Buying a crib and mattress for your baby’s rest and sleep is a process and a decision that should leave nothing to chance or negligence. Indeed, during the first few months of life, your child will spend a lot of time in their crib—sleeping, resting, playing, dreaming, and waking up to observe the world around them.
This observation highlights the need to provide your baby with a healthy mattress on which he or she can thrive safely and in optimal comfort. This safety is not limited to the risk of falls or accidents, but must also include long-term health and well-being.
The importance of this health criterion highlights the significant differences in composition between synthetic foam mattresses for babies and young children and those made from natural and organic materials. We are therefore here to guide you in making the best possible choice, with even greater care than is typically taken when selecting a mattress for adults.
The Different Types and Models of Baby Mattresses
You'll find three main types of mattresses designed for babies on the market: spring mattresses, synthetic foam mattresses, and mattresses made from natural materials, such as natural latex, coconut fiber, cotton, or bamboo.
Let’s start by immediately ruling out spring mattresses from the list of potential choices. They offer no particular benefits for a baby’s comfort and also raise questions about the wisdom of exposing a baby to such a large amount of metal. Furthermore, spring mattresses rarely have a removable cover, which, as we’ll see later, is essential for comfort and hygiene.
When it comes to synthetic foam mattresses—whether they’re made of polyether foam, polyurethane foam, or memory foam—we feel it’s essential to emphasize, first and foremost, the petrochemical nature of their manufacturing processes. Did you know that some synthetic foams can contain more than fifty chemicals? Are you comfortable with the idea of letting your baby spend so much time in a bed where the mattress poses a risk to their health?
The chemical products and additives used to manufacture foam mattresses release extremely volatile molecules into the air that can irritate the eyes and skin of babies, children, and even adults, and may cause asthma and eczema. Furthermore, when you see labels such as “anti-dust mite” or “antibacterial” associated with a synthetic foam product, it’s important to know that these properties also result from a chemical treatment applied to compensate for the poor breathability of foam mattresses.
Under these circumstances, it is clear that mattresses made from natural materials are the ones that receive the most favorable reviews from the pediatric community, as they combine high-quality craftsmanship, comfort for babies, and the assurance of a healthy environment. That is why the rest of this page will focus on mattresses made from natural latex and other natural materials to help you choose the best natural mattress for your baby.
Dimensions, Density, and Breathability of Baby Mattresses
The dimensions of a baby mattress must match the dimensions of the crib. There should be no gap between the edges of the crib and the mattress to prevent the baby from getting stuck in that space.
The most common sizes are: 60 x 120 cm, 70 x 140 cm, and 80 x 160 cm, with a recommended thickness of about 10 cm. These sizes are standardized, so you’ll have no trouble finding a bed that fits.
What density should you choose for a baby mattress? The answer to this question is to opt for a mattress with a density greater than 50 kg/m³, to prevent the mattress from sagging as the baby gains weight. As a reminder, a mattress’s density refers to the amount of material in the mattress and is an indicator of its quality and lifespan. A mattress can have a high density without necessarily being firm. However, a baby mattress must be firm to prevent the baby from sinking too deeply into it, especially since babies’ perception of firmness differs due to their low body weight.
We also believe it is essential to address the issue of mattress breathability. The good natural breathability of a mattress and its cover allows for air circulation, ensuring superior thermal comfort and providing a natural solution to prevent the growth of dust mites and bacteria—benefits that can only be achieved by choosing a natural latex mattress. In fact, foam mattresses have very poor breathability and therefore require artificial, chemical treatments.
Mattresses Made from Natural Materials
Choosing a natural mattress for your baby is therefore the best option for reaping the advantages and benefits of natural materials. Natural latex mattresses are the best example of the value of this choice—and they’re affordable when you consider the product’s lifespan and the peace of mind they provide regarding your child’s health.
The main benefits of 100% natural latex mattresses are thermal comfort (thanks to latex’s unmatched breathability), excellent durability, and the peace of mind for parents that their baby is sleeping in a healthy environment, free of pesticide or fertilizer residues and chemical fumes.
It is essential to choose a mattress labeled “100% natural latex,” which is the only label that guarantees the presence of a truly natural material in baby bedding. In fact, some manufacturers exploit loopholes in the law, which allows them to produce mattresses containing less than 85% rubber tree latex. Latex mattresses labeled as “real latex” or “pure latex” are not effective in mitigating health risks, as they contain petrochemical-based latex. In this regard, the best way to make the right choice is to opt for a brand that offers certification for 100% natural latex—such as the Eurolatex label—as well as organic fabrics.
Finally, since the goal is to provide young children with an ideal, comfortable product, be sure to choose a natural latex mattress with a removable, easily washable cover. Preferably, choose a brand that offers a mattress model that comes with an organic cotton cover—such as the Kipli brand, for example.
Key Takeaways
The ideal mattress for giving a baby the quality it deserves must fit the exact dimensions of its crib and be between 8 and 12 cm thick. It should have a removable, easily washable cover, preferably made of organic cotton.
Parents' top priority should beto provide their baby with a healthy sleeping surface that poses no health risks. That's why it's advisable to invest the necessary amount and choose a baby mattress made of bamboo, coconut fiber, or 100% natural latex.
Also check for labels and certifications regarding latex quality, and opt for models manufactured in Europe whenever possible.
We recommend these other pages:
- What size mattress should you choose?
- Mattress Comparison
- What factors should you consider when choosing the best mattress?
- How to Choose the Firmness of a Mattress
- How to Choose a Mattress for Back Pain
- Which children's mattress should you choose?
- Which mattress brand should you choose?
- What size mattress should you choose?
- How to Choose a Natural Mattress?
- How to Choose an Organic Latex Mattress?