What Is the Safest Material for Mattresses? (Foam, Polyurethane and Latex, Explained)

Have you ever heard of formaldehyde?

For many of us, that word brings to mind images of preserved critters and crawling things in a science teacher’s office, or the embalming fluide used for medical study of cadavers. I myself was exposed to high levels of formaldehyde while pursuing my doctorate while dissecting a cadaver in my anatomy courses. It was stinky stuff, and certainly not something I’d voluntarily breathe in with regularity.

However, millions of Americans do exactly that, every night, unknowingly.

Formaldehyde is one example of a volatile organic compound or VOC. VOC’s are chemical gasses that are released from different products which we then breathe in. While we may or may not detect an odor from these VOCs, they have the potential to harm our health.

VOCs can be found in all kinds of household materials, like construction materials (carpeting, paints), DIY-projects (solvents, cleaning chemicals), and also in most synthetically produced foams, fabrics and and more. That “new car smell?” That’s all VOCs, and even if you like the scent, it’s important to know that what you’re smelling is off-gassing of manufacturing materials, many of which are neurotoxins, carcinogens, and respiratory irritants. Yikes.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in Mattresses

If you’re a parent, you probably first learned about the potential dangers of different mattress materials when assembling the furniture for your baby’s new nursery. As is human nature, we consider safety causes for our children much more significantly than we consider them for ourselves. With children’s matresses, the warnings abound. As a new parent, we need to be concerned about:

  • Avoiding anything other than a rated and certified mattress inside the crib (no toys, blankets, pillows or anything else)
  • Avoiding anything with more than 10 degrees of incline
  • Staying up-to-date on product recalls
  • Ensuring that the mattress is made from safe materials to avoid off-gassing and toxicity

The first three bullet points in that list are a bit more straightforward, but the last bullet point is where the water can get muddy. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is responsible for publishing and enforcing safety standards for children’s matresses, especially crib mattresses. This includes safety ratings addressing everything from the fit of the mattress in the bed frame to softness and suffocation risk, and even down to flame resistance. However, there are relatively few restrictions on the material that the mattress itself is made from.

This lack of regulation is a problem because many of the common mattress materials release harmful VOCs into the air that babies (and their parents) breathe for 8 hours a night, possibly up to 20 hours daily for a newborn! This is a significant exposure, and VOCs like formaldehyde have been linked to everything from allergies, sleep apnea and eczema to SIDS, autism and ADHD. These risks, resulting from VOC exposure, are highest in mattresses produced from foams, including memory foam, gel foam, polyurethane foam, as well as the foam and plastic layers that add water resistance to natural materials. In addition to VOCs, many mattresses also include phthalates and even fragrance mixtures, which are implicated in endocrine disruption, hormonal disorders and endocrine disruption in both men and women.

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These risks affect both adults and children, though parents of course are often very concerned about the safety of products for their children. New babies are so vulnerable and small that even small exposures to these toxins can wreak havoc on their health, potentially for a lifetime.

How to Choose a Safe Mattress Material

The Environmental Working Group recommends limiting exposure to VOCs and endocrine disrupting chemicals in mattresses and other furniture.

In general, the following materials should be avoided because they are considered unsafe:

  • Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
  • Vinyl
  • Polyurethane foam
  • Flame retardant chemicals such as chlorinated Tris
  • Fiberglass
  • Fragrances
  • Antimicrobials
  • Solvent-based glue to adhere mattress layers together
  • Plant-based foams (emit VOCs just like polyurethane)

It is also recommended to choose a mattress company that is transparent about the materials that they use in mattress production.

Safe characteristics to look for in a mattress include:

  • Made with organic materials, like natural latex and cotton
  • Certification from GOTS and GOLS (an organic processing certification for organic fibers and organic latex)
  • Made from materials like: rayon, wool, polylactic acid batting to maintain fire safety standards
  • Low VOC certification
  • Alternatives to flame-retardant chemicals, such as the safer polylactic acid and wool
  • If you choose a polyurethane mattress, choose one that is low-VOC certified such as by Oeko-TEx or Greenguard Gold
  • Water-resistance from polyurethane laminate (PUL) or polyethylene

Are Latex Mattresses Safe?

Unlike polyurethane and other synthetic foams which emit high levels of VOCs, latex is a plant-based, renewable material made from the sap of rubber trees. It is naturally resistant to mold and dust, and holds up even better over time than foams made from petroleum. Organic, natural latex mattresses are easy to find at reasonable prices. Latex mattresses are one of the safest mattress materials available on the market due to their lack of VOCs and natural resistance to mold, dust and mildew.

Which Mattress Should You Choose for Safety and Comfort?

As a functional medicine doctor and parent of young children, I recommend an organic, latex-based mattress with organic covering that does not have flame retardants. This eliminates the problem of both VOCs and mold exposure, both of which have been linked to developmental disorders and even death in children and infants.

Try Mattresses from MyGreenMattress.com

My Green Mattress is a family-based company that produces certified organic mattresses that are made in the USA. Their natural, low-toxin, antimicrobial mattresses were the perfect solution for their own children struggling with allergies and eczema, and a commitment to developing a chemical-free alternative to the high-toxin products that are mainstream on the market. At an affordable price point, they are an excellent alternative to the riskier and pricier items that fall under major brand names.

They offer several different options for mattresses and bedding including:

My Green Mattress also offers organic cotton mattress protectors, organic latex toppers as well as latex pillows for safe sleep.

My Experience with MyGreenMattress.com

We chose MyGreenMattress when we upgraded our children’s beds from toddler beds to bunk beds, and selected the Pure Eco Organic Kids Mattresses which are specifically designed for bunk beds. We opted for this brand because of the affordability and the safety ratings, the manufacturing transparency, and to support a family-owned company. We have been extremely satisfied by the quality. The measurements were as listed on the website and fit perfectly into our bunk bed structure. They are comfortable and soft and do not hold moisture to flare up the skin of our kids who have eczema and are prone to rashes. They also do not have any detectable odors, and nor do they release any of the toxic gasses that standard mattresses release.

The safety profile of mattresses for our children was a high priority for me both when our children were infants (we inherited organic mattresses from family members, used) and then as they grew to transition to twin beds (bunk beds.) I was so relieved that a company like this exists, and am grateful for the opportunity to promote their business. I highly recommend MyGreenMattress.com for safe, non-toxic mattresses.

I’m Dr. Alexandra MacKillop, a functional medicine physician, food scientist and nutrition expert.

I specialize in women’s health & hormones, addressing concerns like fertility, disordered eating, PCOS, endometriosis, dysmenorrhea (painful periods), PMS symptoms like bloating and mood changes and more.

If you’re looking for a new way to approach your health, I’d love to work with you. Click to learn more.