Our youngest is graduating to a big-girl bed, which is exciting for her and daunting for my husband and I. We are now on the hunt for an eco-friendly, sustainable, healthy mattress and bed. Oh, and it would really be great if they were cost effective as well. Research done by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) has shown that kids’ and babies’ developing bodies are especially vulnerable to chemicals in the environment, so we want to make sure the things we can control in our children’s environment are as nontoxic as possible. Most conventional mattresses are made with synthetic fibers or foam — both of which do not biodegrade — and conventional cotton or wool stuffing that can be processed with pesticides and other chemicals.

Holy Lamb Organics

I am a huge fan of Holy Lamb Organics. I have written about the company’s dedication to zero waste and its amazing product line. The company has done thorough research of organic mattresses made in the U.S. and offers three types that it considers the best: a latex mattress option, an all-wool mattress option and a spring mattress option. Below is an overview of all three. Organic latex mattresses

• The core of the mattress is a Natural Dunlop rubber latex core (not synthetic).
• The encasement of the mattress is made from certified organic cotton and Eco-Wool.
• There are no toxic fire retardants or glues on or in the mattresses. The Eco-Wool batting makes it naturally fire retardant.
• The mattresses are manufactured in upstate New York.

All-wool mattresses

• The core of the mattress is pure Eco-Wool.
• The encasement of the mattress is made from certified organic wool.
• There are no toxic fire retardants or glues on or in the mattresses. The Eco-Wool batting makes it naturally fire retardant.
• The mattresses are made by hand by second-generation mattress makers in Northern California.
• An all-wool bed is naturally dust mite-free.

Spring mattress options

• The core of the mattress is made with spring coils utilizing 95% recycled steel.
• The outer layer of the encasement of the mattress is made from certified organic cotton and Eco-Wool, and the batting is certified organic cotton batting from the Texas Organic Cotton Marketing Cooperative.
• There are no toxic fire retardants or glues on or in the mattresses. The Eco-Wool batting makes it naturally fire retardant.
• The mattresses are manufactured in upstate New York.

For more information about Holy Lamb Organics, visit holylamborganics.com.

Pacific Rim Woodworking

For my daughter’s bed, my husband and I would like to purchase something from a company that embraces sustainability. One company we have been impressed with is Pacific Rim Woodworking. This company is committed to providing a product that is made with minimal environmental impact, is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified and is also constructed to withstand generations of use. Pacific Rim Woodworking makes a beautiful bunk bed that would be perfect with the size restraints we are working within (as our daughter shares a room with her older sister). The nearest retail location to me is in Minneapolis, which is about 235 miles away. However, we do visit the area often, so that really is not a concern. All of the Pacific Rim furniture is built in Eugene, OR, and the company donates leftover wood to schools and community centers. Leftover sawdust is used for compost. For more information about Pacific Rim Woodworking, visit pacificrimwoodworking.com.