Best Mattress Topper For Kids
Last Updated: July, 2022 | This Post May Contain Affiliate Links
If your child doesn't sleep well, neither do you. A child's mattress impacts their sleep health, posture, mood and can also impact performance in school and sports. If your child is struggling to stay asleep at night when their mattress seems fine, a mattress topper may be the route to go.
We've tested a handful of mattress toppers, and according to those tests, the best mattress topper for kids is the GhostBed Memory foam topper. It has zoned support and adds softness to a mattress. Read on to find out more about this mattress topper and the other's we selected.
7 Top Best Mattress Toppers for Kids
GhostBed Memory Foam Topper - Best Overall
As a high-quality ultra plush mattress topper, GhostBed is designed with all the bells and whistles for the ultimate sleep experience. It also has latex gel and contouring memory foam to provide more cushioning.
Molecule Triple Zone Pro Topper
Molecule Trip Zone Pro is an advanced topper with cool to a touch MOLECULEshield™ zoned cover for instant cooling. The cover also shields against molds, bacteria, and degradation.
PlushBed Natural Latex Topper
PlushBed topper is a handcrafted topper with incredible cooling mechanisms thanks to its latex material. More importantly, it's a 100% natural luxurious latex topper free of VOCs and other dangerous textile chemicals.
Amerisleep Lift Mattress Topper
Aside from its incredible cooling features, Lift offers an outstanding balance between comfort and support. This topper is also a fantastic option for adding softness to your kid's mattress.
The Nolah Topper offers up to 4X pressure relief compared to ordinary memory foam, thanks to its proprietary AirFoam. The AirFoam also has a cooling mechanism that helps wick away heat 20X faster than memory foam.
Puffy Mattress Topper
The puffy topper has a firmer and softer version to help firm up or soften your mattress. It also has an elastic MicroGrip to keep it from sliding on the mattress surface.
Layla Memory Foam Mattress Topper
Layla is a unique memory foam topper with a flippable design for customizing sleep comfort. It also features copper infusion, which helps with cooling while keeping the topper hypoallergenic.
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Overall Thoughts
As a mattress topper that guarantees to maximize comfort, this GhostBed Memory Foam Topper is fitted with a perfect comfort zone ideal for all sleep styles.
If you often sleep hot, this Ghostbed topper provides spectacular cooling relief. This is thanks to its naturally cooling latex fabric and cotton cover in conjunction with the gel-infused memory foam layer. Moreover, it allows for efficient airflow, which shields you from night sweats throughout the night.
As one of the best memory foam mattress toppers, it offers incredible pressure relief on the hips, shoulders, and lower back region. Since it's also designed to deliver balanced pressure, it provides the body with the best support ideal for back pain relief. Plus, despite adding a 3-inch thickness to your current mattress, it's unlike other memory foam toppers as it doesn't feel restricting. So, it makes changing sleep positions relatively easy.
The GhostBed topper is available in many sizes, including the twin and twin xl sizes ideal for kids. Not to forget, it has a 2" elastic MicroGrip band that keeps it from shifting. That’s why it’s also considered one of the best RV mattress toppers in the market. The Ghostbed memory foam mattress topper comes with a 20-year warranty. Plus, the company offers free shipping for US citizens.
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Molecule Trip Zone Pro Topper is a high-end mattress pad made of high-quality materials. With its 20% nylon, 13% polyethylene, and 67% fabric material blend, you can rest assured of instant cooling comfort from this cooling mattress topper. The cool-to-the-touch advanced MOLECULEshield™ zoned cover is antimicrobial treated to protect against mildew and bacteria.
The mattress topper comprises two supportive memory foam layers. Its center makes it a firmer topper ideal for sleepers seeking to relieve pressure points at the shoulders, hips, and back. On the other hand, the 2-inch bottom layer is zoned with three regions to provide more support on the lumbar region. However, the area under the feet and head are soft to provide a more comfortable sleep experience.
Molecule Trip Zone is a medium firm mattress topper with a firmness scale of 7.0/10. Overall this makes it an excellent choice for heavier and average-weight stomach and back sleepers. So, if your kid prefers a soft topper, then this is the right mattress topper to help boost support.
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PlushBed is an excellent organic latex mattress topper that guarantees your child an incredibly cool and comfortable sleep.
The PlushBed Topper has an incredibly handcrafted fabric cover that bears thousands of ventilation holes. This helps draw away body heat while enhancing airflow throughout the surface. Also, the topper is hypoallergenic, dust mite resistant, and anti-microbial to shield your kid from allergies.
If you want to upgrade your child's mattress with a pressure-relieving mechanism, this is the perfect mattress topper for the job. This stems from its incredible weight-distributing mechanism along the surface. Its spectacular weight distribution provides forgiving support to the hips, back, and shoulders.
Given its fantastic luxurious feel, most sleepers consider PlushBed the best latex mattress topper for enhancing comfort. The latex mattress topper is available in two thicknesses and five firmness options to help further customize your sleep comfort.
Unlike some latex toppers packed with synthetic microfiber fill, PlushBed is made of 100% natural botanical latex, which also grants it unmatched durability. That said, if you’ll be sending your kid to school, this topper is good enough to last them through college and beyond. Our quick guide on the best mattress topper for college expands more on the perfect mattress for dorm rooms. This latex topper is also manufactured by global organic latex standards. So you don't have to worry about your kid inhaling dangerous VOCs most mattress toppers release.
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Amerisleep Lift topper hails from a reputable mattress company and is known to accommodate a variety of sleepers.
Amerisleep Lift features a highly breathable cover ideal for hot sleepers. The Lift's cover is made of high quality materials that promote cooling and boost airflow throughout the sleep surface. The cover also features a zipper that makes it easily removable and machine washable.
Amerisleep Lift has two layers; support and comfort. The difference between the two layers is that the comfort lift offers extra cushioning, thanks to its Bio-Pur foam. On the other hand, the support Lift features firmer affinity materials which deliver excellent support.
Amerisleep offers free shipping for Lift toppers and they also come with a 5-year warranty to ensure your investment is worthwhile.
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Nolah has optimal cushioning original cotton cover that helps wick away moisture to shield you from night sweats while keeping you cool.
The topper also features the proprietary AirFoam material that sleeps cool for those who often sleep warm or hot. Overall, Nolah is the best option for hot summer nights since it can dissipate up to more than 20% more heat than ordinary memory foam.
The AirFoam material also alleviates pressure from the hips and shoulders, making it ideal for side sleepers. In fact, this material is pressure relieving up to 4 times more than traditional memory foam to ensure your kid sleeps comfortably. Thanks to the AirFoam material, shifting sleep positions on the surface is effortless without sacrificing comfort.
Nolah also mimics the qualities of a latex mattress topper, thanks to the billions of microscopic air pockets the AirFoam contains. The air pockets act as shock absorbers reducing pressure on the shoulders while limiting motion transfer. Ideally, you should dress up the mattress topper with a fitted sheet to protect the cover from accidental spills.
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Puffy is that one mattress topper that will significantly help soften or firm up your kid's mattress, depending on their preference.
Putting the firmer version on a softer mattress or the softer version on firmer mattress results in a medium-firm feel. Both versions are excellent for all sleeping positions. Plus, they perfectly cushion your shoulders and hips, preventing pressure points from developing. However, the firmer side makes the Puffy Topper a suitable mattress topper for heavy sleepers, It provides more support to the needed areas of the body for a more comfortable sleep.
Construction-wise, this topper has a material blend of 60% polyester and 40% bamboo that perfectly keeps you cool. The cool-to-the-touch cover uses a highly breathable fabric that facilitates efficient air circulation through the topper surface.
Since it's a thin mattress topper, it has an averagely packed fill to make it firm or soft enough to relieve pressure points. The topper is also an excellent choice for treating pressure ulcers resulting from too-firm mattresses.
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Layla Topper makes a great comfortable mattress topper courtesy of its multiple spectacular features. For instance, the cooling gel beads, incredible body contouring, and adequate firm support.
While providing the 'hug-like' sensation, the body contouring capability helps promote proper spinal alignment and pressure relief. Known as the best mattress topper for side sleepers, individuals who sleep on their side stand to benefit significantly from this topper's extra cushioning on the shoulders and hips.
Surprisingly, the Layla mattress topper is made of materials similar to the Layla Mattress. For instance, it has copper infusion to ensure the topper doesn't trap heat. The copper infusion also makes this topper naturally anti-microbial to fend off bacteria, mold, and mildew. Though it has a cool-to-the-touch cover, unfortunately, it's not machine washable.
Unlike many mattress toppers, this memory foam model stands out as the best flippable choice. And since it's available in Twin XL size, the flippable mechanism helps your child customize their comfort.
Read our review on twin toppers for a detailed information on the best Twin and Twin XL mattress toppers.
Choosing a Mattress Topper For Your Kids
There are hundreds, if not thousands, of topper options currently in the market. This makes it hard to choose the right one for your kids. Some toppers are only good for adults, therefore your selection has to be thorough. Here are a few things to look for when buying a mattress topper for your kids.
Temperature Regulation
Even if the existing mattress has cooling effects, the topper needs that technology too. Else, your kids will heat up in the night and sweat.
Different brands offer different cooling technologies for their toppers. Some have copper infused gel and others are made of a gel infused memory foam. These help the topper stay cool even during the summer when it's hottest.
Size
When it comes to the size of the topper you buy, the focus is on edge support. An oversized mattress topper will make the edges slant and can easily slide the kids to the floor. Mostly if your kids like to sleep on the edge of the bed.
A smaller topper will have the same effect, regardless of the mattress' edge support.
That said, when picking the topper size, ensure it matches the size of the current mattress for better support and balance.
Material
There are two main things to have in mind about the material used to make a topper.
- Is it hypoallergenic
- Is it made using harmful chemicals
A hypoallergenic topper will prevent your kid from asthma attacks and allergies. Such mattresses keep off dust, dust mites and other allergens.
Some materials have VOCs and other chemicals that can be harmful to your kid's health. To check for these, look for certifications on the product. Some certificates that should stand out include CertiPUR-US and OekeTEX which ensure the materials are safe for use.
Another thing about the material is that it should be breathable. Breathability also helps with coolness but mostly helps one sleep without feeling suffocated under their blanket.
Firmness
If you don't get the firmness level of the mattress topper right, you might as well not buy it.
The main reason for getting a topper is usually to soften or firm up the existing mattress. Therefore, find out the situation with the mattress to buy the right topper. If your kid's mattress is too firm, get a soft and plush topper to ease their sleep. If the mattress is too soft, get a firmer topper to add more support to their head, neck and spine.
Accessories
When buying a topper for your kids, don't consider effectiveness, also think about convenience.
As earlier mentioned, the topper size can affect the bed's edge support. A convenient feature for a topper is straps. Straps are normally stretchy and are used to attach the topper firmly to the mattress. Straps prevent the mattress topper from sliding off the bed when your baby sleeps or tosses in bed.
A similar accessory is a topper cover. Instead of having straps, some toppers come with a cover that resembles a mattress protector.
A good topper cover will be stretchy enough to tuck all the way into your mattress, keeping the topper firmly in place. Additionally, it should be waterproof and/or stain-proof to keep the topper clean throughout and lengthen its durability. You can still use sheets on top of the topper cover which add more protection to both your mattress and mattress topper.
Return Policies
Return policies are a deal breaker mostly when purchasing a mattress topper online. You need to know the topper you buy isn't your final option until you like it.
With mattresses, brands allow a night trial for a couple of months and if you don't like the mattress, you can return it and get another one. As for toppers, most companies don't allow returns. However, they can accept a refund if the topper isn't suitable for your kid's needs.
Ensure you find out what the return policy is for the brand you're buying from.
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of mattress topper is best for a child's bed?
Some popular options for mattress toppers for kids include memory foam, polyfoam, and featherbeds. Memory foam is a good choice for children who need extra support for their growing bodies, as it contours to their shape and helps distribute weight evenly. Polyfoam is a budget-friendly option that is also supportive, while featherbeds are soft and fluffy, making them a good choice for kids who prefer a plush sleeping surface.
Can a mattress topper help with allergies?
Yes, some mattress toppers are hypoallergenic and can help reduce the impact of allergens on a child's sleep. Memory foam and polyfoam toppers are typically hypoallergenic, as they are made from synthetic materials that do not harbor dust mites or other allergens.
How do I choose the right thickness and firmness for a mattress topper?
The thickness and firmness of a mattress topper should be chosen based on the child's personal preference and needs. A thicker topper may provide more support and comfort, but it may also be too firm for some children. A firmer topper may be more supportive for growing bodies, but it may also be too hard for some children. It's a good idea to try out a few different options to find the best fit for your child.
Can a mattress topper be used on a bunk bed?
Yes, a mattress topper can be used on a bunk bed, as long as the topper fits within the dimensions of the mattress and the bunk bed frame. It's important to make sure the topper is secure and won't shift or slide around during use.
How do I care for a mattress topper?
Most mattress toppers are easy to care for and can be cleaned with regular washing and drying. Memory foam and polyfoam toppers can be spot cleaned with a mild detergent and warm water, while featherbeds should be dry cleaned or laundered according to the manufacturer's instructions. It's important to follow the care instructions for your specific topper to ensure it stays in good condition and provides optimal comfort and support for your child.
In Conclusion
When buying a mattress topper for your kids online, take a moment to browse the reviews of the product prior. Our list of toppers is tested and we believe that one of the 7 will be ideal for your kids. As your kids grow, keep checking the topper and mattress situation because factors like weight, height and sleeping position affect the effectiveness of the sleep surface.