Why Sleep Doctors Recommend An All-Natural Mattress For Your Kids

Over the years, mattress technology has evolved from simple springs and cotton to cooling foams, adjustable firmness, and now smart mattresses with sensors that collect biometric data. Today, mattress shoppers have more choices than ever and can purchase their perfect bed from the comfort of their own homes. 

Despite all these advancements, one particular demographic of sleepers is often overlooked by the manufacturers: children.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends nine to 12 hours of sleep for kids ages six to 12, and eight to 10 for teens ages 13 to 18. However, only 48 percent of school-aged children in the U.S. actually get nine hours of sleep most school nights. 

Mattresses play an integral role in supporting healthy sleep, which facilitates both physical and cognitive development. According to somnologists, inadequate sleep can adversely affect your child’s concentration, memory consolidation, emotional regulation, immune health, and more. For healthy growth, children need a comfortable mattress that promotes deep sleep and supports their developing bones.

All-Natural Mattress Benefits for Kids

With a few notable exceptions like Nolah Technologies LLC, many of the biggest mattress brands don’t offer mattresses made specifically for children. However, more and more companies now offer an all-natural latex option that checks off a lot of the boxes for a quality kids’ mattress. 

All-natural latex mattresses have their advantages for all sleepers, but here’s why sleep doctors recommend them for children in particular.

1. No Exposure To Harmful Chemicals

Many synthetic mattress materials contain harmful chemicals such as outdated fire retardants (polybrominated diphenyl ethers or PBDE) and significant amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs, like formaldehyde and benzene). PBDE exposure may affect a child’s executive function and behavioral regulation, while VOCs can pollute indoor air quality. 

Natural and organic mattresses, on the other hand, do not contain any such components. Instead, you’ll find materials like sustainable latex tapped from rubber trees, naturally fire-resistant wool, soft organic cotton, and responsibly sourced bamboo textiles.

2. Allergy-Friendly

Certain mattresses are hotbeds for dust mites, mold, bacteria, and other allergens. Fortunately, all-natural latex mattresses don’t have this problem. They’re breathable and naturally hypoallergenic, keeping allergens at bay without the help of pesticides or other harsh chemicals. 

3. Temperature Regulation

A lot of kids (and adults) sleep hot and wake up in the middle of the night drenched in sweat. A mattress made with temperature-neutral latex and cooling organic cotton or wool will help naturally regulate body temperature for cool, comfortable sleep.

The Best Latex Mattress on the Market

One natural kids’ mattress, in particular, has caught our attention for the way it addresses common sleep issues among children—the Nolah Nurture 10” Mattress.

In a nutshell, the Nolah Nurture is an environmentally-friendly and hypoallergenic latex hybrid mattress with a double-sided design.

It uses Talalay latex, known for its responsive bounce and durability. Unlike memory foam, it’s temperature neutral and doesn’t trap heat or moisture, keeping cool for kids through all four seasons. The makers have included layers of premium Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified organic wool, a cooling material that also acts as a natural fire barrier. They also wrapped the mattress in a luxuriously soft and breathable organic cotton cover.  

On top of Talalay latex’s many benefits, the Nolah Natural stands out for its flippable hybrid design. On one side, the mattress has a softer feel, perfect for kids who like extra cushioning and plush comfort. The flip side is a bit firmer, providing more pushback and support. 

Having two firmness levels to choose from means your child will always have a comfortable option, regardless of their size and age. Nolah designed it that way so your kid can get well over 10 years of use from a single mattress. 

This mattress has been a passion project for Nolah Technologies. By using pressure-relieving Talalay latex and other natural materials, it offers exactly what parents need to ensure sufficient sleep for their kids. Nolah also offers the Nolah Natural 11” Mattress, a Talalay latex hybrid mattress for adults. 

Support The Environment By Buying an Organic Mattress

Traditional mattresses are notorious for their large carbon footprint and contribution to landfill overflow. A latex mattress is a far more sustainable option, as growers extract latex serum from rubber trees without having to cut them down. Organic latex is also 100 percent biodegradable.

As a parent, you want to know exactly what goes into the products that your children interact with daily. With a natural latex mattress, you can rest assured knowing the mattress is healthy for your kid and the environment.