An Organic DIY Child’s Mattress (with Room to Grow)
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Why Build an Organic DIY Child’s Mattress?
Your child is constantly growing, so shouldn’t their mattress grow with them too?
This organic DIY child’s mattress design makes it easy to start with a thinner, lower-profile mattress that’s perfect for small bodies, and then expand the height as they grow.
Using an expandable zippered mattress cover, you can begin with just a few inches of latex and wool, then add more layers over time. It’s a smarter, more cost-effective approach than buying a new mattress every few years, and way more comfortable than those flimsy “kid beds” sold in stores.
Even better, you can choose organic materials that are breathable, durable, and free from the synthetic chemicals found in most conventional mattresses.
Your Child Deserves a Safe & Clean Bed
Many mass-produced children’s beds are made with polyurethane foams, flame-retardant chemicals, and adhesives that can off-gas for years.
A 2019 study published in Environmental Pollution found that children are especially vulnerable to the VOCs (volatile organic compounds) released from these materials during sleep.
By choosing organic latex, wool, and cotton, you’re creating a healthy sleep environment that supports your child’s development.
I built my child’s mattress myself, so I know exactly what she’s sleeping on
A Customizable Organic DIY Child’s Mattress That Lasts
Skip the synthetic store-bought stuff. This DIY mattress is made from organic latex and wool, and grows with your child over time.
Materials
Instructions
- Start by unzipping your expandable mattress cover and laying the bottom flat on your child’s bed frame. For little ones, slatted bed bases work great, just be sure the slats are no more than 3″ apart to keep everything stable and well-supported.
- Begin with a single 3″ slab of latex foam placed directly into the bottom of the cover. Choose a firmness that suits your child’s age and weight – soft or medium tends to work best for younger, lighter children. Medium or even firm is best for older or heavier kids.
- Add a 2″ latex topper on top of the support slab. This adds softness and airflow without too much height. It also gives a bit of extra squish that younger sleepers tend to find comfy.
- Layer the sheets of organic wool batting on top of the latex. Wool helps regulate temperature and wicks away moisture, which is a huge bonus for sweaty sleepers and kids who tend to run warm.
- Carefully zip up the cover, making sure all the layers stay aligned and nothing gets caught in the zipper. Trust us when we say that the wool is going to try and get in your way. Fight back and be patient. We promise you’ll prevail in the end.
- That’s it! When your child gets bigger or starts asking for “a taller bed like yours,” simply unzip the expansion zipper and add another 3″ latex slab. You’ll probably want to use the new latex as a firmer support layer (so it goes on the bottom of your latex stack) to allow the mattress to grow in support of your sprout getting bigger and heavier.
Notes
Expandable by design:
This mattress uses a zippered cover with a hidden expansion panel that can extend the mattress up to six more inches, allowing you to add more latex as your child grows. It’s a build-once, upgrade-as-needed kind of deal. No need to buy a whole new mattress every few years.
Layer swaps, made simple:
If your child’s sleep preferences change (or they develop new needs due to weight, height, or health), you can easily swap out the comfort layer without disrupting the rest of the build. That’s the beauty of a DIY mattress.
All-natural materials:
The latex, wool, and cotton used in this build are all breathable, durable, and free from synthetic foams, glues, or flame retardants. That means no off-gassing, better airflow, and a naturally temperature-regulating surface.
Low profile, high function:
Starting with just a 5″ profile (3″ latex support layer + 2″ latex comfort layer) makes this mattress easy for young kids to get in and out of. It’s great for bunk beds or trundle setups, too.
Custom comfort over time:
By the time your child is in their tween (and then teen) years, you’ll likely want to add another layer or two of latex to increase overall height and support. Just unzip, stack, and zip again. Easy.
Easy to source components:
We suggest some possible vendors for your organic DIY child’s mattress components, but there are many options. Check out our Where to Buy pages for many more latex support and comfort layer suppliers. These blueprints are just jumping off points… You are the ultimate decider of what you use and where you source it. What else would you expect from a rebel?
The video below ⬇️ from our friends at DIY Natural Home demonstrates the making of a child’s mattress enclosed in an organic cotton zippered cover.
In this video, she’s using an expandable cover, but the one she’s working with is twill rather than knit. It’s still the same general idea, and both are available on their website.
She also uses wool batting, as does our blueprint above, but she wraps the entire latex foam in wool, whereas we suggest just arranging the wool batting across the top of the latex slab. It’s personal preference, really. You do you, boo.
