Best Organic (NonToxic) Baby Crib Beds for 2024

What Makes an Ideal Organic Infant Crib Mattress?

No PVC’s With Phthalates

Now, the first thing you ought to know is that the vast majority of beds on the market, including the ones for toddlers, have a vinyl covering. This is designed to assist with the bed’s waterproof properties.

However, what you may not know is that babies may potentially breathe in these particularly harmful plasticizers or absorb them right through their sensitive skin. And if they do, the exposure may cause a range of health effects, including severe conditions such as kidney and liver damage, cancer, asthma and others of the kind.

This is because PVC is a specific type of commonly used plastic which is made of 43% carbon and 57% chlorine. These are obtained from oil or gas by ethylene.

When you combine those with Phthalates, crib mattresses could easily provide a toxic sleeping environment which is known to introduce chemicals known as endocrine disruptors. This could be deadly if the child is a dialysis patient or has received a blood transfusion.

Additionally, PVC is well-known to be amongst the most toxic plastics used to date. The combination of chlorine and petroleum is also a well-known human carcinogen, which could induce cancerous conditions.

Naturally, a baby mattress that’s non-toxic should deliver many benefits, including the prevention of many risks.

It’s CertiPur Certified

Now, you might notice that the label of your crib bed features the word polyurethane. While this is a sign that the product is not entirely all-natural, there might not be a need to worry if you see the CertiPUR-US certification label on it.

This certification attests to a few different things. It means that the product is made without the usage of mercury, heavy metals or lead, PBDE flame retardants, ozone depleters, chlorofluorocarbons, and other harmful ingredients.

It also means that it’s tested for durability and performance which is an added benefit that you should consider.

Furthermore, every certified product is analyzed as well as tested at least two times throughout the year. And, to make matters even better, this is a certificate which is obtained every year.

The consensus appears to be that you can rest assured that CertiPUR-US certification guarantees the integrity of the materials in the mattress and the safety of your baby. It’s the thing to look out for when you’re choosing the perfect organic baby mattress for your family.

So, long story short, even if you see a polyurethane count in the mattress’s blend, as long as it has this certification, you should be able to rest assured of a vast number of things.

Read more about mattress certifications.

No Fire Retardant Chemicals (PBDE’s)

When it comes to infant crib beds, the main fire retardant is PBDE’s. They’ve been around for quite a long time and they break down over the prolonged period, releasing themselves into the household dust.

As you may imagine, babies are prominently exposed as they breathe the air directly from the source, facilitating skin absorption from touching things which have a lot of dust on them and from simply crawling on the ground.

The thing about PBDE’s is that they are capable of causing immune suppression, serious behavior changes, cancerous conditions, developmental delays, and others of the kind (source: National Institutes of Health).

Like many parents, you will likely cringe just upon hearing about all of the above conditions and you should take the necessary steps to prevent them.

As you are already well aware, you should make sure that there is a CertiPUR-US certification on the product you’ve set your sights on, or an array of organic certifications.

Greenguard Certification

The Greenguard Certification is another recognition, attesting to the fact that the mattress has gone through rigorous testing. It means that it has been put to the test by some of the most stringent standards for low emissions of VOC in your enclosed indoor environment.

This is the basic Greenguard certification. However, there is also a Greenguard Gold certificate which includes health-based criteria of other chemicals as well.

The gold certificate also requires substantially lower VOC emission levels, guaranteeing that the product could be potentially used indoor and that it’s safe for toddlers.

With this said, if you have the Greenguard Gold certification, you should still check to see if the mattress is completely organic so you can rest assured. Checking those labels can help to make sure that everything is handled as per the highest standards.

After all, it’s a matter of health for your baby, and that’s not something that you should compromise.

Are Organic Crib Beds Worth It?

If there is still a shred of doubt regarding the trustworthiness and effectiveness of organic mattresses for your baby over the cheaper and more harmful ones there are couple more things to mention. Here are several benefits and why it’s worth investing in an all-natural infant crib bed.

“An organic crib mattress can improve your baby’s sleep and health by avoiding harmful chemicals, offering a comfortable and safe sleep surface, and reducing the chances of allergies or breathing issues. Plus, they’re generally built to last and keep your baby cool, making them a good choice for a safer sleep environment.”

Dr. Raj Dasgupta

You get what you pay for

That’s pretty much it. When you invest in a cheaper mattress, you run the risk of getting the actual minimum. This means that chemicals, and their associated danger to your child, have the chance of being present.

On the other hand, when you go for an organic model, this means that you’ll probably have to put up a little more cash.

However, you should be getting a lot more as well – this includes a safer sleeping surface as well as a healthy environment for your baby’s sleeping and, last but not least, your peace of mind that everything is handled properly (We’ve explained this in our mattress buyer’s main guide to help you with understanding certifications and more.)

(But if you are also looking for specific recommendations and explanation of our rating system, see our Best Mattresses for 2024 page).

Help with allergies

If your kid is troubled by allergies, going for anything other than eco-friendly crib mattress could be a very bad idea. Traditional ones will most likely contain a myriad of chemicals, which are likely to aggravate or trigger the allergies. If you might be looking for a mattress yourself , check out our best mattresses for allergies page.

Organic products are hypoallergenic which makes them specifically intended to cut down on a myriad of allergies. They are also designed in a manner to naturally refrain the dust mites from polluting your mattress which could trigger severe allergic reactions.

Are you environmentally cautious?

The wide majority of organic mattresses are made of materials which are all natural and, hence, entirely recycled. Traditional mattresses, on the other hand, emit a range of harmful chemicals which could easily deplete the critical ozone as well as the earth itself.

SIDS – a Tremendous Concern

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is a tremendously worrisome consideration to a lot of caregivers and parents. A few different scientists have already made claims that the baby could easily absorb the toxic gases associated with the unpackaged memory foam mattresses and this could lead to SIDS or crib death.

On the contrary, chemical-free (non-toxic) infant mattresses tend to have a substantially lower SIDS rate when you stack them against traditional, toxic-releasing beds.

How to Choose the Right Organic Crib Mattress for Your Baby

Comfort

A mattress that’s uncomfortable for your kid would make it quite difficult for the child to find the sweet spot and fall asleep. This could lead to a myriad of different issues.

Not only is it incredibly cumbersome for parents but it’s also something capable of stagnating the development of the kid. This is unacceptable, especially at this early development age where everything is of significant importance. I recommend looking for a high-end organic solution which is comfortable and which provides the necessary support as well.

Generally speaking, firmer beds are preferred for newborns and babies and softer and more comfortable options are more for toddlers.

Waterproof

A waterproof covering could be quite useful when you’re considering a mattress for your baby. The truth is that babies spill and stain like no others and, hence, this could quickly damage the main surface and essentially ruin the entire mattress.

This is why you need to take the opportunity and assess different options when it comes to waterproof covering. This is always a very wise decision, and it’s one you ought to make while you’re shopping.

It is quite important to be aware of this before jumping right into an impulse buy and regretting it further on. The covering would not only prevent fluids from damaging it – it would also enhance its appeal and prolong its overall shelf life.

Breathability

Is the surface of the mattress breathable? When your baby is sleeping, he or she must be able to breathe easily. If you have the wrong mattress, though, this could quickly become a challenge.

Experts have already stated that materials which are breathable are often the most useful options on the market since babies don’t have lungs as powerful as ours.

A breathable surface should keep your baby safe as well as healthy. There are quite a lot of different materials which could be used in this regard, and it is usually reasonable for you to pick up the one that feels comfortable.

Size and Firmness

The size is going to matter as you would have an established crib. If the mattress is too large and it doesn’t manage to hug the railing conveniently, this could easily lead to some injuries for your baby, rendering this option absolutely inappropriate.

It needs to fit the bed, and its size needs to cover it from one corner to another.

The mattress firmness, on the other hand, is very important. The general rule of thumb is that your mattress should be firmer if you want to enable your baby to sleep tight without any risks of spinal deformations and other harmful and potentially dangerous threats.

At the same time, you should ensure that the kid feels comfortable right on the bed as this is going to induce a more profound night’s sleep, alleviating the stress from pressure points such as the shoulders, hips and lower back.

Frequently Asked Questions about Organic Crib Mattresses

Which Mattress Should I Pick As My Child Grows?

Anyone in the process of raising children knows how fast they outgrow their clothes, shoes, and toys. For an expensive purchase, such as a mattress, you’ll want to carefully choose a brand that will adapt to your child’s growing body and needs so that you get the maximum return on your investment. Look for versatile brands that put a premium on a “universal feel” as well as durability.

Read more: Best Kids Mattress