The mattress was delivered quickly and took about 5 minutes to completely fluff up. While there was a smell for a few days, it didn't seem overly powerful and smelled like fabric, not chemicals. We also bought the waterproof cover and it works great. This was the best option for us, as it's priced in the middle of a regular mattress and an all latex mattress. It makes me feel good knowing my kid is sleeping on natural materials.