As a parent, shopping for non-toxic baby products can become a new and often challenging priority. With so many items to think about, your child’s crib mattress is often considered an afterthought, even when your baby will be spending 10-14 hours on it everyday.
While many companies stamp their crib mattresses with certain safety seals and certifications, government regulations aren’t very strict. What this means is that it’s easy for mattress manufacturers to make and sell crib mattresses with potentially harmful materials.
A team of environmental engineers at The University of Texas analyzed the foam padding and plastic covers of 20 new and old crib mattresses and found that they emitted volatile organic compounds — known as VOCs — similar to those found in lemon-scented sprays and other household items.
The study also revealed:
– New crib mattresses release about four times as many VOCs as old crib mattresses.
– Body heat increases emissions.
– Toxic chemical emissions are strongest in the sleeping infant’s immediate breathing zone.
Knowing these facts, it becomes extremely important for new parents to recognize the huge advantages — in terms of health, wellness, and safety — in choosing an organic crib mattress for your baby.
Here are three main reasons why choosing an organic crib mattress for your child is essential:
- No Toxic Flame Retardants
In order to meet federal flammability guidelines, flame retardants are sometimes added to crib mattresses to help pass these requirements. A common flame-retardant chemical that’s used to treat fabrics is antimony (i.e. antimony trioxide/pentoxide, sodium antimonate, and various halogen combinations). What’s more, antimony usually contains arsenic, a known poison and carcinogen.
Flame retardants have clear toxicity concerns, which is why Naturepedic makes sure that our organic crib mattresses are free from all flame-retardant chemicals. Since exposure to flame retardants has been linked to various health conditions for children, such as developmental problems with learning and motor skills, we’ve made it our priority to mitigate harmful flame retardants from our crib mattresses.
This way, new parents don’t have to worry about their baby’s sleep environment and can simply watch their little ones sleep soundly on a mattress that’s both fire-safe and flame retardant free.
- No Conventional Chemical Water-Proofing
Some crib mattresses have waterproof surfaces so the baby’s messes (like vomit and urine) and spills won’t soak through and penetrate the mattress, which means less risk of contamination from mold or mildew. However, many manufacturers use vinyl/PVC, phthalate plasticizers, perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), and/or other harmful chemicals to waterproof their crib mattresses. These materials will off-gas over time and leave the waterproof surface brittle, leading to flaking and chipping.
Our organic crib mattresses contain a healthier waterproofing alternative that’s free from these types of harmful materials. Naturepedic uses GOTS-approved materials to waterproof our organic cotton fabric in a patented process, and we even source our waterproofing from plant-based non GMO sugarcane. Derived from sugarcane, our food-grade polyethylene waterproofing is a renewable resource. So, your baby’s crib mattress can manage to be waterproof while still being healthier for them to rest on day and night.
- No Harmful Synthetic Fibers or Filling
In addition to the materials that make up the outside of a crib mattress, the filling and fabrics inside of the mattress are equally as important to your baby’s health and safety. The biggest difference between a conventional and an organic crib mattress is the fiber used to provide comfort and cushion.
Generally speaking, conventional crib mattresses will contain harmful synthetic fibers, polyurethane foam, conventional cotton, or fibers treated with flame retardants or other harsh chemicals. Plus, the batting (or filling) of the mattresses are typically made with polyester, which can cause respiratory tract irritation and severe skin rashes in babies. And if the mattress isn’t filled with polyester, it’s probably filled with conventional cotton or wool, which is especially concerning due to the heavy pesticide load and chemical treatments that factor into the processing of these materials.
Some conventional crib mattresses have decided to forgo waterproofing to avoid those harsh chemicals, but at Naturepedic, we don’t think you should have to make any allowances when it comes to your baby’s hygienic, breathable, or chemical safety. Naturepedic mattresses meet all the organic certifications requirements, while also being your baby’s best option by using materials like organic cotton which are a much safer alternative to their chemical-laden counterparts.
Our goal is always to make the purchasing process easier for parents. Let us know if you have any other questions we can answer for you. Give us a call at The Organic Sleep Shop 704-835-1057.
Blog post by Naturepedic
