What is a Natural Mattress? Why They’re the Best Choice for Your Baby

So, you’re in the midst of preparing your baby’s bed, and it’s time to choose a mattress. Our two cents? Go natural. But what exactly is a natural mattress, and why is it the best choice for your little one? 

Whether you actively embrace an eco-conscious lifestyle or not, when it comes to your baby’s health and safety, natural is always the way to go. And this includes their mattress.

Synthetic mattresses are made using lots of nasties and no-good chemicals that you don’t want anywhere near your baby. Compare this to natural mattresses, which are made using only organic materials that are kind to your baby and the environment. 

Today, we’re going to talk all-things natural mattresses and show you exactly why they should be your top choice for your baby’s bed.

What is a Natural Mattress?

First of all, let's talk about what natural mattresses actually are. You're probably thinking they're a sustainable option as an alternative to synthetic mattresses. Which is right, but that's not the only reason they're favoured.

Made from organic natural materials from cover to core, natural mattresses are non-toxic. This means they're free from any nasties and harmful chemicals that simply don't support your baby whilst they sleep.

They're also super supportive, especially when paired with the pocket-sprung formation of the mattress. This is why The Little Green Sheep takes such pride in our mattresses.

What is the Best Material for Baby Mattresses?

Wool is a common material used in natural mattresses. It's also fire-resistant (this is what makes The Little Green Sheep mattresses pass British Fire Safety Standards without chemicals).

Other common materials include:

These materials each have their own outstanding properties that make a mattress comfy, safe, supportive, and, most importantly, natural.

5 Benefits of Natural Mattresses for Your Baby

#1 Breathable

Organic materials like wool, which have air-permeable properties, allow maximum airflow within the mattress, which is essential for breathability and avoiding 'hot spots'.

Hot spots are places in a mattress that retain a lot of heat in one place. This often happens with synthetic mattresses that can't get rid of that excess heat.

The individual pocket springs within the mattress also provide an environment where air can flow freely, which is perfect for babies, but we'll talk more about that later.

Many of the Little Green Sheep mattresses happen to be pocket-sprung, and they’re all made from natural materials. What a happy coincidence!

#2 Hypoallergenic

One of the biggest benefits of choosing a natural mattress for your baby is not having to worry about the effect it'll have on their delicate skin.

Babies' skin can be sensitive to certain materials and chemicals (which are found in synthetic mattresses!), so a natural mattress is generally best.

The wool used in the filling of natural mattresses is hypoallergenic and absorbs and disperses excess moisture away, creating a clean, dry environment that repels dust mites and bacteria growth.

The Little Green Sheep Mattresses are held together with a cotton cover, which is equally kind to babies' skin, providing a soft feel and comfy snooze.

#3 Firm & Supportive

There are plenty of baby mattresses on the market, but none say firm quite like a natural mattress.

Providing optimum support, as recommended by sleep experts, natural mattresses offer a surface that'll support your baby's spine and help with proper alignment of growth.

Along with luxuriously soft sheep’s wool, natural latex binds with a sturdy coconut fibre core to add an extra layer of comfort. Meanwhile, layers of coconut coir act like tiny individual springs to relieve pressure points and provide superior, evenly spread support for your little one.

#4 Temperature-Regulating

Babies need help regulating their temperatures since they can't do it by themselves. A cool and breathable mattress is important for babies so they don't get stuck in one of those 'hot spots' we talked about earlier.

Overheating in babies is associated with SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). It's crucial to reduce this risk by opting for a breathable mattress that keeps the temperature down.

Natural mattresses, including The Little Green Sheep mattresses, are made from temperature-regulating materials to give you peace of mind whilst your baby sleeps.

#5 Comfortable

It's as simple as that! Natural mattresses are cosy and soft, giving your baby that comfy sleep they need to go about their busy day of, well, sleeping!

You, as parents, will even take comfort in knowing your baby is thoroughly supported during their sleep. This is why we think natural mattresses are the solution to sleepless nights!

Why are Natural Mattresses Better than 'Normal' Mattresses?

When we speak about 'normal' mattresses, we're talking about synthetic ones. And by synthetic, we mean man-made chemicals that are way less durable than natural materials. And that's just one reason we favour a natural mattress.

Some types of synthetic mattresses that you might have already heard of are memory foam and PU.

Below is a list of traits of synthetic mattresses that we're not too fond of:

According to Let's Recycle, 7 million mattresses are discarded in the UK each year, with 75% of those ending up in landfill. Synthetic mattresses take up a lot of space in landfills and release their harmful chemicals into the atmosphere.

So you'll not only provide your little one with support and comfort but also help the planet become more sustainable.

Rounding up: Natural Sleep for Your Baby

We at The Little Green Sheep know there is a clear winner in the synthetic vs natural mattress debate, and we hope you can see that now, too.

So when you're searching for the perfect mattress for your new arrival, remember that we have been creating our natural products since 2006 and know a thing or two about natural mattresses for babies.

Shop our selection of natural mattresses below, and for more guidance and advice, head to our Journal!