Baby & Kids
Fewer chemicalsAll 20 crib mattresses in a lab study gave off VOCs, about 2.5× more when warmed to body temperature, so pick one certified low-emitting.
Our pick
Serta Perfect Start Limited dual-sided crib mattress, fibre core
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Buying a crib mattress? The maker says this one is GREENGUARD Gold certified, which means it passed strict low chemical emission tests. Its core is polyester fibre rather than polyurethane foam (the toddler side adds a foam comfort layer), and the maker says it has no added fire retardants, lead or phthalates. AAP’s safe-sleep basics still apply: firm, flat and fitted snugly to the crib.
Infants spend most of their time asleep, and in lab tests VOC levels in a baby’s breathing zone ran up to 2.4× the room air. New mattresses gave off the most, and polyurethane foam released a wider mix of VOCs than polyester foam.
General information, not medical advice. Ask your pediatrician before changing what your baby or child uses.
It isn’t plastic-free: the core and cover are polyester, with a waterproof backing. Use the firmer infant side for a baby. Unwrap a new mattress a few days early in a ventilated room, then dress it with just a fitted sheet.
Serta Perfect Start Limited dual-sided crib mattress, fibre core: Polyester fibre core and cover with a waterproof backing; the toddler side adds a foam layer. Not plastic-free. GREENGUARD Gold certified with no added fire retardants, the maker says.
Health and safety facts on this page come from these sources. What a pick is made of comes from its maker's listing or website, as stated on the date we checked.
GREENGUARD Gold means a crib mattress passed UL’s low-emission tests, which limit more than 360 VOCs and total chemical emissions, with stricter limits meant for places such as nurseries. In a lab study of 20 crib mattresses, all gave off VOCs, so it’s worth having. Our pick’s maker says it’s GREENGUARD Gold certified.
Bedroom
Body heat made polyurethane foam mattresses give off more VOCs in a 2019 lab study. A natural latex topper gives you a latex surface to sleep on instead of memory foam; a latex mattress skips the foam when it’s time to replace yours.
Our pick
Sleep On Latex Pure Green natural latex topper, firm, 2 inch, queen
Baby & Kids
Particleboard and MDF are bonded with resins that can off-gas formaldehyde; a solid pine crib keeps them out of the nursery.
Our pick
Dream On Me Synergy 5-in-1 convertible crib, solid pine, White
Baby & Kids
AAP flags bisphenols and some phthalates in food plastics as a hormone-disruption concern, especially early in life. A steel bento keeps lunch on steel.
Our pick
LunchBots Medium Trio stainless bento, 3 sections, 20 oz
