4 Best Mattresses For Bunk Beds

Most regular mattresses have a thickness of somewhere between nine to twelve inches, and this should suffice for most sleepers, being ideal for most queen and king sized mattresses. Mattresses composed from memory foam end to be at the upper end of this range, due to the higher density required to give your back the support it needs. On the other hand, pocket springs use less space and so relatively less padding is required.

• Why a deeper mattress?

The greater depth of a mattress generally means that it will take a longer amount of time to wear down and become ready to be replaced. This is exponentially true the heavier you are, or if you are a pregnant woman, during which time you will be sleeping on your side much more than usual, thus requiring more support for your joints.

• Why a thinner mattress?

The smaller depth of a mattress can be helpful for those who have issues with mobility or who are of a shorter, slimmer and perhaps younger body shape. It will be easier for them to slip in and out of bed, and their bodies do not need such a thickness in order to reap exactly the same benefits as someone who requires more padding. The spine is the main thing, of course, and a thicker mattress can actually be detrimental in this regard, because the body is pressing into it too much, thus not giving you the proper support which is required.

• What about with bunk beds?

This is a very important question; a mattress which is too thick will not provide the sleeper, often a child, with the necessary protection, ending up in them falling out of their bed. If this occurs from the top bunk then serious injuries could occur. A mattress which is perfect for a bunk bed must sit snugly within the parameters of the rails; in fact, safety regulations insist that the rails must be at least 6 inches above the top of the mattress, and that the mattress itself should not be over 61/2 inches.

What is it?

This is actually quite a difficult question to answer, simply because of the fact that for different sleepers different levels of firmness feel 'firm'. In that context, the same brand or style of mattress may well be sold with different levels of firmness, because it really depends on what the sleeper is feeling, in a subjective sense.

Firmness versus Support?

These two concepts are not identical; this is because a full size mattress for bunk beds will offer specific pressure point relief so as to hold the spine in certain positioning, while the firmness of a mattress does not concern itself with shape or spinal alignment. A supportive mattress, in terms of motion isolation, pressure relief, layers of foam, a base foam or other forms of pressure relieving technology can exist in a variety of levels of firmness, so the two are not to be equated.

The Firmness Scale

Relative terms, when discussing firmness, are not particularly useful; thus, a sliding scale of 1-10 can be helpful:

• 1 (extremely soft): this kind of mattress is not common; the extra 'sink' you get in them might be suitable for some, but for most sleepers more support is needed.
• 2-3 (soft): certainly lots of 'sink', but not quite as soft; some support. Curvature of the spine is a very real worry, however, and mattresses this soft are more suitable for those with distinct pressure point in the shoulders and hips; perhaps slightly bonier, angular contouring. For many people who don't fall into this category, or for sleepers who sleep on their stomach or back, you will want to minimize the amount of 'sink' you experience in order not to draw your spine out of alignment.
• 4-6 (medium): a reasonable degree of firmness and limited 'sink'; ideal for those who sleep in a range of positions, rather than predominantly one. They offer enough support to keep your spine aligned, but also enough support to relieve your pressure point.
• 7-9 (firm): limited 'sink'; harder and more resilient; they often have sufficient cushioning to alleviate your pressure points, and while lacking those deeper contouring attributes that softer mattresses offer, they may be of benefit to stomach or back sleepers, due to your abdomen not sinking into it too far.
• 10 (extremely firm): it is unusual for a customer to select this, due to its absence of 'sink' and no softness to speak of; certain medical conditions might require it

Mattresses for bunk beds will generally be more high density, compact and a little firmer, to compensate for the lack of depth advisable to slot into the railings. As with all ratings, it does depend on the comfort level the sleeper perceives, night after night, so as long as you experience a comfortable night's sleep on a regular basis, over an extended period of time, the 'rest' will take care of itself!

The size of mattresses for bunk beds will obviously depend upon the size of the bunk beds themselves; there are various shapes and sizes in which they come. For example, some will have a full or even twin size mattress type on the base, and a single on the top; others might feature a futon down below and a regular mattress below; others will even have a twin over full, which allows adults to enjoy the experience, as well as children.

In a nutshell, mattresses for bunk beds must correspond to the bunk bed frames into which they fit. It is vital that you get the right measurements, because the height of the guard-rail will determine how deep your mattress ought to be. Getting gel infused memory foam or high density foam might sound like a wonderful idea, but if there isn't sufficient space between the top of the guard-rail and the top of your mattress, then there is a terrible risk that a child could fall out of the top bunk in the middle of the night.

As well as investing in a high quality pair of bunk bed mattresses, you also need to ensure that the weight measurements check out, and so need to calculate the weight of the mattresses, combining them with the combined weight of the two children who will be sleeping on them. For instance, if your bunk bed has only been designed to bear a weight of 200 pounds, and your children have the combined weight of 120 pounds, then your two mattresses should not weigh in excess of 80 pounds overall. If you invest in a bunk bed frame that can handle a greater weight, then you will have more leeway in this regard.

• Sleepers weighing . . .

Under 130 pounds would be best served by a mattress which is slightly softer; use the 1-10 scale above in order to check what this means in practice. Even a high quality mattress is no good if it doesn't contain sufficient pressure relieving properties, or have a memory foam layer to allow for the necessary contouring required.

130 and 230 pounds will be fine with a medium-firm mattress, somewhere in the middle of the firmness scale. With the low profile but memory foam mattresses out there, it should be possible to enjoy a comfortable and supportive night's sleep.

In excess of 230 pounds need a slightly firmer mattress which has a limited 'sink' and a maximum cushioning, perhaps even through adding a top layer if your child's body changes over time.

Contouring is a very important element of bunk bed mattresses, because you generally have less to play with, in terms of depth and size. You need to ensure that the sleeper's weight is even distributed and that his or her various pressure points are catered for, which is particularly important for those who can be classed as 'side sleepers'. It is imperative that their hips, lower back and shoulders are not put under any unnecessary extra strain. A foam material mattress is probably going to give you more contouring support; more about that, below.

• Foam

Mattress made entirely from foam work exceptionally well in bunk beds. This material is relatively light, which means you need not worry about the cumulative weight it's adding to your overall bunk bed, while their silence is a most welcome property, especially when there is someone else sleeping in close proximity to you, either above or below. A foam mattress is usually made up of a variety of layers of foam, or sometimes polyfoam; the supportive part is always made from high-density polyfoam. For side sleepers, foam models are excellent due to their softer, contouring properties which respond to and support the spine, helping it stay aligned. For stomach sleepers it helps because it reduces the amount of pressure that a firmer mattress might have on certain areas of the body.

• Hybrid

The kind of mattress known as a 'hybrid' consists of a certain type of coil mattress, composed of supportive materials like microcoils, latex or memory foam; it is more supportive than a regular innerspring mattress, but not as supportive as high-quality memory foam. The supportive core comprises pocketed coils and a durable polyfoam base. With a 'hybrid' you get superior motion isolation and pressure relief; moreover, the coil technology also means enhanced temperature control and edge support - hence the price tag which is usually higher in order to reflect these distinct advantages.

• Innerspring

This is a mattress structure which has either one or two slender comfort levels of polyfoam, combined with a core of steel coils for extra support. As well as being popular they're comparatively inexpensive and widely believed to provide a certain 'bounce' which can actually help couples in terms of sexual intimacy; foam mattresses can be a little deadening and lacking, in this respect. Innerspring mattesses also provide robust 'edge' support.

• Latex

Despite sounding a bit weird, latex is a substance like any other, and can be used as a material which forms a bunk bed mattress. It originally comes from a rubber tree's sappy extract; impressively, it is actually even more flexible and responsive than memory foam or polyfoam, providing excellent pressure relief and contouring but avoiding that 'sink' that to some sleepers or lovers can feel a bit stultifying. It is long-lasting and has better heat regulation than foam, which can feel a bit hot. Various brands will have special aerating levels to encourage extra airflow; the fabrics that are used to cover it tend to be more breathable ones like bamboo rayon or organic cotton.

Memory foam is very comfortable but can be known for retaining body heat; in hotter climates this could be a disadvantage. It is mainly due to the relative lack of airflow that memory foam has when compared with other materials; the denser a material is the more it will trap rather than release heat. Ironically, the thing which people value about memory foam, ie. its excellent contouring and support of pressure points, actually further increases your body heat because there is no free movement of around your figure; everything is snug and kept within. In formal terms, this has been referred to as thermoregulation; in layman's terms it is the difficulty you can have when there isn't enough air-to-skin contact.

There is a distinction to be drawn between a topper and a pad or protector; the former adds a significant amount of depth to a mattress, whereas the latter just gives extra support, usually when a bunk bed mattress is too firm. Some come with elasticated edges which slide over the existing mattress and hold it in place; others just fit directly on top of the mattress and are heavy enough to stay put. Some even endeavor to place a pad on top of a topper, giving maximum comfort and contouring support.

They are a relatively inexpensive way of cooling a sleeping surface down to a more comfortable level; often made from natural fibers like wool or cotton, feathers or natural down, which are inherently breathable and aerated. Latex is another alternative, but for some it is too hot for comfort; the same can be said for waterproof toppers, although for children it might be a necessity.

In terms of bunk beds mattresses, you need to be careful that an added layer such as a pad or a topper doesn't increase the overall height of the mattress, whereby it could get dangerously close to the top of the guard rail. The guard rail is an extremely important part of the upper deck; there is, however, the possibility of attaching a guard rail extension, although it might be best just to invest in a new bunk bed.

The extent to which your bunk bed will endure over the years is a consideration; it could depend on how old your children are, how many children you have, and what dimensions your bedrooms are. If you only plan to use bunk-beds for a short duration then that will alter the amount of money you'll be willing to invest in them. Youngsters often out-grow their bunk-bed mattresses when they reach puberty, and some model of bunk bed even split up and become two single beds; however, depending on genetics and diet, it might be that your children will be able to use their bunk-beds well into their teens, and beyond. All such decisions should affect the kind of warranty you're seeking on your bunk bed mattresses, as well as the brand and quality of mattress you end up selecting.