Baby on Board

So you’ve baby-proofed the entire house. Every single corner of furniture is taped with protective padding, every bottom cupboard is locked, and every page of “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” has been read. Turns out, there might be one more critical item to check off your to-do list: understanding the exact contents of your baby’s crib mattress.

Infants spend the majority of each day (roughly 50% to 60%) sleeping on their crib mattress. Coupled with a higher susceptibility to indoor air pollutants, it is essential to choose a crib mattress that emits the least amount of volatile organic compounds or VOCs.

The Study

In a landmark study published in 2014, researchers from the University of Texas at Austin concluded that “infants are exposed to high levels of chemical emissions from crib mattresses while they sleep.” The researchers identified over 30 VOCs in the mattresses, including phenol (corrosive chemical), neodecanoic acid (paint drier/cement additive), and linalool (insecticide). The chemical most abundantly found in the crib mattress foam was limonene, the same chemical that gives cleaning products its lemon scent. To compound matters further, researchers found that “the VOC levels were significantly higher in a sleeping infant’s breathing zone when compared with bulk room air, exposing infants to about twice the VOC levels as people standing in the same room.” This exposure is multiplied as much as 10 times due to the infant’s significantly higher air volume per body weight. 

The key takeaway: All 20 new and old crib mattresses that were used in this study were composed of either polyurethane or polyester foam. Simply put, the majority of crib mattresses in the market today contain potentially harmful VOCs and other toxic chemicals due to their chemical composition. The widespread use of polyurethane and polyester based foams stem from the lower cost to synthetically produce the material. 

Certified Organique

Whereas other mattress companies only see a bottom line in lower costs and higher profits, Organique’s number one priority resides in the health of your baby. That’s why we choose to make our crib mattress with certified organic latex, which contains absolutely no polyurethane and no polyester based chemicals. What about the other aforementioned chemicals such as phenol and limonene? 0%. Period.

When Organique’s certified organic latex was tested all levels of VOCs were either undetected or less than the detection limit (as indicated by the laboratory designation of “ND”). The commitment to the health of your baby can also be seen through Organique’s certifications.

When studies such as the one completed by the University of Texas at Austin are published, we are reminded of what makes an Organique crib mattress unique: certified organic latex, no toxic chemicals, and undetectable VOC emissions. Each Organique crib mattress is made with the love and care of people who take pride in providing your baby with the safest mattress for them to sleep on.