What is the Best Mattress for Each Stage of Life?

Getting a good night’s sleep is important at any age, but as we get older, it can often seem much more difficult to achieve. For many, this can be down to one simple problem – the wrong mattress. As we move through different life stages with age, our mattress needs change. While we once were comfortable sleeping on a soft, plush cloud of a bed; as our bodies begin to experience more aches and pains, we need something firmer and more supportive. So, let’s take a look at what kind of mattress you need depending on your age.

Best Mattress For Kids

For younger children, the most important factor is sleep safety. When choosing your mattress, opt for one that comes with low VOCs – these are volatile organic compounds that are best avoided to ensure the bed is suitable for young sleepers. There are a number of third-party certifications you can look for to make sure it meets your requirements such as; CertiPUR-US, Greenguard Gold, or Oeko-Tex.

The best mattress for kids who are on the younger side, including toddlers, are firmer mattresses which help reduce the risk of SIDS. A mattress that is too soft can not only be dangerous but won’t provide the support they need for their growing bones and developing bodies during this stage of life. You’ll also probably want to invest in a good mattress protector to make sure the mattress stays clean and dry. It may also be worth choosing a mattress with good breathability and a moisture-wicking cover to really keep it as fresh as possible throughout your child’s usage.

Recommended Brands

Some good options to choose from would be:

• Plushbeds: Plushbeds boasts 12 safety and sustainability certifications, including GOLS, GOTS, GreenGuard Gold, USDA Organic, and more. It has a removable, washable cover. Plushbeds offers a twin size mattress that can be a great choice for older kids.

Best Mattress For Teens & Young Adults

As your child begins to grow up, they need a more mature bed to match. This is the stage of life where sleep style tends to be solidified, so take this into account when choosing between mattress types. Stomach sleepers will need a firmer mattress to properly support them. Side sleepers, on the other hand, will do best with a mattress that features zoned support that sinks lower at the hips than at the shoulders. Back sleepers will be the easiest to please, with many mattresses catering specifically to them.

At this age, it is still worth thinking about how much you really want to spend. Most young adults will be moving out to go to college or live on their own, so you don’t want to invest too much on something that may only get a few years of use out of it. Most teens and young adults won’t have to worry too much about back pain relief yet, so focus more on a mattress that suits their taste without breaking the bank.

Recommended Brands:

When it comes to picking the best mattress type for teens and young adults, we recommend the following brands:

• Lull: Lull offers an affordable mattress, with prices often as low as $500 given their frequent promotions. It has a firmness level between medium and slightly firm, which most people will find provides a good amount of support and comfort. This three-layer memory foam mattress is shipped free and comes with a 100-night trial.

• Puffy: Puffy is another great mattress choices that teens and young adults will enjoy. They offer two mattress types to choose from: the original Puffy and the Puffy Lux. Puffy mattresses can be as low as $495 when on sale. It works on any surface — even the floor — and suits all sleep styles. It has a stain-resistant cover, is made in the USA, and comes with a 101- night sleep trial period.

Best Mattress for Adults

Once you hit your 30s, your mattress needs become more specific. Many people of this stage of life will have young kids who just love to climb in bed with them, and those pesky aches and pains may begin to appear in our back and joints. You’re also more likely to have a partner who you need to also consider when selecting a mattress.

Zoned support is where different sections (zones) of the mattress have different levels of support to better promote proper spinal alignment. For example, the hip area tends to need greater support than the head, since the hips are heavier. This can be an important consideration as we get older.  You’ll also want a mattress with superior motion isolation. This ensures that you don’t wake a sleeping partner if you tend to have different bedtimes or change sleep positions in the night. Finally, you’ll need a larger bed size at this age to accommodate yourself, your partner, and any young children who like to climb in there and join you. Ideally, you’ll want to go with a queen size or larger.

Recommended Brands:

As you enter family life, these are the mattress brands we recommend:

• Level Sleep: Level Sleep is a premium mattress featuring three unique zones that align with the shoulders (LEVELsoft), lower back (LEVELfirm), and the hips (LEVELmedium). This science-based mattress comes with a generous 365-night sleep trial and forever warranty.
• Nectar: This medium-firm mattress is another excellent option for couples. It’s also durable and comes with a 365-night sleep trial and lifetime warranty, so it will last as long as you need it to.

Best Mattress for over 50s

You should replace your mattress every 10 years, so by now, you may think that you have a good idea of what designs work best for you. The truth is, however, that at this age, your body will begin needing more advanced support. It is thus recommended to choose brands that focus on pressure points and back support.

As women reach middle age, they may also begin to experience menopause which can lead to hot flashes- even while they sleep. Because of this, finding a mattress that doesn’t retain too much body heat and promotes breathability can increase comfort at night.

Finally, aches and pains and decreased mobility into the most elderly years can make it harder to get into and out of bed, meaning mattress height and edge support can play a more important role than previously.

Recommended Brands:

As you move into your 50s and beyond, these are the best mattresses we think you should choose from:

• Leesa: This mattress is available as a multilayer foam mattress and as a hybrid, both of which come with cooling features. The Leesa Hybrid has 6″ individually-wrapped pocket springs for additional edge support. Shipping is free, and you can choose white glove delivery and set up for an additional $100.
• Saatva: Saatva’s mattresses are available in your choice of height: 11.5-inches or 14.5-inches. You can choose your desired firmness level as well, to get just the right support that you need. It features a dual perimeter edge support system, and the free white glove delivery means that you won’t have to worry about lugging it to your bedroom and setting it up yourself. It comes with a 180-night sleep trial and a 15-year warranty.

Final Word

Every sleeper is different and has different needs, so finding the perfect mattress can be hard. If you follow our advice, you’ll be able to find the best mattress for your age as quickly and effectively as possible.