A Guide to Safer Bedding
Updated: Jul 23
You can shop my safer bedding Amazon lists here.
As a realistically crunchy mom, this topic creates a bit of internal conflict for me. On one hand, I think it’s an important priority, because we spend multiple hours every single day in direct contact with the fabrics we sleep on.
But on the other hand, quality bedding is expensive.
It’s an investment. I get it. Especially with something like a mattress that can last 10 years or more, it may absolutely be money well spent in the long run. But I can only speak for my own family when I say we don’t have thousands of dollars lying around to get every member of our household top-tier bedding at the moment. It’s in our “slowly but surely” budget, but we just aren’t there yet. And that’s okay!
Avoiding Synthetic Fibers
Many bedding fabrics today are made with synthetic materials like polyester, microfiber, or fleece - which are essentially plastic-based fibers.
Since we spend so many hours every night directly on our bedding, I personally prefer more natural, breathable fibers when possible.
Natural Fiber Options
The top natural fiber options typically are: cotton, linen, wool, silk, and hemp.
Bamboo viscose/rayon is another option, but it gets a little tricky. Bamboo itself is natural, but the process used to turn it into soft fabric is often fairly chemical-intensive. Some newer manufacturing methods are considered cleaner, but they’re less common.
Cotton: Organic vs Conventional
Cotton is probably the most popular option since it’s the most affordable and accessible.
Conventional cotton farming commonly relies on synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers, and some additional chemical treatments may also be used during fabric processing and finishing. This doesn’t necessarily mean conventional cotton bedding is “bad,” but organic is going to be less heavily processed.
At the end of the day, I would choose organic when possible. But if it’s not in the budget, I would still personally prefer regular cotton over a plastic-based fiber.
Helpful Labels to Look For
GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) - one of the leading certifications for organic textiles. Requires a high percentage of certified organic fibers and also places standards on chemical processing and manufacturing practices.
GOLS (Global Organic Latex Standard) - certification for organic latex materials used in products like mattresses and pillows. Requires a high percentage of certified organic latex and sets certain processing standards as well.
GREENGUARD - tests products for VOC emissions and screens for hundreds of chemicals to help identify lower-emission indoor products.
OEKO-TEX - tests textiles for a wide range of potentially harmful substances and chemical residues in the finished product.
In general, GOTS and GOLS are often considered the more comprehensive “organic” certifications, while GREENGUARD and OEKO-TEX are more focused on emissions and chemical testing.
Safer Bedding Brands (non-exhaustive)
Safer Pillows: Filling
Many conventional pillows use synthetic materials and may contain added flame-retardant treatments or other chemical finishes. Instead, look for pillows that are made with more natural materials that are naturally less flammable to help reduce the need for additional chemical treatments.
Fill options to consider:
buckwheat
organic kapok
100% cotton fill
wool fill
GOLS-certified organic latex
non-GMO sugarcane-derived PLA
Fill options to avoid:
gel
memory foam
petroleum-derived polyester batting (polyfill)
polyurethane foam
Safer Pillows: Sizing for Kids
When it comes to children, just as important as the material is the size. You want to avoid pillows that are too high for the child’s neck and spine. When a pillow is too elevated, it can push the head too far forward or sideways during sleep, placing unnecessary strain on the neck and disrupting natural alignment.
Adjustable pillows are a great option because you can add or remove filling as needed to best for your child. Or “low-fill” options.
Pillow Brands (non-exhaustive)
Mattress Brands (non-exhaustive)
Mattress companies are not always required to publicly disclose every chemical or material used in their mattresses, especially when proprietary foams, adhesives, or fabric treatments are involved. Because of this, many people prefer brands that offer greater transparency and third-party certifications for materials and emissions.
But let’s not lose sleep over not being able to drop thousands on “better” mattresses for every bed in the house. We certainly can’t at the moment.
Instead, I’ve focused on what’s realistically in my control: using organic cotton sheets and protectors where I can, and airing out new mattresses in fresh air/direct sunlight to help reduce off-gassing (the temporary release of “new mattress” odors and VOCs after unpackaging), etc.
The switch to a lower tox home is a gradual one, and honestly never a perfect one. And that’s okay! Like I said earlier, an area where I’d like to be better, but am nowhere near perfect…our bedding. On one hand I think it’s an important priority, because we spend multiple hours every single day in direct contact with the fabrics we sleep on. However, quality bedding can be EXPENSIVE. So we’ve definitely been picking and choosing battles within this sphere.
As of writing this, this is our current bedding lineup.
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