Our team at Sleep Foundation conducts extensive hands-on tests for each mattress to provide you with the most reliable, data-driven recommendations and reviews. Below are key guidelines that inform our testing methodology:
Our testers lie on the surface of each mattress to evaluate factors such as contouring and support. We also use specialized tools to measure performance criteria like pressure relief, heat retention, and motion isolation.
We test each mattress using various sleep positions to observe whether a mattress is better suited for side, back, or stomach sleeping. We roll around the surface and sit on the edges to gauge ease of movement and perimeter support.
We have tested hundreds of mattresses and bring years of experience in the mattress industry to the test lab. Our testing team covers a wide range of sleep preferences, sleep positions, and body types. This helps us represent as many sleeper types as possible in our reviews.
The Nolah Nurture is a flippable kids’ mattress with a distinct feel on each side – one plush and adaptive, the other firm and supportive. Breathable materials help ensure a cool night’s rest for your child.
Ratings Summary
Motion Isolation
6/10
Edge Support
7/10
Temperature Control
7/10
Ease of Movement
7/10
Off Gassing
6.5/10
Pressure Relief
6.5/10
Pros
Flippable mattress specifically designed for children’s evolving sleep needs
Hybrid design with responsive pressure relief and strong support
Features a soft mattress cover made from organic cotton
Cons
Above-average price-point for a children’s mattress
Flipping the mattress may require two people
Firm side doesn’t relieve pressure as effectively as the Plush side
The Nolah Nurture Mattress is a kids model that has an innovative flippable construction. It uses a foam hybrid design with responsive pressure relief and strong support.
Although this model is Nolah’s only mattress for children, the company does offer other mattresses of various constructions. The company’s flagship Nolah Original 10 is an all-foam model with an affordable price-point. The Signature 12 has a pressure-relieving design and added cooling features, while the Evolution 15 combines pocketed coils and polyfoam for a balanced feel. Shoppers can opt for the latex Nolah Natural 11. Nolah also sells bed bases, sheets, bedding, and pillows.
We’ll focus on the Nurture, providing a thorough explanation of the mattress’ construction, performance, and value. We’ll discuss its pros and cons and provide detailed information on Nolah’s policies. You’ll also learn how this model scored during our in-house testing and which sleepers liked it the most.
This model has a flippable construction with two different firmness levels. One side features a medium soft surface that ranks as a 4 out of 10 on the firmness scale, while the other has a firm (7) feel. Nolah refers to these two surfaces as “Plush” and “Firm.”
Choose the Plush side if… your child weighs under 130 pounds or needs a pressure-relieving surface with plenty of cushioning.
Choose the Firm side if… your child weighs at least 130 pounds or needs more robust spinal support.
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Sleeping Style and Body Weight
Nolah Nurture Kids – Plush
Sleeper Type
Under 130 lbs
130-230 lbs
Above 230 lbs
Side Sleepers
10/10
7/10
5.5/10
Back Sleepers
10/10
7/10
5.5/10
Stomach Sleepers
7/10
5.5/10
5.5/10
Nolah Nurture Kids – Firm
Sleeper Type
Under 130 lbs
130-230 lbs
Above 230 lbs
Side Sleepers
5.5/10
7/10
10/10
Back Sleepers
7/10
10/10
10/10
Stomach Sleepers
7/10
7/10
10/10
Side Sleepers
Side sleepers generally prefer mattresses that offer plenty of cushioning to mitigate pressure point buildup near the hips and shoulders. The Nurture’s soft side features softer foam that is designed to contour closely to the body, making this side a good fit for sleepers under 130 pounds.
Side sleepers who weigh more than 230 pounds need stronger support to ensure their spine is evenly aligned. This model’s firm surface is made of pressure-relieving polyfoam that makes it an excellent fit for sleepers in this weight group. Sleepers between 130 pounds and 230 pounds can sleep well on either firmness level.
Back Sleepers
The Nolah Nurture is an excellent mattress for back sleepers. The softer side has a comfortable combination of support and pressure relief that’s best for those who weigh under 130 pounds. The firm’s side’s comfort layer and the zoned support core work together to provide robust lumbar support. This helps keep sleepers positioned on top of the mattress and prevents those over 130 pounds from sinking too deeply into the mattress’ support core.
Stomach Sleepers
Stomach sleepers require the firmest surface of any sleeper type. A mattress that doesn’t have adequate support can cause the spine to bend, leading to aches and pains. The softer side has enough support for children under 130 pounds, though sleepers above 130 pounds may prefer the firm side. Our testers above 230 pounds also preferred the firm side, finding it extremely supportive without feeling too hard.
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
8.5
/ 10
Plush: 8.5 / 10
Firm: 7 / 10
Overall, this model has above-average motion isolation. Most children should be able to sleep without waking themselves up as they move around. Light sleepers should opt for the soft side, which has a slight edge over the firm side when it comes to preventing disturbances for active sleepers.
The soft side’s foam layer absorbs movement more effectively than the firm side, which is slightly more responsive. However, both surfaces provide adequate motion isolation.
Pressure Relief
6.5
/ 10
Plush: 8.5 / 10
Firm: 7 / 10
Memory foam and adaptive polyfoam both cushion joints to alleviate pressure buildup and hot spots. The softer side of the bed hugs the body more closely, while the firmer polyfoam feels more supportive and contours gently.
Children under 130 pounds and those who experience pressure point discomfort should opt for the soft side, as the memory foam compresses deeply to cradle high-impact areas. While the soft side offers the deepest pressure relief, our testers also gave the firm side above-average scores during performance testing.
Temperature Control
7
/ 10
The Nurture’s pocketed coil support core ensures that the mattress doesn’t get too hot. Air flows easily between the coils, and body heat dissipates quickly. The wool and cotton cover is designed to wick excess moisture away from the mattress, further controlling the bed’s overall temperature.
The firm side provides the best temperature control, since the polyfoam comfort layer prevents heat buildup more efficiently than the soft side’s memory foam. Though this model doesn’t feature any cooling-specific technology, its hybrid construction and breathable cover contribute to its overall temperature neutrality.
Edge Support
7
/ 10
Plush: 8 / 10
Firm: 8.5 / 10
The firm side has a slight advantage over the soft side in terms of edge support. The soft surface’s foam is a bit more likely to compress at the edges. However, both surfaces adequately support kids who use the entire mattress over the course of the night.
This model doesn’t have any added perimeter reinforcement, but the pocketed coils’ strong structure helps extend support across the whole bed. Children who need a mattress with sturdier edges might do better with a model that uses higher-gauge coils around the outside.
Ease of Movement
7
/ 10
Pocketed coils make this model quite easy to move around on. Kids who prefer a more responsive bed should sleep on the firm side because it has more bounce. The soft side has deeper contouring, while the firm surface keeps the sleeper squarely on top of the mattress.
Off-Gassing
6.5
/ 10
Many mattresses, especially those made with foam, give off an odor when they’re first unwrapped. Because the Nurture contains foam on both sides, you may notice a slight smell after unwrapping it. It’s still a good idea to allow the mattress to fully off-gas at least 24 hours before use.
The flippable Nolah Nurture mattress has two sleep surfaces with distinct feels and levels of support. Kids can choose between sleeping on the medium soft (4) or firm (7) side, each of which features pressure-relieving foam comfort layers. The mattress has a hybrid construction that stands 8 inches tall.
The mattress has a soft organic cotton cover that’s breathable and temperature-regulating. Each side has a moisture-wicking wool layer positioned directly underneath the cover. Both the cotton and wool are GOTS-certified, meaning a third party has reviewed the manufacturing process and supply chains used to make the materials. There are convenient labels on the cover marking the two sides so that it’s easy to see which side of the mattress is up.
The firm side’s comfort layer is composed of dense polyfoam, resulting in more support and less of a “hug.” On the opposite side, memory foam creates a plusher surface with gentle contouring and cushioning.
Between the two foam layers, there is a shared pocketed coil support core. The 6-inch coils feature a zoned system that has three distinct support levels. The bed’s middle section provides strong lumbar support that helps keep kids’ spines evenly aligned while they sleep.
This mattress weighs as little as 72 pounds for the twin and up to 97 pounds for the full, making it lighter than many other mattress models, both flippable and conventional.
Firmness
Medium Soft – 4 Firm – 7
Mattress Type
Hybrid
Construction
The 8-inch Nolah Nurture is a flippable mattress with three total layers. The zoned pocketed coil support core is sandwiched between two foam layers, one that feels soft and one that feels firm
The Nolah Nurture comes in three different kid-friendly dimensions: twin, twin XL, and full. Despite the sizes being smaller, the mattress is fairly heavy and you should lift with a partner whenever it needs to be moved, flipped, or rotated.
Sizes
Dimensions
Height
Weight
Twin
38″ x 75″
8″
72 lbs.
Twin XL
38″ x 80″
8″
78 lbs.
Full
54″ x 75″
8″
97 lbs.
Trial, Warranty, and Shipping Policies
Availability
Nolah offers its products online and ships to customers living in the contiguous U.S. The company does not currently sell its products through any third-party retailers or in brick-and-mortar stores.
Shipping
The Nurture ships free via FedEx to those who live in the contiguous U.S. You should expect your mattress to ship quickly from one of Nolah’s U.S. warehouses. Shipping is not currently available to Canada or other international addresses.
The mattress arrives compressed and wrapped in protective plastic. To set the mattress up, place it on your bed frame, open it, and then carefully cut the plastic wrapping. Allow the mattress to fully expand before use.
Additional Services
While Nolah does not offer complimentary White Glove delivery, shoppers can add old mattress removal, mattress setup, or both for an additional fee.
Sleep Trial
Each Nurture purchase includes a 120-night sleep trial with a 30-night break-in period. If you want to return your mattress following your first 30 nights, you can contact Nolah's customer service to schedule a pickup. Returns initiated within 120 days of delivery receive a full refund less a $99 transportation fee. Customers who want to opt out of the trial can save $100 on the total mattress price.
Warranty
Nolah backs the Nurture with a limited lifetime warranty. The prorated warranty has options that cover the mattress for four specific time frames ranging from under 2 years to over 25 years. The warranty protects against defects not caused by normal wear and tear.
The company also has a program that provides shoppers with a new prorated mattress in lieu of filing a warranty claim. Additional options include adding a third-party protection plan that safeguards the mattress against spills, stains, and scratches for up to 10 years.
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