Raising Natural Kids

Because knowledge is the key to making informed decisions for your family.

  • Home
  • About
  • Like Minded Moms
  • Natural Remedies
  • Vaccines 101
  • Shop Safe Products
  • Recipes

Crib Mattresses and Your Baby: What You Need to Know Now

by Dawn Lorenz 4 Comments

Spread the love

One of the first purchases you’ll make for your infant is that of a mattress. Though you may choose to co-sleep (we did), eventually you’ll make the switch to a toddler bed.

Let’s break it down (Why You Need to Do Your Mattress Research)

  1. The traditional mattress is covered with chemical flame retardants. Flame retardants are made from volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are linked to respiratory issues, headaches, allergies and cancer. There is concern that these chemicals are also linked to SIDS. These VOCs have been found in both cord blood and in human blood.In fact, in 2014, the University of Texas did the first ever study of its kind and found that infants are exposed to high levels of chemical emissions from crib mattresses while they sleep. The ideal mattress is one made from truly organic and natural materials – one made from organic cotton, latex derived from the rubber tree (completely different than synthetic latex) and wool. Wool is a natural flame retardant, no chemicals needed!
  2. Many mattresses contain glues and man-made fills that are toxic. This is especially the case for any type of foam – even soy foam! Mattresses made from soy or bamboo are heavily processed.
  3. Your infant/toddler will spend 10 to 12 hours sleeping on it cheek to mattress. That’s 50% of their little lives. Making sure it’s one not covered in chemicals or made from materials that aren’t natural is important so that they are breathing in only what you want them to – air!
  4. While some companies claim that their mattresses are natural or organic, they aren’t telling you the whole truth. Many of these companies are only referring to the outside most layer of the mattress. You must read the fine print. If there is no explanation of the materials used, you can always call the company to ask exactly what the composition of the mattress is. Ideally, you want your organic mattress to have a certified third-party certification.

Some Examples of What Lies Beneath

Two of many examples of companies that lead people to think that their mattresses are all organic or all natural are Pottery Barn with their Kids Lullaby Organic Crib Mattress and Naturepedic with their No Compromise Crib Mattress.

Pottery Barn calls their mattress organic, but not all layers are. In fact, they use a non-organic, GMO soy foam. In reality, soybean foam is primarily made from petrochemicals, not soybeans. So you are getting a nice combination of, well, crud. 

The Sleep Sherpa, a top reviewer of mattresses, took a look at one of Naturepedic’s No Compromise Crib Mattress. Along with testing for comfort, he opens them up to take a look at what’s on the inside. His thoughts: “Overall I think this is a fine crib mattress. However, I worry that consumers will confuse this with an organic mattress which it is not. The only thing organic about this mattress is the inch or so of cotton batting. However, since it is sealed in plastic, I’m not sure what the benefit of that is except that it is better for the environment. It really does nothing to improve the sleep environment of the baby. I like that Naturepedic is focusing on breathability and quality material but I have seen many other bloggers get their facts confused.”

A Quality Crib Mattress: The Emily Natural Crib Mattress

Tim, the owner of My Green Mattress, named this after his daughter, for whom he made his very first organic mattress for. Shortly after Emily was born, it was apparent that she suffered from eczema and allergies. Tim and his wife took Emily to see the best pediatric dermatologists, but also did their own research and found that all-natural products could help alleviate Emily’s symptoms. Tim realized it was time to offer all-natural mattresses to his customers, putting the first one in his daughter’s crib.  ***Please note that since he started making them some years ago, his mattresses are now officially GreenGuard GOLD certified AND both the cotton and wool are processed using GOTS certified materials and techniques. In addition, neither the wool or the cotton are blended.

The Emily Natural Crib Mattress is My Green Mattress’s very own infant/toddler mattress. Here’s what it’s made out of:

  • GOTS certified organic cotton and natural wool quilted cover. ***Important info: My Green Mattress does NOT combine their wool or cotton with any other fibers and unlike other companies, their wool is cleaned in an alcohol-based solution that is GOTS compliant.
  • Heavyweight organic cotton batting
  • Heavy duty 150 coil innerspring with supportive edge
  • All-natural needle punched cotton insulator pads
  • **The wool in the quilted cover acts as a natural flame barrier, therefore the mattress passes flame testing required by law without the use of dangerous flame retardant chemicals. In addition, wool is naturally resistant to mold, mildew, and dust mites.

Here’s What Customers are Saying About the Emily Natural Crib Mattress:

crib mattress

crib mattress

 Use code NATKIDS to save $30 off the Emily Crib mattress or $150 off any twin size or larger from My Green Mattress

*Please note, after finding My Green Mattress on my own accord when looking for safe mattresses for my family, I purchased two and loved them. After owning them for some time, the company reached out to see if I would like to become an affiliate. I do not partner with many companies, but I said yes right away to them as I was sharing about the mattresses anyway. The small percentage I make helps me to continue the work I do with the blog. Thank you for supporting this blog.

Related

Filed Under: Mattresses, organic, Safe Products, Toxic Chemicals Around Children Tagged With: crib mattress, giveaway, Organic Mattress

« Make this Nutrient Dense Lamb Stew in an Instant!
Lead In Stainless Steel Water Bottles »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Comments

  1. M says

    March 14, 2019 at 10:02 am

    Do you have the natural escape mattress? We currently bought a mattress online that had such a terrible smell…I was alarmed and read it was made mostly from polyurethane. I am currently in the return process and will probably be buying the natural escape. I did read that it has a smell as well. What was your experience?

    Reply
    • Dawn Lorenz says

      March 21, 2019 at 3:52 pm

      so sorry I didn’t see this sooner! Yes, we have one and love it – you can e mail me at [email protected] if you have any questions 🙂

      Reply
  2. Cv says

    August 1, 2018 at 4:36 am

    Do you use a mattress protector with the Emily mattress?

    Reply
    • Dawn Lorenz says

      August 23, 2018 at 11:46 am

      Yes! This one here: http://shrsl.com/wtit

      Reply

Learn how to make simple, informed changes toward natural living that create the foundation for a lifetime of health for your children.

When you click 'teach me,' you'll subscribe to receive helpful tips and information regarding raising your children naturally.

me n luke

About Raising Natural Kids

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Meet the mattresses that my family sleeps on (we own 5!). Get 125 off each mattress with code RNKSAVE

My Green Mattress Coupon Code

Over 400 handmade products for every part of and every person in your life.

Self-care,healing, beauty, baby & cleaning products

Recent Posts

  • Experiencing Hair Loss? Here’s How You Can Combat Hair Loss Naturally Right Now
  • 16 Natural Living Deals Happening Now for Black Friday & Cyber Monday
  • How to Dye Easter Eggs Naturally
  • Vitamins and Remedies for Fighting A Coronavirus
  • How to Get Rid of Strep for Good (and why it’s sticking around)

What You Sleep On Matters. No chemical flame retardants, no chemical foams. Sleep healthy. Get $125 off each mattress anytime with code RNKSAVE.

My Green Mattress Coupon Code

A cast iron waffle maker is a great alternative to non-stick!

Top Posts

Preventing and Healing Cavities Naturally
What You NEED to Know About Anesthesia if You Have MTHFR
How to Get Rid of Strep for Good (and why it's sticking around)
Hypersensitivity, Mood Swings, Sleeplessness - The Ins and Outs of Food Dye Sensitivity

A compilation of our favorite gifts given to our kids.

Creative Gifts For Kids
Disclaimer Work With Us

Copyright © 2023 · Raising Natural Kids · Dawn Lorenz · All Rights Reserved