A guide to kid’s mattress height and thickness
Mattress thickness might be an afterthought when shopping for a child’s bed. Indeed, mattress height is probably the least considered dimension when shopping for mattresses, taking a distant third position to considerations of length and breadth. But mattress thickness can have a serious impact on health and comfort — especially on a kid’s mattress, where it’s so important to support growing bodies.
Once you go down the mattress thickness wormhole, there’s no shortage of questions to ask. Is a 6 inch mattress thick enough? What about 7 inches or more? Is an 8 inch mattress thick enough? And does the required thickness of a kid’s mattress change depending on the material used? How thick should a memory foam mattress be, for example, and is that different to spring mattress thickness?
It’s easy to get flustered, but there’s no need to panic. In this article, we’ve written up a mattress thickness guide to help you make an educated choice with your purchase of a kid’s mattress.
At Eco Kids, we’re experts in making sure kids get the right mattresses. Check out our comprehensive guide to everything you ever wanted to know about kids’ mattresses.
How thick is the average kid’s mattress?
Kid’s mattresses come in a dramatic range of different thicknesses. For example, there are some kid’s mattresses that are only two inches thick or so. These might be appropriate for very small children, or OK on a temporary basis while you go camping, but it isn’t a mattress that is going to be suitable in the longer term.
Other kid’s mattresses are similar in dimension to an adult sleeping surface. An adult mattress will usually be between 20 and 30cm. Like the children who sleep on them, a kid’s mattress should be proportionally shorter.
At Eco Kids, our kid’s mattresses are 21cm thick. That’s true of our single mattress, right up to the double mattresses that we sell. 21cm is well within the range of a durable adult mattress, and as such it will last around the same length of time.
Why is your kid’s mattress 21cm thick?
Mattress designers have worked hard on the Eco Kids mattress to ensure that it’s the ideal sleeping surface for growing kids and teens. It’s a foam/spring hybrid mattress, with a moderate level of firmness to provide adequate support of muscles and joints.
In essence, a kid’s mattress should be thick enough to last for years and provide great comfort, and thin enough not to cause problems (more on that later). In our mattress, we’ve found that the perfect mid-point of thickness is 21cm.
Can a kid’s mattress ever be too thick?
There are some good reasons why a normal kid’s mattress is as thick as it is. The two main reasons for limiting mattress thickness relate to pragmatism and comfort.
Practical reasons for limiting mattress thickness
Excessive thickness can cause logistical problems. For example:
- It can make it difficult to use normal sheets on a bed. There’s usually some give in terms of the height of fitted sheets, but it isn’t an infinitely generous dimension.
- A mattress still needs to safely fit onto a bed frame. An over-tall mattress might topple over, or make it difficult for use in bunk-beds and other child-friendly frames.
Comfort reasons for limiting mattress thickness
One doesn’t want a child’s mattress to be infinitely soft. The ideal cushioning level is one that allows for the child’s posture to align comfortably and neutrally while they sleep. A mattress that is too thick and too cushioned might feel comfortable at first, but it can lead to serious back and neck pain over time.
Now you know about mattress thickness, what about all the other things there are to know about kid’s mattresses? Read our comprehensive guide on the subject and you too can be an expert on all things related to kid’s mattresses.