
Important Features in a Mattress for Kids
Finding the mattress that is the right fit for your child involves considering their current needs. That includes age suitability, safety certifications, comfort, and support.
Age Range
Always check that the mattress is suitable for the age of your child. If you are looking for better value, you may select one with a larger age range, so it is more likely to accommodate their growing bodies.
Comfort
If your child is used to a certain mattress feel, that is what they are likely to find comfy in the new mattress. So, you may want to look for the same materials, such as hybrid or memory foam. Greater comfort can lead to quality sleep, which is especially important during physical development. For children who tend to sleep hot, breathability and cooling in a mattress may improve comfort.
Support
As with any other mattress, the best mattress for kids can have a range of firmness levels. They are commonly medium, medium-firm, and firm. Parents often choose firm or medium-firm for ages 3-7, and medium-firm for ages 7 and up. While every child is different, those firmness levels typically encourage healthy spinal alignment, supporting their growing bodies.
Safety Certifications
The best mattress for kids is a safer one. An important quality in the UK is the BS 7177 fire label. This safety standard indicates that a children’s mattresses meets top requirements for flammability. Common safety certifications you may also see include CertiPUR™, OEKO-TEX® Standard 100, Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), and Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS).
Nectar Kids Mattress UK: Our Pick for Kids
Our team chose the Nectar Kids Mattress as a top rated mattress for kids in the UK. It has many features that parents often consider important for children’s sleep environments.
One Size
Making the choice easy is that the Nectar Kids Mattress comes in one standard UK size:
A single-size mattress gives a child plenty of sleep space to grow into. For kids who toss and turn at night, they typically have enough room to change positions. It also often fits smaller kids bedrooms.
The mattress is 16cm tall. That is generally considered thick enough for proper spinal alignment among average-weight kids ages 3 through to pre-teen years. Yet it is not so thick that it is difficult for a child to climb onto.
Cooling Top Cover
As kids can be temperature-sensitive, a cooling sleep surface can contribute to a drier, comfier night. That’s why we appreciate the cooling cover designed to dissipate heat from the body. Fewer night sweats can reduce discomfort. Plus, the cover is washable, in case of a bedwetting accident or spill.
Dual-Sided
The dual-sided design allows parents to use this mattress for their child over a wide age range. Each side has a different firmness level to provide the appropriate support during their development.
One side is for ages 3-7, and simply flip the mattress for ages 7 and up. Thus, the same Nectar Kids Mattress can accommodate the child over several years.
The side for younger children is firm, and the side for ages 7 and up is medium-firm. As earlier discussed, a firm mattress for kids in the 3-7 age range is conducive to proper spinal alignment, and after age 7, medium-firm often provides enough support.
Hybrid Type
This mattress is a hybrid, meaning it combines foam with supportive coils. A hybrid design helps balance supportive spinal alignment with cushioning for growing bodies. Having a dual-sided design means it suits kids’ changing needs through the growth stages.
Construction
The side made for younger children has conventional foam below the breathable cover. This layer offers comfort and essential support for lightweight bodies and encourages spinal alignment during early development.
Flip the mattress over, and the side for older kids (ages 7 and older) features a memory foam layer. It provides firmer support where needed and pressure relief in sensitive areas like the hips and shoulders, as well as comfort. The cover above encourages airflow.
No matter which side your child sleeps on, the mattress core with its 7-zoned spring unit provides custom support for their growing body. The 504 individually wrapped pocket springs offer adaptive comfort, durability, and support as they adjust to your child’s body.
Safety Certifications
Nectar mattresses are BS 7177, per its UK website. This feature is important when choosing the best mattress for kids, as it shows that it has a low hazard rating after passing ignition resistance tests.
Also, the foams used in the Nectar Kids Mattress have been rigorously tested to achieve the CertiPUR™ certification. That means the polyurethane foam is free of several chemicals, including phthalates and heavy metals such as lead and mercury, and emits low VOC (volatile organic compound) levels.
This Nectar mattress is also certified as a climate neutral product with ClimatePartner, a top climate specialist. That appeals to those wanting to make a more eco-friendly purchase.
Less Off-Gassing
A UK mattress having low VOC levels like this one from Nectar means it has less “off-gassing,” a slight odour that may irritate the eyes, nose, and throat. Reducing exposure, while short-term as the odour typically only lasts a short while, helps create a healthier home environment. Plus, low VOCs mean cleaner air indoors.
Tip: Trying a mattress at home will help you know if it feels the best for your child. Nectar offers an industry leading home trial of up to 365 nights at home.
Try the Mattress
Value of Nectar UK’s Best Mattress for Kids
Another reason the Nectar Kids Mattress is our top pick for children overall is its excellent value. It is affordable, comes with a generous home trial, and has a long warranty coverage.
Reasonable Price
The mattress can take kids through childhood with its dual-sided design, making it a cost-effective choice. Additional qualities, such as the washable cover and free mattress delivery within the UK mainland, add to its value. The mattress conveniently delivers to your front door. For small additional fees, old mattress removal and delivery to your room of choice are available.
365-Night Home Trial
The Nectar mattress for kids offers a generous 365-night home trial. That gives your child up to 365 nights from the delivery date to test the mattress at home to decide if it is right. In the unlikely case that you decide to return it, contact Nectar UK to start the free returns process, subject to meeting the policy terms.
Long Warranty
Nectar UK protects the Kids Mattress with a Forever Warranty™. That covers defects in material and workmanship as per the warranty terms for as long as you, as the original mattress purchaser, own it. The long coverage shows the brand stands behind its Kids Mattress with repair and replacement, upon Nectar UK deeming that the mattress meets policy guidelines.
Best Mattress for Kids Conclusion
Choosing the best mattress for your child is about comfort, healthy development, safety, and great value. Age-appropriate firmness and safety certifications are among the common considerations for many parents. The right mattress encourages proper spinal alignment and supports their developing bodies, contributing to a better sleep environment.
The Nectar Kids Mattress is our top choice for the best mattress for kids in the UK. Its dual-sided design, hybrid construction, generous sleep trial, and lengthy warranty make it a superior value, with the potential to last through their childhood. With strong safety credentials, support tailored to both younger children and older kids, and a cooling top cover, the Nectar Kids Mattress is a quality choice.