What’s in a Mattress: Reconciling Testing and Disclosure
For the 13 products we tested, our partners at Clean & Healthy New York compared product description disclosures with the results from laboratory testing. Product descriptions were collected from tags and packaging of purchased products, product webpages, and surveys to companies. The information collected and test results matched for only six of the 13 products tested (46%), and only 2 provided full information verified by our tests. Some of these products have since been discontinued. Product description data was collected while products were active on the market.
Naturepedic® Lightweight Organic Cotton Classic Crib mattress and Newton Baby®’s crib mattress provided meaningfully complete descriptions of all three layers tested that matched lab analysis.
Ikea® Pelleput mattress, Serta TM NightstarTM Standard Support mattress, Moonlight SlumberTM Little Dreamer mattress, and SealyTM Baby Firm Rest mattress provided incomplete information but all available information matched.
Seven companies had undisclosed chemicals of concern in their products.
Foundations® Infapure mattress’s materials matched, but had undisclosed antimony in its vinyl cover.
Dream on Me did not reveal its cover material. Testing identified it as vinyl, containing DOTP, antimony, and chlorine.
L.A. Baby’s Triple Zone 2 in 1 Soy Foam with Blended Organic Cotton Cover contained undisclosed antimony and chlorine in the cover, and in addition, although the company says the cover is organic cotton, the cover was coated on the back by polyurethane and acrylic, and we detected levels of fluorine too low to indicate intentional use for waterproofing, though the company states that they use a PFAS treatment on their covers. The company failed to disclose the content of their FR barrier. Testing found PET, nitrile, vinyl, rayon and antimony. The company claims the core is made of polyurethane and polyester. Testing found polyurethane with chlorine, bromine, and phosphorous, indicating the potential presence of halogenated and organophosphate flame retardant chemicals in the foam.
Colgate Mattress® Royale Crib Mattress contains undisclosed fluorinated chemicals in the cover. No flame retardant material was identified by the company, but inner padding contained antimony. Chlorine was identified on the inner padding, indicating a chlorinated flame retardant may be present.
Graco® Premium Foam mattress did not provide information about its cover material. Testing identified PET backed by polyurethane. The company stated no chlorine or antimony in its barrier but antimony was detected. The polyurethane foam also contained chlorine and antimony, indicating the likely presence of a chlorinated flame retardant.
Nook Sleep’s Pebble Lite mattress identifies numerous materials in the cover. We found PET backed by cotton. The company claims the surface is water resistant due to lyocell rayon and cotton, but we found fluorine, suggesting PFAS chemicals. The company disclosed that the flame barrier made by Freudenberg, and we found a matching nonwoven wrap of PET and rayon. The core is polyurethane foam, matching company claims. Our testing found chlorine and phosphorous in the foam, suggesting added flame retardant chemicals.
Safety 1st claims its Little Dreamer Baby Crib mattress cover is made of vinyl. Testing found vinyl with DOTP backed by PET. In addition, we found fluorine, indicating PFAS, at 12 ppm. The PET fire barrier and steel coil core match company disclosures. The conflicts between what companies disclose and what testing reveals is troubling for families seeking a safe and healthy crib mattress. Especially troubling is the unreported presence of PFAS, and likely presence of banned FR chemicals in foam.
