Should I Go Natural? The Pros and Cons of Natural Mattresses

Well, I believe we're going to be getting more and more of these questions as parents start hunting for mattresses with fewer chemicals, kinder materials, and a softer footprint on the planet.

But before we wander into the wonders of natural mattresses - whatever lovely fibres they're made of - there's one golden rule:

"The base still needs waterproof protection."

The Impossible Triangle

A waterproof cover cannot be made from natural fabrics. Cotton, bamboo, mohair, or hemp - lovely as they are - just don't do the job. Natural fabrics aren't waterproof.

In short: there is no fabric on Earth that is simultaneously 100% natural, 100% waterproof, AND 100% breathable. If anyone tries to tell you otherwise, smile politely and ignore them - because it simply isn't true.

Natural Base Options

We'll come back to the waterproofing. First, the natural base.

Solid Coir

Did you know coir is the hair of a coconut? This mattress design has a coir base covered with wool on each side. There are various thicknesses of wool or wool mix - 2cm depth is perfect, though some companies put 1cm.

Unfortunately, the loveliest feel is wool and polyester, but then you're introducing a bit of non-natural. Up to you!

Coir with Pocket Springs

The next base removes 80% of the coir and substitutes it with pocket springs - encapsulating the springs in coir. Not only does the mattress have a more welcoming, comfortable feel, but it has better airflow as air flows through the pocket sprung unit.

Natural Pocket Springs

There's a brand new development: natural pocket springs instead of metal ones. This natural pocket sprung mattress was developed by The Cot Mattress Company.

Coir Quality

The coir structure is very technical - it involves a combination of latex and coir ratio and density. To be honest, if manufacturers were to explain this in detail, it would mean little.

I have to say that using cheap coir is not something you have to be wary of. Manufacturers making natural mattresses don't scrimp on coir quality. It's not the same as fibre and foam, where competition is so fierce that quality suffers.

One serious point: if your cot bed mattress is likely to be used as a trampoline, coir won't stand up to this as well as a pocket sprung mattress encapsulated in top-quality foam. Consistent jumping up and down could damage the coir structure.

Natural Mattress Cover Options

1. Natural Cotton Breathable Cover

Waste of time on its own - it needs waterproof protection.

2. Outlux or Moulton Cover

This is a very clever fabric: a thin layer of PU sandwiched in the middle of two layers of brushed cotton. As the amount of PU is so small, it can legally be called a natural fabric. It's waterproof but only minutely breathable - just some air off the top layer of cotton.

3. EasyChange® Type System

Here you have a zipped waterproof cover around the base with a top perimeter zip. This zip takes a highly breathable topper made of CoolMax and MaxiSpace, giving you full breathability over a protective waterproof cover. But it's not natural.

Remember how all this started: there's no fabric that's 100% natural, 100% waterproof, AND 100% breathable!

Thinking of Our Planet

Compare foam and fibre with natural coir and wool.

What is Coir?

Coir is simply the natural fibre that comes from the outer husk of a coconut - the bit between the hard shell and the smooth brown outside. Once coconuts are harvested for food, the husks aren't wasted. They're soaked, softened, and the fibres are separated, cleaned, then left to dry naturally in the sun.

When these fibres are pressed together and mixed with a little natural latex (which acts like glue), they form firm, springy sheets - perfect for baby mattresses. It's nature's version of a mini spring system: breathable, supportive, and wonderfully sustainable.

So in short - coir is coconut hair, turned into a natural springy base for your baby to sleep on. And when its work is done, it simply returns to nature.

What About Foam?

Foam, bless it, doesn't know when to leave. It'll still be in landfill when your great-great-great-great-grandkids are grandparents!

And Fibre?

PET fibre from plastic bottles: it's technically "recycled" and keeps plastic out of the bin initially, which is good. But it's still petroleum-based at heart, and it does not biodegrade in landfill. Thousands of years for both foam and fibre to biodegrade.