Are you looking for a non-toxic organic crib mattress for your baby? Our babies sleep around 14-17 hours a day on a mattress. That’s a long time! Learning about the air quality in my children’s rooms and how a mattress can affect it negatively has helped me decide to switch to healthier organic crib mattresses. Nobody wants VOCs, or volatile organic compounds released in the air. It’s too unhealthy. As a result, I started by replacing the crib mattress with a non-toxic organic one. It took some time to replace them all, but I felt it was worth the wait.
Chemicals Found in Crib Mattresses
Our job as parents is to protect our babies from all harm. When we make a purchase for our newborn, we trust that it is safe for them to use. Unfortunately, many products that we purchase for our baby can be toxic. The Ecology Center’s Healthy Stuff did a study on 13 mattresses purchased in 2018 and 2019. They found that every mattress contained harmful chemicals like PVCs, PFAS, antimicrobials, flame retardants and polyurethane. You’re probably wondering what these chemicals are and how they affect our babies. Here, I will talk about each one to help you understand what they are.
- PVC– Polyvinyl chloride is a petroleum based plastic used in covers for mattresses. This plastic makes the mattress waterproof and bacteria resistant. It is also a known human carcinogen that can harm the developing reproductive system. One chemical added to the cover are plasticizers. This makes the plastic more flexible, but migrates out of PVC and into baby’s breathing space.
- PFAS– Per and polyfluoroalkyls substances are waterproofing chemicals that can cause liver damage, thyroid disease, decreased fertility, hormone suppression and even cancer.
- Antimicrobials– Antimicrobials may have an extra coating of a toxic chemical, so it is best to avoid it altogether.
- Flame retardants– Flame retardants contain bromine and chlorine and meet federal flammability standards. Unfortunately, they are neurotoxins and carcinogens. The core, cover, and fire barrier all contain these chemicals.
- Polyurethane– Polyurethane used as a foam can be highly toxic because it is made as petroleum chemicals. These chemicals can emit VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and can cause respiratory issues and irritate the eyes and throat.
How to Choose a Non-Toxic Organic Crib Mattress
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Choosing a healthy organic crib mattress can be easy if you know what to look for. Here is what you should look for when purchasing a healthy organic crib mattress:
- A mattress that has no added chemical flame retardants
- Low VOC certification
- At least 95% certified organic
- Polyurethane foam free
- No added fragrances or antimicrobials
- NO PVC or vinyl
- Look for Global Organic Textile Standard or GOTS certification
- Look for the Organic Latex Standard or GOLS
- Firm
- Breathable
- Fits properly in crib
What is the Best Non-Toxic Organic Crib Mattress?
Here are the best organic crib mattresses that I found after my research:
Avocado Organic Crib Mattress
The Avocado Organic Crib mattress is for use from newborn to one year. The mattress is 100% non-toxic, made of organic cotton, latex and wool. It is formaldehyde free and Greenguard Gold Certified. The base of the infant side is a firm and breathable 3-inch coconut husk fiber pad that is infused with latex, wool, and cotton. I purchased a twin size Avocado mattress and it really is amazing. I love the texture and firmness. When I lie on the bed, my back feels amazing!
Other details for the crib mattress include:
- Crib Mattress Standard Size: 28 x 52 x 6 inches
- Dual side: One for infants, and the other for toddlers.
- Ships flat
- Meets ASTM safety regulations
- Meets CPSC firmness recommendations
- No petroleum based polyurethane foams, chemical adhesives or vinyl waterproofing
- No polyethylene, or flame retardant chemicals
- 100% GOLS(Global Organic Latex Standard) organic certified latex
- 100% GOTS(Global Organic Textile Standard) organic certified wool
- Climate Neutral Certified
- No pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers
Avocado Luxury Organic Crib Mattress
The Avocado Luxury Organic Crib Mattress is a dual-sided luxury crib mattress that is GOTS organic certified. The infant side is for newborn to one year and is firmer by design to provide the support your baby needs. The toddler side is for use from one year to four years of age and it is a little more plush and will still provide the support your toddler needs. Avocado brand is safe, healthy, and non-toxic. This mattress sound pretty amazing!
Mattress details:
- Mattress Standard Size: 28 x 52 x 6 inches
- Meets ASTM safety regulations
- Meets CPSC firmness recommendations
- 100% GOLS Organic Certified Latex
- Greenguard Gold Certified
- Formaldehyde Free Certified
- GOTS Organic Certification
- 100% GOTS Organic Certified Wool
- 100% GOTS Organic Certified Cotton Knit
- Premium Cotton-Wrapped Coils
Naturepedic Organic Crib Mattress
Parents love the Naturepedic Organic Crib Mattresses because of its great details. The crib mattresses are firm to support your infant and medium firm to support your toddler. All you have to do is switch sides. There is the Classic, Breathable, and Breathable Ultra crib mattress. These easy to clean mattresses have a waterproof coating made from non-GMO sugarcane without any glues or adhesives, and there is also the option of purchasing a removable washable cover.
The organic mattresses have two support systems to choose from and they are the innerspring core or wavesupport core. The toddler side has a PLA layer that is a high-performance synthetic fiber made from non-GMO sugarcane. This adds resiliency and unique performance characteristics and is free from harmful chemicals.
Mattress Details:
- Certified Organic and Non-Toxic
- GOTS Certified (Global Organic Textile Standards)
- Made-Safe Certified
- UL/Greenguard Certified
- Flame retardants-free
- No vinyl, phthalates or PFCs
- Polyurethane-free
- Made in the USA
- Mattress size: 27 1/4 x 51 5/8 x 6 inches.
- Fits standard size cribs and toddler beds
Emily Organic Crib Mattress by My Green Mattress
The Emily Organic Crib Mattress is GREENGUARD Gold certified, GOTS and GOLS Certified. It is made with a layer of breathable, GOLS certified organic coconut coir that is bound together using organic latex. The Emily Organic crib mattress supports your baby with a firm innerspring and has a cover that is GOTS certified organic cotton and GOTS organic certified organic wool.
The organic wool in their quilted cover acts as a natural flame barrier and allows them to pass the flame testing that is required by law without the use of chemical flame retardants. It is also naturally resistant to mold, mildew, and dust mites.
Mattress Details:
- Dimensions: 27 1/4 x 52 x 6 inches – 15 lbs 6 oz.
- Meets all CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) requirements
- 50 lb weight limit
- Heavy duty (13.5 guage) 150 coil innerspring with supportive edge
- Naturally antibacterial and provides for more even weight distribution
- OEKO-TEX certified Dunlop latex
- Comes with a 10-year warranty and a 120 night sleep trial
- Free of polyurethane foams
- Two-sided design provides for longer life
The Savvy Baby Crib Mattress
The Savvy Baby crib mattress is a GOTS-certified mattress that is manufactured in a GOTS-certified facility. It is made of a single, solid 5″ layer of firm natural organic Dunlop latex in the Savvy Rest organic casing. The latex that is used is a natural latex that is natural foam rubber.
The wool used for the Savvy Baby is GOTS-certified organic without added chemical flame retardants. The wool is used as a natural flame barrier and regulates temperature by promoting airflow. This airflow won’t cause your baby to feel overheated at night.
Mattress Details:
- GOTS-certified organic
- Mattress size: 27.5 x 52 inches
- 6 inches in height
- manufactured in a GOTS-certified facility
- Quilted top and bottom
- Chemical flame retardant-free
- Pesticide free
- Certified organic wool
- Certified organic cotton
- Natural latex and firm organic Dunlop latex
- Unbleached, GOTS-certified organic cotton mattress casings
Choosing an organic crib mattress is easier to do with many options available, and I find it challenging to choose only one because they are all made of amazing certified organic materials. We own an Avocado mattress and the quality is amazing, so I feel at peace knowing that my child sleeps on a chemical free mattress. With so many options to choose from, which mattress do you think sounds best for your baby?