With the growing knowledge of phthalates, VOCs, and toxic flame retardants in conventional mattresses, new parents are increasingly interested in organic mattresses for their babies and children. After all, babies and young children spend at least half their time in bed!
I’ve written before about my regret using a conventional mattress for my newborns and made the switch to organic cotton for both of their big kid beds.
Unfortunately, without proper knowledge, you might find yourself buying a fake organic mattress. Since greenwashing know no limits – and no government agency regulates the labeling of mattresses as “organic” or “natural” – several companies label their mattresses ‘organic’ when they are technically not.
Fortunately there are brands we can trust like Naturepedic, backed up with meaningful certifications and a genuine concern for children’s’ health.
We chose the Two-in-One Organic Cotton Ultra, which combines waterproof and quilted sides for an ideal children’s mattress. You can us the waterproof side when they first come out of the crib and aren’t fully nighttime potty-trained. The waterproof side also functions as a dust-mite barrier. When the child gets older, flip the mattress over for a more comfortable feel.
The top side is made of Organic Cotton Waterproof Fabric with easy-to-clean 100% polyethylene waterproof surface (so pure it meets food contact standards). The bottom side features a luxuriously quilted organic cotton fabric for a more mature mattress feel. The organic cotton filling is a healthier alternative to synthetic fabrics and foams. Naturepedic uses only U.S. grown and certified organic cotton as filling for its mattresses and buys directly from USDA certified sources. This ensures purity, organic reliability, and support for U.S. farmers.
With a built-in dust mite barrier on the top and sides and no wool or latex, there is no need to worry about these high allergy materials.
And with innovative mattress construction, Naturepedic passes all federal and state flammability standards without the use of fire retardant chemicals or flame retardant barriers. The finished mattress is certified organic to ensure that all components meet a healthy non-toxic standard. Certified by OTCO to the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). All Naturepedic products are also tested for chemical emissions and certified according to GREENGUARD® Gold certification standards.
A good organic twin-sized mattress starts at $649. I know – it’s a lot. But it’s justified by the cost of the raw materials, the quality of the manufacturing process, and, of course, piece of mind.
I suggest splurging on the mattress and saving on the bed! We got our convertible IKEA twin bed for $20 on Craigslist. It’s also easy to find affordable organic cotton sheets places like Target.
What if you’re stuck with a traditional mattress in the meantime? Here are some tips:
- Let your new mattress off-gas outside or in a well-ventilated area for awhile before using it.
- Cover your mattress with an organic cotton cover or a natural latex, wool or cotton mattress topper.
- For adults and older kids, consider buying a less expensive natural futon.
- Get a HEPA air purifier – I am a big fan of these things for various reasons. Not only do they help absorb some of the yucky stuff and allergens in the air, they also make great white noise machines.
- While we are purifying the air, try some plants!
Sweet dreams!
Disclosure: Naturepedic sent me a sample for review. Regardless, my opinions are honest. See my full disclosure here.
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