When Barry Cik learned he was going to be a grandfather, he went out looking for the perfect organic crib mattress. Strange choice of baby gift? Not for Cik: he’d been an environmental engineer for the past 25 years. He knew all about the dangerous chemicals in conventional crib mattresses, and he wanted a healthy alternative for his family’s new arrival.

What Cik found disappointed him. Most of the organic mattresses were made with wool or latex, both of which can cause allergic reactions. The mattresses also weren’t waterproof: one leaky diaper or spit-up episode, and mold would begin to grow on or in the mattress, with no way to clean it properly. Cik decided to take matters into his own hands. He and his two sons founded Naturepedic, a company that makes organic, non-toxic crib mattresses. The company’s now so successful that it’s branched out into changing pads, adult-size mattresses, pillows and sheets.

Green mattresses are important, especially for babies. Conventional mattresses are often treated with flame-retardant chemicals called polybrominated diphenyl ethers, or PBDEs. These chemicals can have a significant negative impact on a baby’s growing brain, possibly causing developmental delays and behavioral changes. They’ve also been linked to SIDS. While states like California and Maine have begun prohibiting the use of PBDEs as flame retardants, plenty of mattresses still contain them. Naturepedic’s No Compromise crib mattress uses a nontoxic fire retardant instead. It’s a GreenGuard-certified piece of baby furniture, meaning it doesn’t release chemicals that affect indoor air quality, and it’s safe for children and schools to use. It won’t harm your baby or the environment. Keep reading →