Mattresses Can Be a Major Source of Harmful Chemicals in Kids' Rooms

In the first study, researchers sampled 16 lower-cost children’s mattresses from major retailers (specific brands and retailers are not named in the study). They tested them for potentially harmful substances like phthalates and flame retardants. 

The chemicals researchers tested for in these studies included plasticizers (such as phthalates), flame retardants, and UV-blocking chemicals, which are added to products to help them resist damage from sunlight. 

There’s evidence to show that exposure to these substances can increase the risk of various health harms, says Tracey Woodruff, PhD, professor and director of the Environmental Research and Translation for Health (EaRTH) Center at the University of California San Francisco, who wasn’t involved in the new studies. “And we know that children, particularly infants, are going to be more susceptible to increased risks from these chemicals,” she says. 

Compared with adults, young children inhale air at higher rates, have a higher ratio of skin surface to body weight, and have a propensity to put things—including their hands—in their mouths. That means their exposure can be much more significant than that of adults. 

Phthalates have been shown to be potential endocrine disruptors, meaning that they can interfere with the body’s hormone systems, and some have also been linked to the development of childhood asthma. Some flame-retardant chemicals are known carcinogens, while others have been linked to increased risks of behavioral problems in children. Some UV-blocking chemicals are also suspected endocrine-disrupting chemicals. 

Chemicals that pose similar health risks are of greater concern when you’re exposed to several of them together, Woodruff notes—which this new research suggests may be happening in children’s sleeping environments. “The fact that there is more than one exposure from these mattresses means that the risks are that much higher compared to if you were just exposed to one of the chemicals,” she says.

It all adds up to a need for better regulation, Woodruff says, and more action by the government to make sure harmful chemicals stay out of children’s products. “The burden should not be on parents, period.”

Finding a safer mattress is “a lot to ask of consumers when the hazards involved are highly technical, invisible, and long-term,” says CR’s Wallace. “Manufacturers of children’s mattresses should make this much easier by immediately removing any chemicals known to be harmful, and by working to give people safer options at all price points.”

Until regulators and manufacturers make these changes, here are some steps you can take to reduce your child’s exposure to harmful chemicals in their sleeping environment. 

Choose a safer mattress. Consumer Reports, as part of our ongoing partnership with Made Safe, evaluated 12 crib mattresses to recommend options that are safer for babies. We advise that parents avoid mattresses containing polyurethane foam, flame retardants, PFAS, and vinyl, and seek out ones that have trustworthy certifications like Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS). Such certifications aren’t an ironclad guarantee that a mattress is perfectly free from concerning substances. But they can be a useful tool for reducing risk.

Take care with mattress protectors and other bedding. A mattress protector may be important to protect your child’s mattress from nighttime accidents and other messes, but—like mattresses—these can also contain plasticizers or PFAS. Be sure to choose a mattress protector that has certifications demonstrating it is free of such chemicals. Or, if your child is older than one, Diamond suggests putting a cotton towel between your child’s sheets and the mattress instead. Be sure to wash mattress protectors, towels, and other bedding frequently, both for the sake of basic hygiene and because these items can absorb chemicals that the mattress may emit, according to Diamond. You may also want to buy children’s bedding in relatively neutral colors, since such bedding is less likely to need UV-blocking chemicals to keep the colors vibrant.

Declutter your child’s sleeping area. While mattresses were the biggest contributor, other items can also be sources of concerning chemicals. For infants, pillows, blankets, bumpers, and stuffies are already a no-go because they pose a suffocation hazard. But even once children are a little older, it’s wise to limit the number of toys and stuffed animals in their sleeping area, Diamond suggests—especially if you’re not sure whether or not they are made of safe materials.