Saatva Youth Mattress Review: Ratings From the Test Lab
Logan FoleyEditorial Director
Logan Foley
Editorial Director
Logan is a Certified Sleep Science Coach with a deep understanding of what it means to struggle with sleep. Her years of experience researching and testing sleep products – including mattresses, natural sleep aids, and bedding – are critical to her role helping lead the editorial team. As a chronic insomniac, she aims to bring her findings to anyone struggling with getting adequate rest. Her expertise is in creating informative, trustworthy, and useful health content. When she’s not testing mattresses or researching CBT-I, she enjoys spending time in the sunshine with her husband and her dogs Pepper and Winston.
The Saatva Youth is flippable, with one side offering a plusher feel for kids aged 3 to 7 and the other side adding more support for kids aged 8 through 12. Standing at 10 inches, the mattress is made from primarily natural materials with low off-gassing potential and a long expected lifespan.
Ratings Summary
Motion Isolation
5.5/10
Edge Support
7.5/10
Temperature Control
8/10
Ease of Movement
7.5/10
Off Gassing
8.5/10
Pressure Relief
7/10
Pros
Flippable design offers two firmness options
Water-resistant, organic cotton cover with waterproof backing
Free White Glove delivery and 365-night sleep trial
Cons
$99 return fee
Lacks support for children who weigh over 230 pounds
Sleep is essential to a growing body, and a quality mattress can make a big difference in a child’s sleep. Kids have different support and comfort needs, but not all companies develop mattresses specifically for young sleepers.
Into that void steps the Saatva Youth Mattress. It is a flippable innerspring mattress intended for children ages 3 through 12. With a water-resistant cover and two distinct firmness levels, the Saatva Youth is designed to meet the needs of growing kids.
To help you determine if this mattress is right for your child, we’ll discuss the features that distinguish the Saatva Youth from the typical adult mattress and review its materials, sizes, and performance. We’ll also describe Saatva’s company policies for shipping and returns.
The Saatva Youth is a dual-sided model with two firmness levels. One side is intended for children 3 to 7 and has a medium (5) feel. The reverse surface is firm (7) and designed for kids between 8 and 12.
Use the Years 3-7 Side if… your child falls into this age bracket and is around the average weight for their age. This medium (5) surface has a slightly plusher feel that contours to smaller bodies while encouraging good spinal alignment. This side may also be appropriate for older children who are small for their age.
Use the Years 8-12 Side if… your child is in this age range and needs a firmer surface for support. The firm (7) surface of this side might also be a good choice for younger kids who are big for their age.
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Sleeping Style and Body Weight
Side Sleepers
The Saatva Youth Mattress offers solid support to most children who sleep on their side and weigh less than 230 pounds. For these sleepers, either side of the mattress can be comfortable, and they can choose based on which one has the best cushioning for their hips and shoulders.
In most cases, the polyfoam layers will be enough to relieve pressure around those joints and let side sleepers rest in a neutral spinal position. However, children with a higher body weight may find that the softer side is too soft and that the firmer side lacks cushioning.
Back Sleepers
Both sides of the Saatva Youth Mattress can work well for children who sleep on their back. Based on our testing, back sleepers under 230 pounds get the best results from this mattress. Children under 130 pounds tend to like the medium (5) side, while those between 130 and 230 pounds typically opt for the firm (7) side.
Children who weigh over 230 pounds may find that their midsection pushes too deeply into the mattress. This can create an unnatural curve in the lower back, which may reduce their comfort. As a general rule, back sleepers get optimal support when their mattress stays relatively flat while offering light cushioning for the lumbar spine.
Stomach Sleepers
During our testing, we found that children who are stomach sleepers typically get better support from the firm (7) side of the Saatva Youth Mattress. However, some younger children and those who weigh under 130 pounds may prefer the side with a firmness level of medium (5).
The important thing for stomach sleepers is for their spine to remain in a straight line during sleep. This requires that their mattress keep their stomach from sagging too far down into the bed.
In the Saatva Youth, the sturdy coils help most stomach sleepers get quality support. However, those over 230 pounds may experience more sinkage that can hinder their ability to sleep in a neutral posture.
Mattress Performance
In addition to the hands-on feedback from our team, we conduct a number of quantitative tests in our Test Lab. The below ratings are based on the experience of our testers.
Motion Isolation
5.5
/ 10
Medium Side: 6.5 / 10
Firm Side: 5 / 10
Because of the thick and bouncy coils in the Saatva Youth, vibrations definitely travel across the mattress surface. The foam on the softer side absorbs a bit more of this vibration.
That said, motion isolation ratings are unlikely to factor into the choice of a mattress for a child. Motion transfer is typically only a concern for couples or people who share their mattress with a pet. The Saatva Youth is made in smaller sizes that are generally intended for use by only one person.
Pressure Relief
7
/ 10
Medium Side: 6.5 / 10
Firm Side: 5 / 10
Our testing found that the Saatva Youth Mattress offers adequate but not exceptional pressure relief.
Both sides of the mattress use polyfoam and a quilted lumbar pad to cushion the body. However, these layers are relatively thin, limiting how much pressure relief they can offer to children who have a higher body weight.
Overall, we found that the medium side, with a slightly softer and zoned polyfoam, offers more targeted support to promote a healthy sleep posture. The firmer side may work better for children who sleep on their stomach or back or who don’t want close contouring from their mattress.
Temperature Control
8
/ 10
We found that both sides of the Saatva Youth remain at a relatively even temperature through the night. Of the two sides, there can be more heat retention on the softer side if the foam contours closely against the skin.
The Saatva Youth Mattress can resist overheating because of the design of its materials. Air flows through the coils, which keeps heat from building up in the support core. The shape of the foams enables more ventilation, and the cover is made with breathable and lightweight organic cotton.
Edge Support
7.5
/ 10
Medium Side: 6.5 / 10
Firm Side: 8 / 10
During our tests, there was a notable difference in edge support between the two sides of the Saatva Youth Mattress. The firmer side had a very robust edge, but there was more foam compression on the softer side.
Overall, though, we found the edge to be dependable on both sides. This is largely because of the thick coils that are encased in a dense polyfoam to reinforce the perimeter.
Based on our testing, most kids will be able to sleep right up to the edge without feeling like they will roll off the mattress. The only real exception is if older children with a higher body weight use the side intended for children who are 3 to 7 years old.
Ease of Movement
7.5
/ 10
The coil support core gives the Saatva Youth Mattress quite a bit of bounce, so high-movement sleepers shouldn’t have any trouble changing positions during the night.
The responsive polyfoam layers also regain their shape quickly when a sleeper moves, so children won’t face much resistance when moving on the mattress surface.
Off-Gassing
8.5
/ 10
With Saatva’s White Glove delivery service, the Saatva Youth Mattress never gets compressed and tightly sealed in plastic like many other mattresses sold online. As a result, it is unlikely to have much of an odor when it is installed in your home. While the materials may smell brand new, you can expect any scent to go away quickly with regular use.
Designed for children ages 3 through 12, the Saatva Youth is a flippable innerspring mattress. Each side has a different firmness level.
The side intended for kids 3 to 7 has a firmness level of medium (5). It features a layer of polyfoam that is formulated to have five different zones of support, providing more pushback under heavier areas like the midsection.
The side made for kids 8 to 12 has a firmness level of firm (7). Its comfort layer is a polyfoam that only lightly cradles the body while still providing essential cushioning.
The core of the mattress is made with thick innerspring coils. These give both sides of the mattress bounciness, breathability, and stability. The coils are encased in foam around the perimeter, which boosts edge support.
Both sides feature a soft and breathable organic cotton cover that is water-resistant and treated to reduce germ growth. A waterproof barrier helps shield the mattress from accidental damage. Special quilting in the center third of the cover enhances lower back support alongside a thin layer of polyfoam quilted into the cover. A non-toxic fire barrier under the cotton fabric is made from wool and thistle.
The foams used in the Saatva Youth are CertiPUR-US certified, indicating that the mattress is free from certain potentially harmful substances.
Firmness
Reversible: Medium (5), Firm (7)
Mattress Type
Innerspring
Construction
Cover Material:
Organic cotton quilted with thistle and wool fire barrier, polyfoam, and lumbar pad
The Saatva Youth Mattress is more expensive than some mattresses made for kids, but its reversible design is intended to allow you to use the mattress for a longer period of time. For many shoppers, this increases the overall return on investment from the Saatva Youth Mattress.
The mattress comes in three sizes: twin, twin XL, and full. Parents with taller children might opt for the twin XL, while the full size bed gives kids more room to sprawl out. Saatva also offers compatible foundations that are available in 4.75-inch and 8.75-inch height options.
Sizes
Dimensions
Height
Weight
Twin
38″ x 75″
10″
45 lbs.
Twin XL
38″ x 80″
10″
56 lbs.
Full
54″ x 75″
10″
61 lbs.
Trial, Warranty, and Shipping Policies
Availability
The Saatva Youth Mattress is sold through the Saatva website and in Saatva showrooms in several major U.S. cities.
The company only ships the mattress to addresses in the contiguous United States. Customers in Alaska, Hawaii, and Canada can contact Saatva to inquire about delivery via a third-party freight forwarder.
Shipping
Saatva offers free White Glove delivery to customers in the contiguous 48 U.S. states. That service includes setup of the Saatva Youth Mattress and removal of an old mattress.
The mattress is usually delivered in one to three weeks. A delivery partner will contact you beforehand to schedule a four-hour delivery window.
Additional Services
In-home installation and haul-away of an old mattress are included in the purchase price of the Saatva Youth.
Sleep Trial
The mattress comes with a 365-night sleep trial. During this time period, you can return the mattress for a refund minus a $99 return processing fee. If you request a return, Saatva will arrange for the mattress to be picked up from your home.
Warranty
A lifetime warranty backs the Saatva Youth Mattress. During the first two years, Saatva will replace the mattress at no charge if it confirms the product is defective. Standard wear and tear and accidental damage do not qualify as defects.
Starting in year 3, Saatva will repair and re-cover a defective mattress, but customers are responsible for a $149 shipping fee each way.
Saatva also offers a “Fairness Replacement Option” that allows customers to keep their defective mattress and purchase a new one at a reduced cost.
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Logan is a Certified Sleep Science Coach with a deep understanding of what it means to struggle with sleep. Her years of experience researching and testing sleep products – including mattresses, natural sleep aids, and bedding – are critical to her role helping lead the editorial team. As a chronic insomniac, she aims to bring her findings to anyone struggling with getting adequate rest. Her expertise is in creating informative, trustworthy, and useful health content. When she’s not testing mattresses or researching CBT-I, she enjoys spending time in the sunshine with her husband and her dogs Pepper and Winston.
