Have you ever dealt with a child who hasn't had a good night's rest? Parents know the toll it can take not only on their child but also on the family as a whole (cue the temper tantrum). Quality rest is essential to kids, especially as they grow and develop, just like it is with adults. And a supportive mattress is key in facilitating peaceful, restorative rest.
That's where the Saatva Youth mattress comes in. Made specifically for kids, the Saatva Youth uses a flippable design to support children as they grow. Start toddlers out on the softer side then flip the mattress over for more support as your little one gets older.
Not sure if it's the right fit for your child? In this Saatva Youth mattress review, we break down who this bed is best for, key features, and everything you need to know about the online mattress process from clicking "Add to cart" to the moment it arrives at your doorstep.
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Saatva Youth Mattress Review
Quick Breakdown
- Mattress type: Innerspring
- Mattress Advisor score: 8.5/10
- Firmness: Dual-firmness levels
- Trial Period: 365 nights
- Warranty: Lifetime
Saatva is a well-known online mattress brand that's been around for a little over 10 years. It's known for delivering some of the highest-quality mattresses in the industry, complete with top-notch customer service (take a look at Saatva's complimentary white glove delivery policy). The mattress giant decided to take its expertise and apply it to kids' beds—a venture that's proven worthwhile.
The Saatva Youth is a flippable innerspring mattress. Both sides are made mostly from coils topped with memory foam and fall right around the medium-firm mark, although the side made for toddlers has slightly more give than the preteen side. It comes with some major perks that parents are sure to appreciate like a waterproof barrier, organic materials, and a lifetime warranty.
Who Is the Saatva Youth Mattress Best For?
Best for:
- Kids with allergies or sensitive skin: Like most of the Saatva mattresses, the Youth is hypoallergenic and made with antimicrobial cotton. It also uses CertiPUR-US certified foams which are free of toxic chemicals.
- Children aged 3-12: If you want a mattress that your child can grow into, the Saatva Youth is definitely one to consider. It's a flippable mattress, so one side is better suited to toddlers, while the other side is made for preteens. As your child grows older and needs more support, simply flip the bed over.
- Kids who toss and turn at night: Does your child flop about at night, struggling to find a sleeping position that feels just right? The Saatva Youth is incredibly responsive to changes in movement, making it easy to switch from your side to back to your stomach.
- Messy kids: The Saatva Youth comes with a water-resistant cover and waterproof barrier, making it ideal for kids who are prone to spills.
- Parents who don't want to deal with mattress removal and set-up: One of the best parts of purchasing a Saatva mattress is their incredible customer service. They'll remove your child's old bed and set up the new one for no extra cost.
Not best for:
- Parents on a tight budget: While the Saatva Youth comes at a moderate price point considering the impressive quality of the materials used, it still might be out of reach for those on a strict budget.
- Some side sleepers: For side sleepers who like to really sink into their mattress, the firmer side of the Saatva Youth (designed for kids aged 8-12) might feel a bit too solid.
- Adults: This one seems pretty obvious, but the Saatva Youth is not made to support adults. It has a lower weight capacity and can't support more than 200-230 pounds.
Inside the Saatva Youth Mattress
Both sides of the Saatva Youth are made of similar materials and measure about 10 inches high, which is pretty thick as far as mattresses for kids go. No matter which side your child rests on, they'll lie on a soft organic cover complete with a water-resistant finish (perfect for messy kids).
Beneath this cover lies a supportive layer of memory foam. On the 3-7 side, you'll find a slightly more plush five-zone support layer that promotes spine alignment. On the 8-12 side, this foam is replaced by a denser layer of comfort foam which provides a bit more support for bigger kids.
Coils make up the core of each side of this mattress. Both sides contain recycled steel coils for durability, responsiveness, and support, but the 8-12 side also contains Saatva's patented wire that's designed for optimal spine alignment.
How Does the Saatva Youth Feel?
While both sides fall around the medium-firm mark, they differ in the amount of support they provide. For reference, mattress firmness can range from 1 to 10, with 1 being plush soft and 10 being extra firm.
Also, keep in mind that weight has a direct relationship with firmness—the heavier you are, the more you press down into a mattress. So, the same mattress might feel differently to kids based on their individual weight and size (a firm mattress could feel softer to a heavier child and firmer to a smaller child).
Years 3-7 side
This side feels slightly plusher and is closer to a true medium or a 5 out of 10 on the firmness scale. Because it has a bit more give, it's able to hug smaller bodies better, making it ideal for younger kids who require more cushioning. And, if your child happens to be a bit older but they're smaller for their age, this side might feel more comfortable to them until they get bigger.
Years 8-12 side
Because the 8-12 side has higher-density foam infused in its design, it feels a bit firmer and more sturdy. Closer to the medium-firm to firm range (6 or 7 on the firmness scale), this side is best for older kids in need of more support or for children who are bigger for their age.
Both sides have a good amount of bounce to them, which is ideal for kids who change positions frequently at night. Make sure to take your child's age and weight into account when thinking about which side is best for them.
BUY: Youth Mattress
In Use: What Is It Like to Sleep on the Saatva Youth?
Now, we'll break down how the Saatva Youth performed in the testing lab on a few key factors that are crucial for supporting healthy rest.
Spine Alignment
Testers were impressed by the Saatva Youth's exceptional performance in spine alignment. Thanks to the supportive coil systems found on either side of the bed, the Youth scored a near-perfect 9 out of 10 in spine alignment. Safe to say, your little ones will be well-supported on this mattress.
Edge Support
Edge support is important for creating a solid perimeter around the mattress, reducing the chance of your child sliding off in the middle of the night if they tend to sleep near the edge of the bed. Solid edge support is also helpful if your kids like to use the side of their mattress as a bench for tying their shoes.
The Saatva Youth's coil and foam combination forms a solid barrier, earning it a 9 out of 10 in edge support.
Responsiveness
For kids who toss and turn at night, responsiveness is key. It measures how well a mattress responds or adapts to changes in position. The Saatva Youth's bouncy coils helped it quickly respond to movement, earning it a 9 out of 10 in responsiveness.
Cooling
Does your child sleep hot? Nothing's worse than flipping over throughout the night, trying to find the cool side of the bed. Your child most likely won't have that problem with the Saatva Youth. It earned an 8 out of 10 in cooling; the coils help break up any heat retention by leaving plenty of space for air to escape.
Durability
Durability is important to consider when shopping for a kid's mattress. After all, you won't want to repeat this purchase until they're a young adult. Saatva uses high-quality, eco-friendly materials which helped it score an 8.5 out of 10 in durability testing.
Saatva Youth Mattress by Sleeping Position
Every sleeping position isn't created equally—each requires different levels of support, firmness, and pressure relief.
Side Sleepers
If your child frequently sleeps on their side, know that their hips and shoulders will bear the brunt of their weight. In that case, they need a mattress that has more give in these areas. While the softer side of the Youth does well at relieving pressure, the firmer side might not work for some side sleepers.
Back and Stomach Sleepers
The key factor for back and stomach sleepers is spine alignment. Kid or not, having solid support for your back is important. But for children especially, it's key in helping their bodies develop properly. This is where the Saatva Youth shines—it earned a 9 out of 10 in spine alignment testing making it one of the best mattresses for children who rest on their back and stomach.
Combination Sleepers
If your child finds it hard to stay in one sleeping position throughout the night, chances are they're probably a combination sleeper. It's important that they rest on a mattress that quickly bounces back from changes in position rather than one that's slow to respond (like some mattresses made entirely of foam). The Saatva Youth's coil base helps it react quickly to movement, so kids can switch positions easily.
Saatva Youth Policies: Everything You Need to Know
Buying a mattress online is an unfamiliar process for some parents. Below, we break down what happens to your mattress from the time it's ordered to when it arrives at your doorstep.
Shipping and Delivery
After you click "place order" on your Saatva Youth mattress, expect it to take anywhere from 9 to 21 days to arrive. Each Saatva mattress is made to order in the US, so there aren't an abundance of beds sitting in the warehouse.
Once it arrives, you can sit back and relax. Saatva's customer service team will unbox and set up the new mattress for you, and also remove your child's old mattress.
Unboxing
Luckily, there isn't much of an unboxing process with the Saatva Youth. It's helpful to know when your mattress is scheduled to arrive so you can plan on being home during that time and telling the Saatva team where you'd like the new mattress set up.
Trial Period and Returns
The Saatva Youth comes with a generous 1-year sleep trial. That means your child has an entire year (365 nights) to test-run the mattress. If at any point during that time your child doesn't like the bed, you can return it for a full refund by calling Saatva's customer service team.
They'll come pick up the mattress for you, but you do have to pay a $99 processing fee to cover the cost of gas and labor.
Warranty
All Saatva mattresses come with a lifetime warranty. For the first 2 years under the warranty, Saatva will completely replace your mattress if there are any obvious physical defects that aren't caused by normal wear and tear. At year 3 and for as long as you own the mattress, Saatva will repair and recover your mattress.
Saatva Youth Sizes and Prices
| Size | Price |
| Twin | $749 |
| Twin XL | $849 |
| Full | $999 |
BUY: Youth Mattress
Our Verdict
While the Saatva Youth is a bit pricey for a kid's bed, we still think its top-notch quality and dual-firmness design make it one of the best options for kids. Plus, because this is a mattress that your child can grow into, you can justify the cost a bit more since you won't have to repeat this purchase twice. It uses safe, eco-friendly materials and is kid-proof (waterproof barrier and water-resistant cover). Finally, with its comfortable cotton surface and supportive core layers, getting your child to bed on time should be a breeze.
FAQs About the Saatva Youth Mattress
What is a youth mattress?
Youth mattresses are beds made specifically for kids. They're often a bit smaller than a standard twin size on all sides, but larger than a crib mattress. For younger kids especially, a youth mattress is a great way to transition them out of a crib and into a larger bed.
Can you flip the Saatva Youth mattress?
Yes, you can flip the Saatva Youth mattress, which is why we think it's such a great choice for kids—it's designed to grow with your child. One side is made for kids ages 3-7, while the other side is designed for children 8-12. Those ranges can be tweaked slightly based on your child's weight or size (smaller kids for their age might prefer the softer side made for younger kids while bigger kids for their age might prefer the firmer side). For example, if your child is 7 but is big for their age, you could go ahead and flip the mattress to the firmer side rather than wait until they turn 8.
How long will the Saatva Youth mattress last?
While there's no definite guarantee on how long the Saatva Youth mattress will last, take comfort in the fact that it uses durable, high-quality materials and has a flippable design that extends its lifespan. The mattress also comes with a lifetime warranty should you experience any defects early on while owning this bed.
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