There are 500-1000 chemicals in the average home. Toxic chemicals such as formaldehyde, asbestos, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), flame retardants and BPA are found in a number of common household items including, paper products, paints, bathroom cleaners, water bottles and in some cases, your mattress.
Although exposure to small doses of these chemicals may not be harmful, in combination or in large amounts, these toxins can cause a number of irritations to our respiratory, circulatory, reproductive, cardiovascular, nervous and immune systems.
The last thing you want to do as a parent is put your children at risk for illness. That’s why you should consider these five benefits of an all-natural mattress the next time you go shopping.
Organic mattresses reduce exposure to harmful chemicals
Non-organic mattress materials contain a number of chemicals including boric acid, a common ingredient in pesticides, and decabromodiphenyl oxide, a chemical that can be potentially dangerous for health issues linked to liver, thyroid, and neurological effects. Chemical exposure is especially an issue in new cribs.
Additionally, all mattresses are legally required to meet federal standards that classify them as flame retardant. The issue? Long-term exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE), the main chemical used as a flame retardant, is believed to be linked to various health problems such as hormone disruption, learning and memory impairment and delayed puberty onset, to name a few.
Not to worry though. Mattresses can be made with organic, non-toxic flame retardants that pass federal standards while still providing an excellent place to sleep and dream. This includes:
- Certified Organic Wool (naturally fire-resistant)
- Organic Cotton (often wrapped in wool)
- Natural Latex (made from rubber trees)
Organic mattresses prevent allergies
Often, allergy and respiratory problems are caused by chemical toxins or pesticides that are incorporated in the conventional mattress manufacturing process. Organic mattresses are pesticide-free, chemical-free, and thus, hypo-allergenic.
Not to mention, did you know anywhere from 100,000 to 10 million dust mites could call your mattress home? Studies have shown that dust mites in mattresses can trigger allergy symptoms, so if your child has allergies, there are additional things you should look for in a mattress. A mattress made with natural products is a great place to start—it’s difficult for bacteria and mold to grow on these types of products, and they can get rid of dust mites naturally.
Organic mattresses eliminate chemical off-gassing
You know that pesky “new mattress smell” that’s common with most mattress brands?
This smell, aka chemical off-gassing, comes from the volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, contained in some of the mattress materials. You may recognize it from freshly-painted rooms or brand-new cars. Off-gassing in mattresses is especially common in memory foam and is known to cause headaches.
Although natural mattresses can still have a smell, the good news is that is is non-toxic. Any lingering smells will dissipate naturally with time.
Organic mattresses help regulate body temperature
Do your kids ever wake up in a sweat from a bad dream? Maybe they tend to sleep hot. Another benefit to all-natural mattress materials, like latex, organic cotton and wool, is that they naturally regulate body temperature.
Wool, in particular, is known for wicking away body moisture, keeping your body temperature low. In order to get a good night’s sleep, our core body temperature must drop one to two degrees. That’s why you constantly wake up if you sleep on a mattress that traps heat.
Keep your kids cooler on an organic mattress.
Organic mattresses help make our earth a better place
By purchasing an organic mattress you reduce your carbon footprint which in turn helps our ecosystem. All-natural mattresses are both sustainable and biodegradable.
Not to mention, the production of organic materials has a very low impact on the planet. If fact, many of the production processes for these materials replenish and maintain soil fertility, use natural fertilizers instead of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers, and build biologically diverse agriculture. Therefore, organic growing methods not only maintain soil health but also use fewer natural resources and less land.
If you are in the market for an all-natural mattress, My Green Mattress is the place for you, and your kids!
Mattress Advisor is proud to name My Green Mattress the best all-natural mattress for kids of 2018. Visit our site to see our review of the Pure Eco or learn more about how to find the best mattress for your needs!
– This guest blog post was provided by Mattress Advisor.
