Best For
- Near-instant material response, helps prevent stuck feeling
- Fantastic pressure relief
- Excellent edge support for both sitting and lying
Considerations
- Motion transfer is about double the average
- 3” comfort layer + 5” support layer is great for up to 200’ish pounds, but not much beyond that
Our Verdict
The 5 Little Monkeys mattress is a memory foam mattress with a 8″ profile that is specifically designed for kids. It uses organic cotton, gel-infused memory foam, and a supportive poly foam base.
In our performance tests, this mattress exhibited a high level of contour, high hug, and softer feel. This softness was a bit unexpected because the mattress is backed with the more supportive transitional memory foam and support foam, but it’s not as dense as a classic memory foam.
Overall, I was impressed with performance. The mattress has sufficient material quality that it’s able to support both children and lighter / moderate weight adults. This design intention makes it a mattress that will see a long life for multiple life stages.
Type: Memory Foam
Firmness: Medium (5)
In This Review
Performance Tests | Firmness | Support & Sleeping Positions | Design | Materials | Comparisons | FAQs
Performance Tests
At NapLab, we put each mattress to the test.
We test 10 different factors that impact the performance, comfort, and value of the mattress. Testing categories include:
| Test | Rating |
|---|---|
| Cooling | Excellent |
| Sinkage | Moderate |
| Motion Transfer | Moderate |
| Response Time | Extremely Fast |
| Bounce | Low |
| Edge Support | Very Good |
| Pressure Relief | Excellent |
| Off-Gassing | Excellent |
| Company | Excellent |
Cooling Test
Cooling on the 5 Little Monkeys mattress was excellent. Throughout my cooling tests, I felt no significant heat retention around my body. The mattress did a fantastic job at dispersing heat, keeping the surface of the mattress cooler.
Baseline Temp.
80.5° F
Max Temp.
89.1° F
Ending Temp.
83.0° F
Max Temp.
Ending Temp
- Baseline Temperature – the temperature of the mattress before anyone lies on it
- Maximum Temperature (0 minute) – the temperature of the mattress after lying on it for 15 minutes
- Ending Temperature (5 minute) – the temperature of the mattress after being lied upon and having no one on it for 5 minutes
Oftentimes, cooling performance on kids’ mattresses is less than ideal (especially for an adult tester).
The same can be said for all foam mattresses and mattresses that use memory foam comfort layers. In terms of material design, the deck was really stacked against the 5 Little Monkeys.
However, despite the material challenges, the mattress did fantastic when it came to cooling. Looking at our objective temperature data, we saw good heat dissipation.
From 0 to 1 minutes, we recorded a temperature decline of 4.1°, this is a little better than the average of 3.9° from 0 to 1 minutes, (based on all of our mattress tests to date). We saw a fairly typical heat dissipation step down from minutes 2 to 5. Nothing incredible, but not bad either.
In my view, the biggest factor helping with cooling performance is simply the limited comfort layer. The 5 Little Monkeys mattress only uses 3.0″ of total comfort material.
As a result, there is physically less foam material for heat to be absorbed into (especially compared to adult mattresses, which often have thicker comfort layers).
Heat Dissipation Over Time
| Time Elapsed | Temperature |
|---|---|
| 1 minute | 85.0° |
| 2 minutes | 84.1° |
| 3 minutes | 83.6° |
| 4 minutes | 83.5° |
| 5 minutes | 83.0° |
Based on the objective data, material construction, and my subjective experience, I found the cooling performance to be excellent overall. I don’t foresee any significant cooling issues for any child or adult sleepers.
Sinkage Test
There is a moderate level of sinkage depth on the 5 Little Monkeys mattress. In our tests, we measured 2.32” of sinkage.
The level of sinkage is documented in the image below.
This is slightly more sinkage than the average sinkage depth based on all of our tests to date, which is 2.23”. While lying on the mattress I felt a fairly dramatic level of overall sinkage around my entire body.
The 3.0” memory foam comfort layer creates an exacting contour around the unique shape of the body and there is a high level of hug. Bear in mind, that more dramatic contour is on an adult’s body.
Children will experience a far more balanced level of overall sinkage, given their lighter body weights. However, as children get older and into their teen years, the more dramatic hug could be a factor for some.
Motion Transfer Test
The 5 Little Monkeys mattress has a moderate level of motion transfer. In our tests, we measured 10.35 m/s² of acceleration range. This is nearly double the average of 5.78 m/s² based on all of our mattress tests to date.
The level of motion transfer is documented in the video below.
The relatively high level of motion transfer is a result of the thinner profile of the mattress. Thinner mattresses have less material within them, and it’s the foam material, in particular, that’s able to absorb energy and create a low level of motion transfer.
Even though the mattress has a memory foam top layer, it’s still not enough to overcome the 8.0″ thickness. 8.0″ of material is pretty thin compared to many mattresses.
Max. Acceleration
6.58 m/s²
Min. Acceleration
-3.77 m/s²
Accel. Range
10.35 m/s²
In my view, 10″ is sort of the “standard” thickness you want to look for, especially for an adult mattress. Looking at our motion transfer chart (which visualizes the accelerometer data), we can see that motion peaks by 0.14 seconds.
A moderate level of motion persists up until 0.28 seconds, with a secondary spike at 0.57 seconds. However, by 0.57 seconds all energy has been expended and motion transfer levels return to near zero.
All that said, while motion transfer is moderate, for most children, it should be a non-factor. Most children don’t share a bed.
As a result, the only time motion transfer may be more of an issue would be when co-sleeping / snuggling with a parent and the parent gets up. I won’t say motion transfer is a non-issue, but it’s not tremendously important for kids, in my view.
Response Test
Response time was exceptionally fast on the 5 Little Monkeys mattress. In our tests, we measured 0.2 seconds for the mattress to mostly recover and 0.3 seconds for a full material rebound.
Mostly Recovered
0.2 sec.
Complete Recovery
0.3 sec.
The level of responsiveness is documented in the video below.
This is tied for the fastest material response time based on all of our mattress tests to date (tied with several high-performance mattresses).
On average (based on all of our mattress tests to date), we have measured 0.54 seconds for materials to mostly recover and 0.95 seconds to fully recover.
As a result, the 5 Little Monkeys mattress is significantly faster than the average recovery speed. Generally, cheaper memory foam is far slower to respond. Faster responding memory foam typically indicates better foam quality.
Suffice to say, I’m pleased to see the faster response. A faster material response makes the mattress easier to move around on, get in / out of bed, and prevents any type of stuck feeling.
Bounce Test
The 5 Little Monkeys mattress has a low level of bounce. In our tests, we measured 7.15″ of bounce.
Max. Depth
5.36″
Max. Rebound
1.79″
Total Bounce
7.15″
This is less than the average bounce height (based on all of our tests to date), which is 9.29″.
Max. Sinkage Depth
Max Bounce Height
More bounce helps make the mattress easier to move around on and can help serve as a play surface for kids.
The level of bounce is also documented in the video below.
While I would like to see a little more bounce, I’m not terribly concerned with 7.15″.
Given the all foam design and memory foam comfort layer, 7.15″ of bounce is reasonably high. For most children it should be a sufficient level.
Edge Support Test
Edge support on the 5 Little Monkeys mattress was excellent. In our sitting edge support tests, we measured just 4.25″ of edge sinkage. This is 0.42″ less than the average of 4.67″.
Max Sinkage
4.25″
Lying Support
Excellent
With only 8.0″ of total mattress thickness, this is an impressive level of support at the edge. Even with an adult’s full body weight sitting directly on the edge, the mattress remained supportive. As a result, it’s sufficiently supportive enough to sit on the edge of the mattress to read stories, get ready for bed, co-sleep, etc.
The level of edge support while seated is documented in the images below.
Sitting, 140 lbs.
Sitting, 200 lbs.
Lying edge support was equally as impressive. Even when lying directly on the edge of the mattress I felt well supported. There was no sensation of being rolled off of the mattress.
The level of edge support while lying is documented in the images below.
Lying on Edge, 140 lbs.
Lying on Edge, 200 lbs.
Edge-to-edge support is important for both adults and children. It creates full support across the entire surface of the mattress.
Furthermore, the robust edge support will help make the 5 Little Monkeys mattress a bed that can be used into teen and early adult years.
Pressure Relief Test
Pressure relief on the 5 Little Monkeys mattress was excellent. During our tests, I felt extremely comfortable in all sleeping positions.
Comfort Layer
3.0″
Comfort Layer Ratio
5.0″
Even with the weight of an adult, the 5 Little Monkeys mattress did a fantastic job at relieving pressure, while still remaining supportive.
While the mattress is designed with the needs of children in mind, the construction and performance are such that many adults could comfortably sleep on the mattress.
Furthermore, I am confident that this is the type of mattress that a child could take off to college or to their first apartment and continue to sleep comfortably on.
Off-Gassing Test
Right out of the box, the 5 Little Monkeys mattress had a pretty strong smell. The smell lingered for 4 days before fully dissipating.
Initial Smell Strength
Strong
Off-Gassing Period
4 days
These results weren’t really all that unexpected for the type of mattress and I found off-gassing performance to be satisfactory.
Company
The company, 5 Little Monkeys, has a good company score with a handful of favorable policies. They offer a 100-night trial period, a 15-year warranty and free shipping or returns.
| Company Factor | |
|---|---|
| Trial Period | 100 nights |
| Warranty | 15 years |
| Shipping | Free |
| Returns | Free |
| Country of Origin | USA |
They also ship orders within 24 hours, which can be an added bonus if you’re in a hurry. This company was started by a family with kids and prides themselves on remaining US-based for production.
How firm is 5 Little Monkeys?
The 5 Little Monkeys mattress is a 5 out of 10 on the firmness scale.
It has a standard medium feel, lots of hug, lots of contour, and moderate to deep sinkage.
Support & Sleeping Positions
Support on the 5 Little Monkeys mattress was excellent. Throughout our battery of tests, I felt well supported in all sleeping positions. According to the manufacturer, there is no weight limit on the mattress.
From a warranty perspective, that’s great for consumers. However, an 8” mattress with a 3” comfort layer certainly has a functional weight limit. I am confident that the mattress could support sleepers up to 200 pounds (be they adults or children).
However, much beyond that and you will simply run into support and pressure relief issues. At 200+ pounds you will sink straight through the relatively soft comfort top layers and into the denser support foam.
That foam is going to create pressure point issues, which will in turn create support issues.
If your child is over 200 pounds you should purchase an adult mattress.
| Sleeper Weight | Stomach Sleepers | Side Sleepers | Back Sleepers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 150 lbs. | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 150-250 lbs. | Maybe | Maybe | Maybe |
| 250-300 lbs. | No | No | No |
Design
The 5 Little Monkeys mattress is a memory foam mattress with a 3-layer, 8″ thick design. It has a medium firmness of 5 out of 10 on the firmness scale.
Type
Foam
Thickness
8″
Firmness
5
Materials
Beyond the cover, there are three main layers that make up the materials
- 1.5″ gel memory foam
- 1.5″ memory foam
- 5.0″ support foam
The top two foams make up the comfort layer and the base foam is the support layer.
The Cover
The cover of the Five Little Monkeys mattress is removable, machine washable, and stain / water-resistant. It is made of organic cotton that is OEKO-TEX certified and has a zipper closure for easy washing or stain treatment.
The Comfort Layer
The comfort layer is made up of two different types of foam—a gel-infused memory foam and a secondary memory foam.
Together, these two foam layers create a 3.0″ comfort layer. While 3″ may be a little thin for adult sleepers, it should be more than sufficient for younger sleepers who weigh less and oftentimes don’t engage as deeply into the foams.
The Support Layer
The support layer is at the base of the mattress. This foam is 5.0″ thick. It supports the layers above and helps the mattress keep its shape.
Product Evolution
There have been minimal changes to the 5 Little Monkeys mattress since its launch. The biggest changes to the mattress would include:
- Price: The mattress price for a twin size has gone up $200 between 2019 and 2022.
- Size: The 5 Little Monkeys mattress is now available up to a Queen, whereas the mattress originally only came in twin or full.
Functionally, the mattress has remained unchanged since it launched.
How is 5 Little Monkeys Different?
#1. Designed for Kids.
This mattress is specifically designed for young sleepers. It has a thinner 8″ profile, kid-friendly materials, a lower sticker price, and comes with a complimentary stuffed monkey.
In addition, this mattress is also only available in three sizes—Twin, Full, and Queen.
#2. The Sleep System
The 5 Little Monkeys mattress is sold as a sleep system meaning that it includes three parts—the mattress, the mattress cover, and a coordinating pillow.
With most mattresses, all of these pieces are sold separately which can mean added costs after the initial purchase. It saves some headache to have everything you need with one click.
Other Mattresses to Consider
Not sure that the 5 Little Monkeys mattress is right for your little one? Check out one of the other mattresses listed below for a top-perming pick for kids.
For Flippable Hybrid
Helix Kids
Foam + Coils, 2 Firmnesses
The Helix Kids mattress uses a combination of gel memory foam (much like the 5 Little Monkeys mattress), but combines the foam with a 5″ layer of pocketed coils. The coils provide more bounce compared to 5 Little Monkeys.
For Less Motion Transfer
Leesa Studio
10″ Thick Profile
While the Leea Studio isn’t specifically a kids mattress, it’s a cheaper alternative to the Leesa Original, which can make it a perfect option for growing sleepers. Unlike the 5 Little Monkeys mattress which has an 8″ profile, the Leesa Studio is a 10″ mattress.
For Firmer Feel
Nest Bedding Puffin
Combo Foam on a Budget
The Nest Bedding Puffin mattress is a 7″ thick mattress for kids that uses a latex-like poly foam for the comfort layer with a support foam layer below. This mattress also has a firmer feel than the 5 Little Monkeys mattress (7 out of 10 on the firmness scale).
Frequently Asked Questions
Still have questions? Check out some of the top FAQs on the 5 Little Monkeys mattress below and get the answers you’re looking for.
Here are the current prices, with any sales or promotions reflected below:
Twin: $499
Full: $799
Queen: $999
*Note: Sales prices are subject to change without notice or warning.
Yes. Any mattress with less than a 10″ profile is generally a better pick for bunk beds. Mattresses with thicker profiles oftentimes extend too high and may limit the effectiveness of bunk rails.
The 5 Little Monkeys mattress would be great for a 5-year-old. By this age, children don’t always require an ultra-firm mattress, as they do as an infant or toddler. This foam is soft enough to provide contour and hug without a sinking feeling. 5 Little Monkeys also has a very fast response time which is good for little bodies who can toss and turn at night.
