Organic Latex Mattresses for Children – Improving Sleep Quality with Kids

Choosing the Best Children’s Organic Latex Mattress

Just like our adult latex mattresses, our twin and full-size latex mattresses are completely customizable.

Some important facts:

• Twin latex mattresses come in three different heights which are made up of 3-inch latex layers.
  • 7 inch is two layers.
  • 10 inch is three layers.
  • 13 inch is four layers (typically this size is unnecessary for a child, however you might need this thickness for a particular bed frame.
• Each layer’s firmness can be customized into the perfect custom latex mattress for their needs.
• You can choose between 100% natural Talalay and 100% Natural Dunlop latex for each layer that makes up their latex mattress.
• When your child grows up and their weight and sleep needs change, you can add another firmer or different layer without needing to buy a completely new mattress.

Building the Best Organic Twin/Full Size Latex Mattress

If you’re ready to look at some options for a twin- or full-size latex mattress for your child, click here.

Because you can adjust the layers in our latex mattress, you’re able to order the layers to reflect their body’s current needs without sacrificing what they’ll need in the future. As their sleep needs change you can adjust the mattress’s firmness by moving and changing the latex layer configuration. In the end, you save money because you won’t have to buy a completely new bed as they get older!

On this topic, mattress firmness is the variable we’re mostly speaking to.

What firmness is Safe for Kids’ Organic Latex Mattresses?

Extra firm or firm mattresses are best for kids because of their developmental needs. But a medium firmness will feel firm to a child as they are so light in weight.

Starting at a young age, babies need as firm of a mattress as possible because they sleep mostly on their backs. The firmness helps keep the infant’s spine aligned at night, which is critical for development. And this need does not go away when your child moves out of the infant stage!

The beauty of our twin/full-sized latex mattress is that it’s built in layers, so it can be adjusted when your child’s sleep needs change.

But how much sleep do kids need?

And what else about their sleep environment matters?

According to the University of Michigan Medical School, children need between 9.5 and 11.5 hours of sleep every night, a number that’s backed up by the University of Washington in the graph below:

(Photo Credit)

We know the amount of sleep is important for kids, but their quality of sleep matters too! And it’s a children’s wellness tip that certainly isn’t talked about enough…

Children Don’t Just Need More Sleep, They Need Better Sleep

This graph shows the percentage of REM sleep that an average infant, child, and adult each get over the course of one night:

As you can see, babies go through the most REM cycles while children aged 3-14 go through the least amount of REM cycles (sometimes referred to as deep sleep) compared to any other age bracket.

According to Harvard University, “sleep cycles, composed of REM and NREM sleep, last for about 50 minutes in children and 90 minutes in adults.”

And the more REM cycles your child goes through, the more well-rested he or she will feel (and the easier your day will feel as a parent).

As a parent, it’s important to make sure your child gets the best night’s sleep possible, right?

But with all the things on your to-do list, how can you make this happen with as little day-to-day effort as possible?

Is an organic twin mattress your answer?

Does a Non-Toxic Kid’s Bedroom Have Any Real Benefits?

We agree on the importance of sleep for kids. From infant stages, through toddlers, and onto teenagers, it’s critical for proper development. But where does the bedding your children sleep on come into play?

We can agree that comfort matters. If your kid’s mattress isn’t comfortable, they’ll have a harder time falling asleep and staying asleep. But beyond this… As a parent, how can you choose what’s important in a twin mattress for your child and what’s just marketing fluff?

Do Mattresses with Chemicals Have Negative Behavioral Side Effects?

The short answer is (most likely) yes.

According to Molly Kile, a professor at Oregon State University’s College of Public Health and Human Sciences, there’s “a significant relationship between social behaviors among children and their exposure to widely used flame retardants.” Molly is an environmental epidemiologist.

You can read the full results of her research study, here:

Cross-sectional study of social behaviors in preschool children and exposure to flame retardants

Citation: Lipscomb, S.T., McClelland, M.M., MacDonald, M. et al. Environ Health (2017) 16: 23. doi:10.1186/s12940-017-0224-6

Lower Immune Systems Leave Children More Prone to Foreign Bodies

As Dr. Dave Staukus states in his article about boosting children’s immune systems, the normal rate for children to experience upper respiratory illness is 6-10 times per year. This is much higher than the average adult for a few reasons.

Second, children’s immune systems aren’t as developed because they haven’t been exposed to enough bacteria in their life.

White blood cells, particularly the neutrophils, macrophages, and lymphocytes get credit for the discovery and removal of toxins. And after your body (or your child’s) has recovered, the immune system ‘remembers’ how it fought. This is why it’s easier to beat many illnesses a second time around.

Problem is, some bacterias, viruses, and in our case, harmful chemicals have stronger effects on the body than they’re able to fight off.

This brings us back to Molly Kile’s research…

Beware of Toxic Chemicals, Materials, and Unhealthy Additives

Molly Kile’s study exposed multiple groups of children to varying levels of hazardous fire-retardant chemicals, particularly brominated flame retardants (BDEs) and organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs). The result was as follows, a direct quote from her study:

“Children with higher organophosphate flame-retardant exposure were rated by their preschool teachers to show less responsible behavior and more externalizing behavior problems. Children with higher exposure to brominated flame retardants were rated by their preschool teachers as less assertive.”

Whether you’re in the market for a latex, wool, or memory foam mattress, the toxicity of chemicals like polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), phthalates, and additives proven to be harmful should be considered before ordering your new bed.

Whether you buy from a conventional mattress firm or an online brand (like Sleeping Organic), there are a few green certifications you should keep in mind. To help you choose a certified all-natural latex mattress that doesn’t contain formaldehyde or polyurethane, we’ve listed each certification to look out for below.

Latex Mattress Certifications and Standards You Can Trust

Any manufacturer or retailer you’ll buy a mattress from should be forthcoming about safety certifications and organic certifications for the product you’re looking at. I emphasize should because this isn’t always the case. Like with health food, many brands get away with surface-level claims that sneak by consumers who are vulnerable and uninformed.

As a general rule, here are the certifications you can trust when buying healthier twin latex mattresses:

• Oeko-Tex
• GOLS
• GOTS
• Green America (certified companies)

Considering Alternative Sizes

Filling Out Your Child’s Non-Toxic Bedroom

Organic latex mattresses are only part of a bedroom free of harsh chemicals. Many parents in the market for new latex mattresses for their kids also choose to make the whole bed set completely natural. Doing so involves a few key bedding products:

Strong Solid Wood Latex Mattress Foundation

You don’t need a box spring for your mattress. In fact, we highly recommend against it. Besides the fact they’re a common cause of bedroom mildew growth, box springs aren’t supportive enough for latex foam mattresses. In fact, laying your child’s twin latex mattress on top of a box spring nullifies most benefits you’ll get from buying them a latex mattress all together!

More sustainable, healthy alternatives include wood foundations, platform beds, and adjustable beds. For most parents, a solid wood foundation will be the best choice. It’s durable enough to withstand bedroom play time and breathable enough for you to avoid the common downsides of box springs. Plus, it’s one of the more affordable mattress foundations out there!

Waterproof Mattress Protector

Your child’s mattress can be a messy place. It’s a fact of life. And depending on how old they are, your child’s bed may get messier than you’d like it to…

One of the best returns on investment for these tough moments is a waterproof mattress protector. Our most popular is made from 100% cotton and feels like a jersey t-shirt. So, when the spills pop up, all you’ll need to do is wash the protector instead of worrying about how you’ll quickly dry out your kid’s mattress.

Standard Size Natural Latex Pillows

When you buy your child’s organic twin or full latex mattress through Sleeping Organic, we’ll give you one standard-sized shredded latex pillow at no additional cost.

These pillows are great for kids because they’re completely adjustable based on how your child sleeps. You just remove some latex stuffing to decrease the loft.

Organic Cotton Kid’s Sheets

We’ve covered organic twin mattresses, full mattresses, latex mattress foundations, mattress protectors, and pillows. The last piece of bedding needed to round out your child’s non-toxic bedroom is a set of organic sheets.

Beyond being made without any toxins or harmful chemicals, organic sheets are extremely comfortable.

Your child will feel nice and cozy as they fall asleep in their new latex mattress.

So, will an organic bed really improve your child’s sleep?

If we can agree that the toxins and toxic chemicals present in many mattresses hurt your child’s sleep, then we can also agree that there are strong indications that point to an organic latex mattress helping your child sleep better at night.

And if you’re considering buying an organic twin or full latex mattress soon, mention this article when checking out to get an additional 5% off your children’s mattress to help make the investment more affordable for you and your family.