This is our first "big boy bed". I went with the "softer" of the mattresses because my 3yr old was layering blankets upon his crib mattress to make it cozier. He seems very comfortable in this bed. It's definitely no pillow top and you can feel the individual coils when you pick up the bed but I'm comfortable enough when I have to sleep on it. Smelly (sheep smell) for three days and then was good to go. I considered several other, equally green, choices but chose this as the best value, I will buy this again.