Organic Crib Mattress

Going organic is nothing new in the U.S. In fact, farmers and food co-ops have been doing it for decades. But when was the last time you heard about going organic with a crib mattress? For most people the answer is “never”. But for those who have heard, the argument rages as to whether or not an organic crib mattress is better for a baby.

Synthetic Vs Organic Crib Mattresses

To begin with, the term organic implies that only natural materials have been used in their unaltered state. This is true no matter what we apply the term to. So in the case of crib mattresses, there will be no foam, vinyl, polyester, and so on. About the only non-organic material you'll find in an organic crib mattress are the inner springs.

In contrast, the typical synthetic crib mattress uses a minimum amount of coil springs coated in synthetic oil. The batting and filling is often made of polyester, which is highly flammable, so it needs to be treated with flame retardant chemicals. The outside covering will almost always be vinyl because it resists staining from urine, feces, and vomit. In other words, the synthetic crib mattress is a chemical cocktail.

What Materials Are Used In Organic Crib Mattresses

An organic crib will use as many coils as possible to prevent mattress breakdown, but the coils will be coated with a natural substance like beeswax or Tung oil. Filling and batting will be natural cotton and wool, with the government's flame retardant standards being met or exceeded by the wool itself. Organic cotton makes up the fabric that covers the exterior.

A crib mattress similar to a memory foam product can also be made organically from rubber. The rubber is harvested from organic rubber trees, then heated and whipped into foam rubber without the need for any chemicals. The mattress is formed in much the same way as a memory foam one then covered with an organic cotton cover.

Is An Organic Crib Mattress the Best Option?

Knowing this information, does it stand to reason that an organic crib mattress is better for your baby than synthetic? Maybe so; studies in a handful of European countries suggest a possible link between synthetic mattresses and SIDS. Specifically, the chemical known to be put off by vinyl as it ages. If the studies prove to be correct, organic mattresses could greatly reduce the number of infant deaths due to SIDS.

Yet even without the possible SIDS connection, a baby's body is not as strong as an adult's in fighting off the effects of airborne chemicals. The substances used as flame retardants, as well as the oils used for the springs, would be toxic if ingested. Can the fumes be that much better?

Organic crib mattresses are not yet conclusively proven to be better for your baby than synthetic. But enough evidence exists to suggest that they may be. If you're the parent of an infant, or soon to be one, the choice is ultimately up to you to select the best mattress for your baby. At least now you know there is another option to the standard synthetic crib mattress we normally use.