Now that Pops and I have settled on a crib, we need to start thinking about mattresses…partially because it would be easiest to just order everything all at once and be done with it. Â Of course, this – just like the furniture – cannot be taken lightly. Â We’re all about the research to make sure what we are getting is the best fit for us and our kiddo.
Instead of doing a broad review of all mattresses, I’m going to focus on only three – the highly rated Colgate Classica 3 foam mattress, the Moonlight Slumber Starlight Support Supreme foam mattress, and the Naturepedic No-Compromise Organic Cotton Ultra coil mattress.
Why compare two foam mattresses against a single coil mattress?  Mainly because I feel as though foam might be a better option for us – but Naturepedic doesn’t offer  such items and I’m intrigued by that and their ability to be completely organic.  So!  What are we looking for?
Pops and I would like a mattress made in the US, Canada, or the EU with dual firmness. Â We’d like the cover to be waterproof – and as sealed as possible against moisture, etc – and if possible, I’d like something organic or at least as low in chemicals as possible. Â Without further delay:
Colgate Classica 3
- Manufactured in Atlanta, Georgia
- Dual firmness: Yes
- Inches of Foam: 5″
- Weight: 6lbs
- Waterproof cover: Nylon reinforced triple laminate cover
- Organic: No
- Average price: $160.00
Moonlight Slumber Starlight Support Supreme
- Manufactured in Elgin, Illinois
- Dual firmness: Yes
- Inches of Foam: 6″
- Weight: 10.5 lbs
- Waterproof cover: PVC-free waterproof fabric
- Organic: No
- Average price: $250.00
Naturepedic No-Compromise Organic Cotton Ultra – certified by Greenguard (certification PDF)
- Manufactured in Cleveland, OH
- Dual firmness: Yes
- Inches of filling: 6″
- Weight: 27 lbs
- Waterproof cover: Food Grade polyethylene waterproof cover
- Organic: Yes
- Average price: $359.00
So, while the above doesn’t tell us too much more than coil mattresses are heavier than foam – it did lead to a larger question (for me, anyhow). Â What is the foam actually made of? Â The filling in the Naturepedic is cotton. Â That’s easy – we all know cotton. Â But the foam?
From my basic research, foam crib mattresses are generally made of either polyurethane or natural latex. Â Polyurethane foam is made of some pretty scary sounding stuff, but appears to generally non-toxic as long as it isn’t breaking down into dust. Â Of course, since polyurethane is flammable, retardants must be added which also has a decent amount of off gases. Â This can be harmful to small children – especially considering how much time a baby spends in a crib! Â Direct tests have not been conducted – presumably because it would be unethical.
So what are the Colgate and Moonlight Slumber mattresses made out of? Â The Colgate mattress is made out of non-allergenic, orthopedic foam (also known as memory foam). Â So what does that mean? Â Quite typically visco-elastic polyurethane. Â The very thing we should avoid for a baby. Â So! Â In the chance that this is correct, the Colgate Classica 3 must be eliminated.
So what about Moonlight Slumber? Â The website suggests that there is zero off gas – but how? Â The only components listed on the website are of what they don’t contain: PVC, PBDE, vinyl, phythalates, arsenic, antimony, etc. Â However, on the model we’re looking at (Supreme) we do know it is layered with visco-elastic foam. Â Again, memory foam is great for adults but I’m hesitant to embrace it for a baby.
Question: How do you know if something is food grade, just by looking at it?
Answer: Two marks on the container that will reveal whether it is: Look for the HDPE mark (High-Density Polyethylene) AND a triangle symbol with a 1 or 2 in its center.
Question: Is organic cotton the only material that should be considered?
Answer: The short answer is, No. However unbleached and undyed cotton the only material we are considering.
Question: Ok, I understand unbleached, but why rule out dyed cotton?
The term organic cotton could have most consumers picturing fields of the stuff grown, harvested and processed without harmful chemicals.
The phrase to look out for when considering a cotton product is “Low Impact Dyes”. While the cotton fibers themselves can be certified as organic, I have yet to come across anything that says Low Impact dyes do not contain traces of undesirable chemicals. Textile manufacturers are not required to disclose processing methods or their chemical dye specifications, making a thorough evaluation of chemical information nearly impossible.
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry has shown that chemicals in textiles can be ingested and absorbed through the skin. Chemicals such as ammonia (textile production), nickel/nickel compounds (textile printing and dyes) are present in various stages of production (according to the report (in PDF format) Common Toxic Chemicals and their Hazards by the Delaware State Emergency Response Commission.
The bottom line is, that if you are considering organic bedding materials for the place where your baby will be spending upwards of 70% of each day early on in development (and up to 4 years after birth), ensuring that the materials have as few (or better yet, a total absence of) chemicals as possible? (up next, finding products using vegetable dyes)
Just thought to update this with our final choice.
We decided on the Naturepedic No-Compromise Organic Cotton Classic.