Why Switching to an Organic Crib Mattress Matters

Shopping for your little one isn’t always easy. With new information coming out daily, and with endless product options to choose from, it’s normal for parents to experience buyer’s remorse or be left scratching their heads, questioning if they made the right decision.

When it comes to buying a baby’s crib mattress, this is particularly common. As (arguably) the most important purchasing decision for your newborn, a lot of you may be asking questions like: Are breathable crib mattresses worth it? Did I fall for a greenwashing marketing ploy? Are there toxic chemicals in the crib mattress I chose?

What feels even worse is when you’re left asking these questions after you’ve already bought your baby’s mattress.

We’re here to help answer your post (or pre) purchase questions, so you can take action if you need to swap your crib mattress for a safer, healthier option.

However, what’s also important is understanding what your baby is actually breathing in. A recent survey revealed that 72 percent of parents are concerned about what their baby might be breathing in from their mattress (One Poll, Naturepedic).

These are valid concerns, considering that often times a baby’s breathable mattress:

• May not be waterproof
• May contain toxic chemicals and materials like flame retardants
• May be difficult to clean

Babies have accidents all the time – whether from urine, bigger messes, drool, vomit, or spilled milk, etc.  If the inevitable messes are absorbed into the mattress (because there’s no waterproofing) and if they’re difficult to fully clean up, this can create an unhygienic environment for your baby (think: mold and bacteria). If a mattress is breathable, but not certified organic, this means they may also be inhaling questionable chemicals and materials commonly used in mattresses. If you’re looking for a swap, check out Naturepedic’s Breathe Safe™ crib mattresses for a breathable, waterproof, and certified organic choice.

This is a big one. As leaders of the organic mattress revolution for 18 years, we have a lot to say about the benefits of organic mattresses. Unfortunately, not all crib mattresses are created equally, so it’s best to swap a conventional crib mattress for a certified organic one. This is because many conventional crib mattresses contain questionable chemicals and materials like:

• Flame retardants and flame barriers
• Formaldehyde
• PFAS / PFCs
• Phthalates
• Polyurethane foam
• Glues / adhesives

In addition to the environmental benefits, by opting for a certified organic crib mattress, you can rest assured that your little one isn’t being exposed to questionable chemicals while they sleep. The best organic crib mattresses will also include other important crib mattress safety features like breathability, non-toxic waterproofing methods, and non-allergenic (think: no latex!) materials. At Naturepedic, we make sure to check all these boxes.

To maintain the most hygienic conditions for your baby, it’s important to have a waterproof crib mattress. Check to see if your crib mattress is “water-resistant,” fully waterproof, or not waterproof at all. This may also make a considerable difference in how convenient (and effective) the clean-up process will be.

Depending, you may want to swap a non-waterproof or water-resistant mattress for a fully waterproof one. But in doing so, be sure you swap it for one that uses nontoxic waterproofing methods. Traditional methods may include questionable chemicals like:

• Vinyl (with Phthalates)
• PFAS / PFCs
• Polyurethane

At Naturepedic, we set out to develop a better solution for this, which eliminates these chemicals entirely. In doing so, we discovered and utilize food-grade polyethylene, which is well-regarded by respected environmental organizations and is the most non-toxic waterproofing available on the market. With this, messes can be wiped clean fast and easily.

Greenwashing is rampant in the crib mattress industry, so if you did, don’t be too hard on yourself. In fact, 4 in 5 parents wish companies were more transparent about the materials in their products (One Poll, Naturepedic). Keep an eye out for clever marketing claims like:

• Natural
• Naturally Derived
• Eco-Friendly
• Naturally Organic
• Sustainable
• Made from Soybean Foam