Choosing an Organic Crib Mattress for Your Baby: Things You Must Know

So you’re now a proud parent to your sweet little one. Congratulations! Of course, one of the foremost concerns you have is finding a good bed for your baby to sleep on, and for good reason: babies in general can spend 12-16 hours a day just sleeping. Your baby’s long slumbers and his delicate, developing lungs reiterate the need to create a safe sleeping environment. 

In terms of creating a harmless environment for rest, your major focus should fall on the mattress in your baby’s crib. If you think that you can choose any kind mattress out there since they’re fairly innocuous as far as health effects go, you’re mistaken. A study conducted by engineers from the University of Texas at Austin have yielded rather unsettling results: foam padding in conventional crib mattresses have been found to release harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs)—substances which are also found in the likes of household cleaners.

So how can you avoid inadvertently putting your baby in danger? With standard organic baby mattresses. Sold by dealers in or around Sacramento such as The Healthy Bed Store, these mattresses are generally made of safer materials such as cotton, wool, or latex, unlike conventional mattresses that feature a potentially deadly combination of fire retardant materials, cheap glues, and polyester fabrics that can cause irritation of the respiratory tract and skin rashes.

Why are these mattresses so good? Simple: they use naturally occurring materials that emit no harmful compounds whatsoever—things that can put your baby’s health in peril. There is, however, one issue: choosing the best organic crib mattress for your baby.

First and foremost, it might be better to buy local. U.S.-made mattresses that do not contain harmful flame retardants that have been otherwise banned in the market. Keep your distance as well from products which are made from polyurethane foam, soy foam, synthetic latex foam, polyester, and even bamboo—such materials typically possess high levels of chemicals or petroleum.

You should also settle on either innerspring or foam. Innerspring mattresses are self-explanatory: they cushion using a network of inlaid springs, and foam is one piece of cushioning material. Innersprings are also considered cooler and more durable, while foam is generally found to be more comfortable. Lastly, the best possible materials you can choose include wool, natural latex, or organic cotton.

Sources:
The Importance Of Choosing An Organic Mattress, DailyMom.com
Crib Mattresses Emit High Rates Of Potentially Harmful Chemicals, Cockrell School Of Engineers Find, UTexas.edu, April 2, 2014
Go Organic? Why You Should Buy An Organic Crib Mattress, TheBabyBed.com, June 10, 2014
How Dirty Is Your Average Crib Mattress? MyEssentia.com
Choosing The Safest Crib Mattress For Your Baby, Greenopedia.com
Buying Guide: Organic Mattresses, About.com