What is an Organic Baby Mattress?

The word “organic” is thrown around a lot these days. Some use the term to refer to a product that’s made from plant-based rather than synthetic materials such as plastic. On the other hand, it is sometimes used to talk about fruits and veggies and how they are grown. So how are we to know what people really mean when they talk about an “organic baby mattress”?

To clear up the confusion, we’ve put together some characteristics that you’ll want to look for when searching for a healthier, safer mattress that’s properly considered organic.

Certified Organic Cotton
Most baby mattresses today are composed at least in part of cotton, which is likely grown in the conventional fashion with pesticides. Although cotton might be considered a healthier alternative to plastics, regular cotton is actually full of chemicals, making it less healthy than you might think.

That’s because cotton is one of the most heavily chemically-treated crops in the world. Although it makes up only 2.4 of all agricultural land in cultivation throughout the globe, it gobbles up a full 11 percent of all pesticides and 24 percent of all insecticides. Most of these chemicals are considered hazardous by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Now, you might think that these chemicals don’t actually stay with the cotton, but you’d be wrong. These chemicals remain with the cotton! Consider a cotton T-shirt, which by weight is 73 percent cotton and 27 percent chemicals and chemical residues! And since a baby’s skin can absorb up to 60 percent of the substances it comes in contact with, these chemicals can pose health hazards for your little one.

Certified organic cotton is grown without pesticides, insecticides, and fertilizers, making is much more sustainable for the planet and much less toxic for your baby. An organic baby mattress, therefore, should be one that’s made with certified organic cotton.

Organic Wool
Organic baby mattresses are also often made with organically grown wool. Wool is naturally fire-retardant so the mattress doesn’t need to be treated with chemical finished to prevent fire. A baby mattress wrapped in wool will therefore be safe, warm, as well as sustainable and healthy.

Natural Rubber
Finally, choosing an organic baby mattress can also mean selecting a model that’s made with natural rubber instead of petroleum-based foam. Most mattresses today—whether for adults or babies—are made with synthetic foam that can off-gas into your baby’s room, creating respiratory problems. Natural rubber is sourced from rubber trees and will not off-gas like synthetic options will.

So if you’re getting ready for a new baby, be sure to look for an organic baby mattresses matching the characteristics mentioned above. Doing so will protect your baby and help cultivate a healthier planet, too.