Hello Markwood,
Welcome to the Mattress UnderGround and thanks for your question.
It appears you did a great job researching, and your instincts about comfort and coil count are spot-on. The main thing to consider here is you are buying a mattress for a child, so some guidance based on both your preferences and what’s best for your growing child .
Key Considerations for a Growing Child
- While your child may love the plush, sink-in feel of your Beautyrest Waterscape, growing bodies need consistent spinal support. Too-soft mattresses can lead to poor posture and alignment issues over time.
- Budget Beautyrest models (like BR800 and BRS900 lines) often don’t hold up well over time. Their coil systems and foams are not as robust as they once were, especially in pillow-top versions which tend to sag faster.
- Heat Sensitivity: Memory foam or soft foams can trap heat and become less supportive depending on room temperature and body heat, something to consider if your child is a warm sleeper.
All of the models you selected are basically similar designs, for the practicality sake. Sure, a few are 800 coil count, the BRS900 have the 900 coil count. tje Beachfront Bay somewhat less of a coil count and the Pressure Smart Series, I have be forced to sleep on, as it is the mattress my brother decided to purchase (without my guidance) for his guest room, which leaves my wife and me with backaches every time we visit. Having said that, I am 6’ 220 and my wife is 5’4 135, and we are side sleepers, on a firm mattress, at home, and can be cranky 60 year olds. Children tend to be more resilient, so the primary concern is support and if the choice is too soft for a child.
Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re open to looking beyond Beautyrest and Sealy, here are a few better-value, longer-lasting options:
-
Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid (Firm (with their 2" Pillowtop) or Medium)
-
Zoned coils for support, soft top for comfort
-
Great for side sleepers
-
More durable than most Beautyrest budget lines
-
Flexispot U3 Hybrid**
-
Made in the USA, budget-friendly
-
Good support and comfort balance
-
Often half the price of name brands with better warranty
-
No Name Brand, very transparent about their foams and springs, fairly admirable for a mattress company these days, particularly as a generic brand.
-
DLX Classic Hybrid medium which offers a slightly softer comfort layer than the firm, but with a nice supportive, spring support layer.
-
Glacier Sleep Summit a very versatile mattress with a eurostyle comfort layer with additional support built in to the quilted cover and longer warranty.
Final Thoughts & Recommendation
Does Lumbar Support Matters for Kids?
- Spinal Development: Children’s spines are still developing, and proper alignment during sleep is crucial for healthy growth.
- Posture Formation: A mattress that supports the natural curve of the spine helps promote good posture, both during sleep and while awake.
- Prevention of Discomfort: While kids may not experience back pain like adults, poor support can lead to discomfort, restlessness, or even future issues.
- Generally, a uniform feel mattress should suffice for most children and enhanced zoning is not necessary. If the child seems to favor a softer landing for side sleeping, certain types of lumbar support is acceptable.
If you’re set on one of the mattresses you listed and need a shorter term solution, the Sealy Statified 2 is likely your best bet among the ones you can try locally. It offers a soft feel with slightly better support than the Beachfront Bay. The good thing about the Sealy’s and BRests, is that they will be familiar feeling to him. However, you should do a bit more investigation as to whether a very soft mattress is the best direction to go for a growing child.
Additionally, if you’re open to better longer-term value, I’d strongly recommend looking into Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid (medium or firm with pillowtop), the DLX Classic Medium, the Glacier Sleep Summit and the Winndom Magnolia which have a slighty plush feel with robust support layers. These offer the plush comfort your child enjoys, but with the support and durability that will better serve his growing body.
As a reminder, the foundation you choose will make a difference. It should be a rigid foundation. If slatted, no more than 3" spaced, minimum 2" wide and 5/8" thick with no flex.
This post from last year mirrors the situation you are facing right now.
As always, all the best and if there are any other questions, feel free to ask any of our Trusted Member who are always happy to offer advice. Just place the @ symbol as a prefix to their name.
Like @WinndomMattress or @DLX and you will see their name highlighted and they will get an alert that you are directing a question to them.
Maverick