Is Memory Foam Safe for a Baby?

Question: Michelle from didn’t leave a city asks…..

“Would you have any information regarding what type of memory foam is used in an infant product designed to elevate and secure an infant from birth to six months in the crib as described in One Step Ahead (can be viewed online), a catalog of baby products? It claims to be safe but I purchased one and the odor is quite strong. I am reluctant to let my newborn sleep on this. Thank you in advance for your time.”

Answer: All memory foams, except for our natural memory foam mattresses, are made from a laundry list of chemicals.

The smell / odor / fumes / off-gassing has been a major complaint among many mattress owners.

Personally, I would not place my infant in any mattress that was made with chemicals, had an odor let alone a strong chemical odor but i’m a no health professional. 😉

I would go with a certified organic latex mattress like our Bionda or Stratami or Essentia’s certified organic mattress designed for kids and toddlers.

All mattresses sold in the U.S.A are required to pass fire tests.
Chemical fire retardants should be avoided at all costs because they’ve been linked to all kinds of things like SIDS, cancer, learning and memory deficit as well as heart, lung and kidney damage.

Some great resources if you’re looking into more information on fire retardants in beds are www.peopleforcleanbeds.org or myessentia.com/blogs/mattress-101/fire-retardants-in-mattresses.

Wools are natural fire retardants and often used in mattresses as fire retardants but don’t pass fire regulations on their own. Another option would be to get a doctors note which allows you to purchase a mattress without fire barriers.

Read reviews and take your time when choosing a baby mattress because their developing bodies are very delicate. babies breathe 2x more than we do!

If you’re looking for more tips, check out our 5 Tips to Know Before Buying an Organic Mattress or Latex vs Memory foam comparison.