Why Organic Mattresses Are Healthier For Your Baby

In our house, an all-natural mattress and organic bedding are non-negotiables. We spend 1/3 of our lives sleeping and our babies sleep on a mattress for 10-14 hours or more a day, during their most fragile developmental years. With each sleep they are lying directly on the mattress, breathing in and absorbing the chemical off-gassing produced by the majority of mattresses. Switching to an organic or natural mattress is an easy way to reduce chemical exposure.

Did you know that by law, mattresses have to pass certain standards for being flame retardant? Unfortunately, the cheapest and most common way to make mattresses fire-retardant is to douse them in toxic chemicals instead of using materials that are naturally fire-retardant. Fortunately for us, there are a few mattress brands out there, like Kalon and Naturpedic that are opting to source sustainable materials to make a mattress that is naturally fire-retardant, naturally cooling, and naturally hypoallergenic and resistant to bacteria and mold.The Kalon Dream No. 1 mattress uses only four, carefully sourced pure organic materials: organic palm coir (coconut fiber) from recycled coconut husks, hand-molded natural latex derived from organic rubber trees, 100% premium GOTS certified cotton, and all-natural GOTS certified wool. It is naturally hypoallergenic and resistant to bacteria and mold, naturally fire-retardant, and naturally cooling. Each mattress is sustainably made to order with no toxins and no off-gassing. BONUS: these mattresses are 100% biodegradable.

If you decide not to go with our top safety picks– Kalon or Naturpedic, below are a few things to look for when on the hunt for your own organic mattress.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR:

- Organic, chemical-free wool. Wool is naturally flame retardant and also resistant to mold and bacteria. It is also moisture-resistant and dries quickly. 

- Organic, chemical-free cotton. Organic cotton is the perfect filling material for a baby mattress since it is natural, non-toxic, firm and breathable. Cotton will not burst into flames (like polyurethane foam) or release toxic fumes when ignited.

- Organic, chemical-free latex. Organic latex gives firmness and support to the mattress without the need for springs or metal. Natural latex is also resistant to mold and dust mites and great for temperature regulation. Some people with a latex allergy are not allergic to chemical free latex. It is always best to test this before buying a mattress with organic latex.

- Organic & non-toxic certification. Some mattresses labeled as 100% organic have a covering that is made from vinyl or some other type of harmful material. It is best to confirm the mattress is not only organic, but also non-toxic.

- GOTS Certified by Oregon Tilth Certified Organic (OTCO) and Control Union (CU). GOTS stands for the Global Organic Textile Standard for organic materials. 

When it comes to healthy living we are all about balance and simply doing the best we can with the time and money we have. After extensive research, we decided that despite the steep cost for an organic mattress and organic bedding, it was something that was worth the investment. Not only have we had a noticeable difference in our quality of sleep, but we can sleep better knowing that we are not breathing in toxic chemicals at night while nor are we adding unnecessary waste to our landfills. 

Want to learn more? Check out these resources: 

https://wellnessmama.com/6014/organic-mattresses/

http://www.mommypotamus.com/how-to-buy-a-non-toxic-mattress/

https://www.healthychild.com/safe-non-toxic-organic-crib-mattresses/

http://kalonstudios.com/story/