How to Find the Best Crib Mattress for Your Baby

Your baby's safety is vital in choosing the best crib mattress. You probably already know you need a firm, flat mattress for your newborn, but you may not know how important it is to make sure that all the materials used in the mattress are non-toxic.

Unfortunately, the majority of crib mattresses contain materials that expose babies to potentially toxic gases while they sleep. Babies are breathing and absorbing these poisons into their tiny developing bodies more than 10 - 14 hours a day.

I've been researching the toxicity of baby products for more than 10 years. I've thoroughly checked into the components and materials in crib mattresses, and have had countless phone calls and correspondence with environmental scientists and experts in toxic materials. It's clear that toxic mattresses are one of the biggest threats to our babies. This information may be alarming but my intention is not to spread fear. My intention is to provide the facts thus empowering you to make informed choices and find the best crib mattress for your baby's health and safety.

Babies are particularly vulnerable to toxic chemicals since their brains and other fragile systems are developing and they have a limited ability to detoxify. Even a small amount of chemical off-gassing can affect your baby's health and development. Low level chemical exposure during the critical period of brain development can cause more harm than high doses later in life.

What Materials Should You Avoid?

• Polyurethane Foam
• Vinyl (PVC), even if it says Non-Toxic Vinyl or Phthalate-Free Vinyl
• Phthalates or other Chemical Plasticizers
• Chemical Fire Retardants
• Wool or Latex due to Allergies

What to Look for in a Crib Mattress

Firm Flat Surface - CPSC standards require that a crib mattress has a firm flat surface.

GREENGUARD SELECT Certified - Greenguard Environment Institute created product certification programs to test for harmful off-gassing. Look for mattresses that are certified to the strictest standard - GREENGUARD SELECT.

No Chemical Fire Retardants - Find a mattress that meets the flame standards with no chemical fire retardants. There are natural alternatives, such as baking soda and silica or organic wool. These are safe fire retardant materials. Or better yet, find a mattress that passes the fire laws without needing any fire retardants.

Lightweight - You will need to reach in to lift the mattress to change the sheets, now that drop-side cribs have been banned. A lightweight mattress is more convenient.

Waterproof, Dust Mite Proof and Bed Bug Proof - You will need a quality, non-toxic waterproof plastic covering that dust mites and beg bugs cannot penetrate. Plastic is the only material that provides waterproofing, and the only non-toxic plastic suitable for a crib mattress covering is food-grade, low density polyethylene. Polyethylene has a simple molecular structure that does not require toxic chemical additives, and is considered the safest, most environmentally-friendly plastic available.

Good Warranty - You'll need a good warranty so the mattress lasts in your family.

Of course a good quality crib mattress with the above components will be more expensive than typical mattresses that contain cheap toxic materials. But if there is one baby item to not compromise on, it is definitely the crib mattress. You can do without a lot of baby items - most are unnecessary - but you will want to find the best crib mattress available to keep your baby safe and healthy.

Jane Sheppard began researching the toxicity of baby crib mattresses and other baby products in 1997 and created Healthy Child so you can find the best crib mattress that is non-toxic, healthy and safe for your baby.

Jane is a child health advocate and parent educator with a passion to help empower parents to make informed choices to protect the health and well-being of their children. Healthy Child provides safe, non-toxic, organic products and education in natural parenting and holistic medicine for children. Jane has been researching natural health for over 25 years, with 16 years of extensive research and experience in raising a vibrant healthy child using natural and holistic methods.