The Best Organic Crib Mattresses and Buyer's Guide

The term “organic” can be defined as “of, relating to, or derived from living matter”. So, when we look for an organic crib mattress, we look for something that just says organic because it’s suppose to be healthy and safe for our children. You may be surprised to know that not all crib mattresses that are labeled as organic are truly 100% organic.

That’s right, even though your crib mattress says it’s organic, it’s probably not 100%. This is why it is important to understand what is actually all natural and what isn’t. My goal is to present you with crib mattresses that are either 100% natural or very close to it. I want to make sure you are getting something that is true to the claim of being completely organic. We bought and tested multiple crib mattresses that are considered to be the top in their class, a few of the ones I really liked are mentioned below. Some were given to us to test for free but this doesn’t affect our rankings. In fact, the crib mattress we gave top marks to was one we paid for. Read on to find out which one it is.

The Best Organic Crib Mattress Reviews

What Makes A Crib Mattress Organic?

Before you make the choice to buy that mattress for the baby’s crib that is labeled as “organic”, one must know how to tell if it is actually organic or not. It is quite easy for manufacturers to make this claim, but here is how to know for sure.

There Are No PVC’s With Phthalates

The majority of crib mattresses on the market have a Vinyl covering that helps with waterproofing. But, what you may not know, is that when babies breathe in these plasticizers and absorb them through their skin, they are being exposed to multiple health effects which can include asthma, cancer, kidney and liver damage, and more, Here is why.

PVC is a type of thermoplastic that is made of 57% chlorine and 43% carbon which is obtained from oil or gas by ethylene. In combination with Phthalates, crib mattresses become quite toxic since this group of chemicals has been known to be endocrine disruptors. This is especially deadly if a child is a dialysis patient, a hemophiliac, or people who have received blood transfusions.

PVC is also one of the most toxic plastics used to date. The combination of petroleum and chlorine in this is known as a human carcinogen. Carcinogen is a substance that can lead to cancer and this is why it is better to steer clear from any organic crib mattress that contains vinyl. Not to mention, if it contains vinyl, it probably isn’t 100% organic.

Say No To PBDE’s

PBDE’s are the main fire retardant used in most crib mattresses, have been for decades. These chemicals break down over time and release themselves into household dust. Babies are especially exposed since they breathe the air while sleeping directly on the source, absorb it through their skin, and from crawling around or touching things that have dust on them.

PBDE’s can cause immune suppression, developmental delays, behaviour changes, cancer, and more. I don’t know about you, but I would prefer my child to not be sleeping on something that could potentially make them sick. Now, since all crib mattresses must be flame retardant, they will have some kind of chemical on them. If it is considered an organic mattress, it will be labeled as CertiPUR-US Certified. This is very important to look for because it validates the organic nature of the mattress.

CertiPur Explained

On your organic crib mattress, you may see the word “polyurethane”, and all of a sudden think, ‘Oh no! It’s not completely organic!” There’s no need to worry, as long as your mattress has that CertiPUR-US certified label on it.

All of the certified flexible polyurethane foams are analyzed and tested twice in one year. They are then re-certified each year after. All CertiPUR-US certified foams are made without PBDE’s, TDCPP or TCEP flame retardants, mercury, lead and other heavy metals, formaldehyde, phthalates, ozone depleters, and have been tested for low VOC emissions for indoor air quality.
So, before you go sending the crib mattress back, sit back and take a few deep breaths. As long as you see that CertiPUR-US certified sticker, your mattress is still organic.

How To Buy An Organic Crib Mattress

Okay, now that I have given you the rundown of what organic really is and what to stay away from, here are a few quick things to know before you purchase that “organic” mattress.

Read That Label!

The description on some mattresses may be deceiving. It may tell you that it is organic, but just because it says it is, doesn’t mean it is completely. Some of the materials inside of that mattress are still chemically treated or there are natural materials that have toxic, synthetic, or chemically-laden materials that follow.

If the mattress has bamboo in it, it’s most likely not organic because the bamboo needs to be chemically processed. So, in order to ensure it is genuinely organic, read all of the labels very carefully. Only the fibers in the materials need to be organic in order for a company to call it that.

Is It Certified?

Remember earlier how I mentioned CertiPUR-US? This is one of the things to look for along with a Greenguard Certification. This certification ensures that the mattress has gone through extensive testing through some of the world’s most comprehensive and rigorous standards for low emissions of VOC’s into indoor air.

There are two types of certifications: Greenguard and Greenguard Gold. Greenguard is what was just mentioned above and Greenguard Gold includes health based criteria for all other additional chemicals. It also requires a product to have lower VOC emission levels to ensure that the product can be used indoors.

If your crib mattress has a Greenguard Gold certification, it is most likely going to be organic, but just make sure you check those labels.

You may be interested in: Organic Crib Sheet Reviews

The Ideal Choice

There can only be one winner and I dislike that all of them are so great. If I were to go with my parenting instincts and take all of the research and facts into consideration, I would definitely have to go with the Newton Wovenaire. I have to go with this one because it is the most breathable, and can cut that risk of SIDS down dramatically. It is 90 percent air by volume and is 100% washable.  For everything that you are getting with this mattress, which includes peace of mind, the price tag shouldn’t make you cringe too much.

Is Organic Right For Baby

Are you still on the fence about choosing organic over the cheaper, yet more harmful, crib mattress? Let me take some of your frustrations away by providing you with some Q&A type materials for you to ponder.