
Our Verdict
Our Analysis and Test Results
Avocado started in 2016 after a disappointing effort to find a healthier mattress showed a lot of greenwashing and what Avocado calls “gray area” in the industry. Finding a green, non-toxic, natural mattress proved to be a difficult venture. Avocado is designed in Hoboken and made in California. Their goal is to create ethical, sustainable mattresses that are natural and affordable.
Materials
We really appreciated the transparent list of natural materials used in the Avocado, which is why it earned a high score in this metric.
The Avocado uses GOLS-certified latex, coconut coir, GOTS-certified organic cotton, and organic wool. The details they provide are like nothing we've ever seen, and it is clear they have set out to create a mattress they'd want for their own babies. The mattress tag states:
Cover- 100% GOTS Organic Certified Stretch Cotton
Border- 100% GOTS Organic Certified Stretch Cotton
Closing Tape- Natural GOTS Organic Certified Cotton Tape (Green)
INFANT SIDELayer 1- 100% GOTS organic certified Needle Punch Wool - Needle punched to provide extra breathability
Layer 2- 100% GOTS organic certified Cotton Jersey
Layer 3- 3" GOLS organic certified Coconut Pad- D80- Firm (we use D65 on the very top of our standard green mattress, whereas the Coconut Pad we use on the infant side would rate D80 in comparison - scale of 1-100 w/100 being the firmest)
TODDLER SIDE
Layer 1- 100% GOTS organic certified Needle Punch Wool- Needle punched to provide extra breathability
Layer 2- 100% GOTS-certified Jersey Cotton
Layer 3- 2"100% Organic Dunlop Latex- D75/ ILD 20-25-Medium - provide support/give for toddlers
Layer 4- 0.5" Coconut Pad
Also, it is worth stating that the company takes strides to produce and assemble the materials in as environmentally friendly way as possible, stating that they are a Certified-B Corporation, they are in the 1% for the Planet® Pinnacle Award winner, have been climate neutral since 2019, and are working toward zero waste manufacturing.
Sheet Changing
The Avocado did not score well in our tests for sheet changes.
The Avocado weighs 25.6 lbs, making it the heaviest option in the group, with the closest competitor weighing almost 4 lbs less. Thanks to the latex core layer for the toddler side, this beast of a mattress is harder to lift.
It is also a high-quality option with firm edges and a snug fit, so lifting it and holding it up to put a new sheet on could be a challenge for petite parents or when the mattress platform is lower.
Crib Fit
The Avocado struggled in some of our test cribs, earning a lower score than most in this metric.
As one tester put it, “The fit is really tight, and I think it's like wrestling an alligator to get it out of the crib.” While the mattress itself didn't measure that much bigger than the average option, it was still a snug fit in some of our cribs.
While it fits in all of them, it was so tight in a couple of options that we think it would be frustrating to pair the two over time. We recommend testing the mattress with your chosen crib before the return window has passed.
Should You Buy the Avocado Organic?
The Avocado Organic is a really cool mattress if your budget is big enough. We love that this dual-sided mattress uses GOLS-certified latex and coconut coir to create two different firmness levels for growing babies. We also like the organic wool batting and cotton cover, which combine to create one of the most natural and transparent mattresses we've ever seen. We'd recommend this option to families concerned with materials and avoiding VOCs who have a budget big enough to bring this one home.
What Other Crib Mattresses Should You Consider?
The Avocado is expensive and heavy; either factor could make it a deal breaker for some families. If you don't mind man-made materials, the Babyletto Pure Core with Dry Waterproof Cover is half the weight of the Avocado and incorporates a waterproof cover. It is also less expensive and can save you money. Alternatively, if you want to stay on the more natural side, the My Green Mattress Emily Natural uses an innerspring structure with coconut coir and wool batter similar to the Avocado, coming in almost 6 lbs lighter, with a lower price.