Protecting Your Baby from SIDS with a Nontoxic Crib Mattress
We often talk about crib safety when discussing the fit and form of a baby mattress, but did you know that the toxins in your baby’s crib mattress may actually be a cause of SIDS or crib death? Although many doctors and health care practitioners have yet to recognize the danger, the toxic gas theory for crib death is gaining acceptance, with many concerned parents looking for nontoxic crib mattresses to prevent the occurrences of such devastating events.
But how can the toxins in a mattress cause SIDS or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome? Whether you can smell it or not, if you bought a regular baby mattress, it likely is releasing dangerous, deadly, toxic nerve gases that your baby will breathe in and absorb through his or her skin.
Here are some of the more frightening chemicals used to manufacture a conventional baby mattress:
- PVC plastic: Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is a plastic that contains phthalates, a class of chemicals that are considered to be hormone disruptors and can contribute to liver and kidney problems. Baby mattresses are often covered with this soft plastic to prevent moisture damage.
- Flame retardants: What might seem like a good and noble thing may actually be quite dangerous! Chemicals are used on most furniture to make them flame retardant, but these chemicals (including formaldehyde) can cause a vast array of health problems, including weight loss, reproductive system problems, stomach pain and vomiting, and heart and lung conditions. One flame retardant in particular, decabromodiphenyl oxide (DBDPO), has been associated with developmental neurotoxicity.
- Water- and Stain-repellents: To keep your baby’s mattress looking pristine, some companies also apply water and stain repellent chemicals. One water-repellent— perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)—is actually considered a carcinogen.
So what is a concerned parent to do? If you’ve already purchased a regular mattress, you may be able to protect your baby by purchasing a mattress cover made from organic cotton and an under blanket. But if you’re in the market for a new, nontoxic baby mattress, look for the following characteristics:
- PVC-free construction.
- Natural latex foam instead of petroleum-based foam.
- Free of flame-retardant, water-repellent, and stain-repellent finishes.
- Organic cotton.
- Organic wool
| Next > |
|---|