. While a hybrid mattress may seem like a good, best-of-both-worlds pick, there are benefits and disadvantages to that specific type of mattress. If you’re stuck on going hybrid or not, consider some of the pros and cons to determine what will be the best fit for your kiddo. For example, a hybrid mattress appears to be a no-brainer kind of option since you get both foam and coils. Some companies even allow you to customize the mattress, determining where support is needed the most. However, hybrid mattresses may cost you more upfront, and motion may not be absorbed as well, so consider those factors before purchasing. A non-hybrid mattress could mean coils only, foam only, or even an air bed. No matter what type of non-hybrid bed you’re considering, these mattresses can provide more support for specific areas, like the back, and are more budget-friendly. Be sure to remember coils may start to wear over time and become squeaky, and may not feel supportive enough depending on how your child sleeps.

Why Trust Verywell Family

Ashley Ziegler is a staff and freelance writer who covers lifestyle, home, parenting, and commerce content for a variety of platforms. She’s a mom to 1-year-old and 3-year-old daughters, the youngest of which has a Colgate crib mattress. Her oldest has a Linenspa 6-inch Innerspring Mattress on a trundle bed in her room, where Ashley has comfortably slept after scary dreams and midnight fevers. In addition to regularly scouring the internet to find the best things for herself, Ashley spends multiple hours a week researching, comparing, and writing about products specifically for kids and families.