One of the most important items to check off on the never-ending list of baby items you must purchase is a crib mattress. Ensuring that this mattress is a well-made organic mattress is even more important! First, you are probably wondering why buying organic mattresses for your baby is necessary. Here, you will learn why this is crucial and find a list of the best organic crib mattresses for your baby that you must try!
Why should you research crib mattresses?
Your baby will spend many hours in his or her crib. The average person sleeps for 8 hours a day meaning that this same person would sleep roughly 2,920 hours a year. That is a lot of time spent in a bed! Now, think about a baby and how much they sleep. Do you know that 8 hours a day that a regular adult sleeps? Double that and that is how much a newborn sleeps each day.
Now that is a lot of time sleeping in a crib!
We all want what is best for our babies too. Right? Why would we ever want to place our baby on a poor-quality mattress when they will spend so much of their time there?
Right. We wouldn’t.
This is why new parents must do their research on which mattresses are the best for their little bundle of joy.
Why should you buy an organic mattress?
Now, let’s get to why purchasing an organic crib mattress matters. We have established why it is important to buy a good mattress. After knowing this, you may want to run out and buy the most mainstream mattress out there! After all, that mattress is the best one on the market according to the advertisement you saw on the television. Let me tell you something though, that advertisement is wrong!
Most mainstream crib mattresses are filled with toxins exposing your precious little babe to unhealthy levels of chemical emissions while they are sound asleep.
To expand on this claim, two studies performed by the University of Texas at Austin had significant findings related to toxins found in crib mattresses. In short, the studies found that crib mattresses release around 30 different types of volatile organic compounds and other potentially harmful airborne chemicals all within the baby’s breathing zone while sleeping.
Since an infant’s respiratory system is quite fragile in the beginning weeks (and even months) of life, finding a mattress that supports their well-being instead of disrupting it is quite necessary!
How to buy an organic mattress for your baby
There are several things to consider when researching and purchasing organic mattresses. Here is what you should look out for when buying an organic crib mattress:
Greenwashing
Just with anything organic, you need to be careful to ensure the whole product is organic. Many companies will market their crib mattresses as being organic when it is only the cover that is organic. This can be tricky for those who are new to buying organic and only want the best for their baby!
When buying organic crib mattresses, make sure to pay very close attention to all of the materials used in the mattress even if it says organic on the label.
Certification
There are numerous certifications that companies can obtain for their products as long as they uphold certain criteria making them organic. This is a great way for you to feel confident in the mattress you are purchasing.
You will want to make sure the mattress is certified by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) or the Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS). These two certifications are a promise for the highest standards in the textile industry.
Other certifications are always great to have but can mean very little in comparison to the high-quality standards that either GOTS or GOLS obtains.
Safe sleep requirements
With any mattress, you will want to make sure you are providing a safe sleep environment. This includes making sure you provide the baby with a firm sleep surface. This is a crucial requirement by the AAP safe sleep guidelines.
In doing so, you are often left with two choices. These are: single or dual firmness mattresses. How do you know which to get? This is purely based on preference. You can go with either! A benefit to dual firmness, however, is that you can flip it over for a little softer feel when your little one reaches a more appropriate age!
Things to avoid in organic mattresses
The following list includes materials you want to avoid when buying an organic mattress for your little one.
- Polyurethane foam
- Soy foam
- Vegetable-based foam
- Vinyl waterproofing
- Flame retardant chemicals
- Synthetic or recycled materials like polyester
There are endless reasons why the above list of materials should be avoided for your baby’s mattress. You could write an entire book on the problems related to flame retardant chemicals in crib mattresses. One of the biggest concerns is the toxic nature of these chemicals and the associated health effects they cause from their accumulation in our bodies. This is especially concerning since organic mattresses can meet flammability requirements naturally without using these harmful carcinogens!
However, I encourage you to do further research into this area to learn more for yourself! Now, for the moment you have all been waiting for.
Related Post: Ethical Baby Clothes You and Your Baby Will Love
The best organic crib mattresses
The mattresses listed here meet all of the criteria we discussed earlier. They are GOTS or GOLS certified, made with the most natural materials, and do not contain any of the materials on our “avoid” list!
Naturepedic Organic Innerspring Crib Mattresses
All materials used in Naturepedic’s organic mattresses are certified by Oregon Tilth to meet the high standard requirements set by the Global Organic Textile Standard.
All Naturepedic’s crib mattresses avoid the use of flame retardant chemicals, polyurethane foam, latex, polyurethane-coated fabrics, biocides, glues, GMO fibers, antibacterial treatments, insulator pads, and more! In this amazing organic mattress company, you have many options to choose from. Some of them include:
Innerspring crib mattresses
These mattresses come with either 150 or 252 coils and have the capability of being single or dual firmness.
Breathable crib mattresses
Breathable crib mattresses are a favorite of many parents. There are safety guidelines new parents should follow when purchasing and using this type of mattress though. Make sure to do your research if you choose one of these mattresses!
Lightweight crib mattresses
These organic mattresses are made with a polyethylene foam core making the mattresses lighter while still offering a firm sleep surface for your baby!
Avocado Green Crib Mattresses
Avocado Green Crib Mattresses offer parents two options for their babies! These are: organic green crib mattress and the luxury organic crib mattress.
Their mattresses are Greenguard Gold, GOTS, and GOLS certified! This company goes above and beyond for the sleep safety of babies by harvesting and manufacturing their materials and product.
Their original crib mattress is a dual-sided organic mattress made of organic cotton, coconut fiber, and latex wrapped in organic wool!
Now, their luxury crib mattress is a 170 coil mattress made from the most premium of materials.
If that wasn’t enough for you, get this! Avocado’s organic mattresses include a 25-year limited warranty ensuring you have the highest quality for your little one.
Savvy Rest Organic Crib Mattresses
Savvy Rest organic mattresses use organic wool to meet flammability requirements and are GOTS and GOLS certified! Since these mattresses use wool as a natural flame retardant, you can rest easy knowing that the mattress allows for plenty of airflow reducing the risk of overheating for your baby as well.
Emily Natural Crib Mattress by MyGreenMattress
The Emily Natural Crib Mattress is a 150 coil innerspring mattress made with all-natural materials in the United States.
This mattress is GOTS certified using organic cotton and wool. Since this mattress uses wool, it is naturally flame retardant!
Only the best organic mattress for baby!
If you are new to the world of organic buying, it can be a little overwhelming. Not only is the research a lot to take in but the price of these items can be daunting as well. When it comes to crib mattresses, you truly get what you pay for.
As we have covered, you must invest in your crib mattress for the overall health of your baby! There are many organic mattresses out there that are $500+ and I know that no new parent wants to spend that much. This is especially true when you are making other big purchases related to your baby’s arrival.
The above mattresses can be found from anywhere between $250-$400 making them more affordable options for organic mattress buying! If you are purchasing an organic mattress for cheaper than this, I encourage you to do some digging and make sure the materials used are truly organic. If they are, please reach out and let me know because I would love to know of more organic mattresses for babies!