When it comes to buying a new mattress, it can be difficult enough to pick one out for ourselves let alone any kids in our lives. With so many mattress brands and so many different types of mattresses, it can be overwhelming when trying to find the right option. As adults, we have some semblance of what works for us in terms of sleep. We know if we want the mattress to be firmer or softer, we have an idea of what our preferred sleeping position is. For kids though, it can be a much tougher question. Growing kids are changing so quickly, it can be hard to nail down the exact features you would want in a mattress for them and the switch to a big kid bed is a big deal! A child's sleep can be a unique situation for each kid. Teenagers can also be a tough group to shop for. No longer kids, but possibly leaving the house soon for college or moving out on their own, how do you give your teen a mattress that makes sense?
At Bear, we offer multiple options for younger sleepers. In this article, we’ll walk you through what we would recommend as the best kid bed and the best mattress for teenagers.
Bear Cub - The Perfect Kids Mattress
Initially at Bear, we did not have a child specific mattress, but as our brand has grown, we realized there was a need for a mattress built with kids in mind. Enter the Bear Cub. This mattress is a great option for kids due to its intentional design and features tailored to meet the needs of younger sleepers. It was built specifically around what a growing kid needs to support their development and growth. We will do our part to ensure your kid is getting the sleep they need and in turn hopefully the adults in their life will get the sleep they need too!
We’ll dig into some of the features that we have built into the mattress:
Optimal Support & Pressure Relief
The Bear Cub mattress provides excellent support for growing bodies. It features a high-density foam base that ensures proper spinal alignment and helps promote healthy development during sleep. The Bear Cub mattress uses responsive foam layers that contour to the body, relieving pressure and ensuring a comfortable sleep experience. Meaning no matter what position your kid wakes up in, they have a mattress there to give them the support they need as they grow.
Do you have a wild sleeper who wakes up in the morning upside down? Rest assured this mattress is built with optimal edge support so your child does not go tumbling over the side in their sleep as they shift throughout the night. Which brings us to our next point: the Bear Cub mattress is built to withstand the active lifestyle of kids. It is made with high-quality materials that are designed to last, providing long-lasting comfort and support.
The Bear Cub mattress is specifically designed with children in mind. It is a medium firm mattress, which is suitable for a wide range of sleeping preferences. The mattress also has a shorter profile (8.5”) to accommodate smaller bed frames and bunk beds commonly used by kids.
Cool and Breathable
Kids can sometimes sleep hot and a mattress that promotes airflow and temperature regulation is crucial. It can be more difficult for kids than adults to regulate their own temperature at night. The Bear Cub mattress incorporates a breathable Celliant cover and a special gel memory foam, which helps dissipate heat and keeps the sleeping surface cool throughout the night and of course will keep them comfy.
Hypoallergenic and Clean
We understand when it comes to kids, the number one priority is their health and safety. This is why the Bear Cub mattress is CertiPUR-US® certified, meaning it is free from harmful chemicals and substances. It is also GREENGUARD Gold Certified. It is hypoallergenic, resistant to allergens, and easy to clean, making it a healthy sleeping environment for children who may have allergies or sensitivities. We made sure to check all the boxes to ensure your child is sleeping on a clean, trustworthy mattress. It comes with a 120-night trial period and a 10-year warranty, ensuring peace of mind for parents. Plus, it never hurts to add a mattress protector to your child's mattress to add that extra layer of protection.
When choosing a mattress for kids, it's important to consider their individual needs, sleeping habits, and preferences. The Bear Cub mattress addresses these factors by providing optimal support, pressure relief, breathability, durability, and a kid-friendly design; making it a great choice for a comfortable and healthy sleep environment for children. When it comes to mattress size, The Bear Cub comes in regular twin mattress sizes and full.
Also consider: The Bear Trundle
Bear’s Trundle mattress is the perfect addition to your trundle bed. This mattress is built with cooling in mind and has a durable base layer made of high-density support foam. It is made with CertiPur-US certified foams to ensure they are made without ozone depleters, chemical sprays, without mercury, lead, and other toxic materials.
So the Bear Cub is great for kids, but what happens when those kids start to grow up? Our rule of thumb is that this mattress is built to provide optimal support for kids who weigh up to 150 pounds. While these mattresses are still usable for anyone over that weight limit, you may not be getting the full support you need. As we age, people typically edge towards a firmer mattress with additional support layers.
Buying a mattress for a teenager can be a bit tricky. You have to consider things like cost, how long will they be using the mattress, what happens if they leave for college? Teenagers more than anyone need their sleep. The demands of early school wake up times, dealing with hormones, while juggling busy social lives can be draining. Getting as much sleep as possible is crucial to their development.
Best for Teens - The Bear Original
While any mattress we sell at Bear would work great for a teenager, we would first push people towards our Bear Original for a few reasons.
Comfort
The first reason, it’s our most popular mattress! The mattress that started it all, the Bear Original is a firm favorite amongst customers and we feel confident it would be a great choice for any teen. This mattress will also be a natural progression from the Bear Cub. Made with similar materials, a lot of the hallmarks your kid will be used to from the Cub can also be found in the Original. The difference between them being that the Original is built for adults and in turn provides more support. The Bear Original would also transition nicely from your teenager’s bed to a guest bed if wanted.Cost
One of the big reasons we would suggest the Original is it is the cheapest mattress we offer. We factor this in because when buying for a teenager, you may not get as much use out of it compared to if you’re buying for a young child or an adult. Teenagers are in such a time of change, it’s hard to predict exactly how long they’ll be in need of the mattress. You have to consider if they are going to leave home for college or a job. We would recommend the Original so you’re not breaking the bank, but your teen is still getting a fantastic mattress they can rely on. This way if your teen only gets a few years out of the mattress, you can rest assured your money was not wasted.Maneuverability
Another plus to buying a Bear Original for your teen is that this mattress (and the Bear Pro) is much easier to maneuver around than the other mattresses we offer. A standard queen sized Bear Original weighs 70 pounds. Heavy for sure, but not unmovable. (Remember to always take the team approach when moving your mattress! Teamwork makes the dream work.) Our Elite Hybrid mattress and Star Hybrid models in comparison each weigh in at 110 pounds each. That’s an extra 40 pounds to lug around in an already large object. This is important because it means your teen can more easily take the mattress with them to their next destination. An apartment off campus? Their first apartment? It would be much easier to move them in with a Bear Original than a Bear Elite Hybrid.
It can be frustrating trying to find the right mattress for younger sleepers, but at Bear we strive to provide options for customers of all ages. By making high quality mattresses built with clean materials, we want to help to ensure a restful sleep for all.