Organic Mattresses and Your Baby's Health
When a woman is pregnant, we say she's "expecting". For soon-to-be mothers, that doesn't just mean she's expecting a baby - she's expecting giggles and coos, dirty diapers, tiny toes to keep warm, and a little one to help stay healthy for years and years to come. There's so much concern over the minutest choices a new mom makes, it's hard to keep it all straight. The most important detail I've ever heard regarding an infant in its first year is this - your new baby, between the ages of birth and one year, will sleep more than 70% of the time. Given that statistic, where your new baby sleeps is probably the most important decision you have to make before you welcome him or her into your house.
In a bit, we'll talk about the health benefits of an organic crib mattress and why it's best for your baby; but first, let's look at some of the dangers of traditional crib mattresses and how they might be linked to SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).
What is SIDS?
New and expecting mothers have heard about the danger of SIDS over and over again, but we're rarely given an answer. We're told the cause is unknown and that little can be done to prevent it. We'll wake up dozens of times during the night just to make sure our baby is breathing. We lay our babies on their sides, swaddled with blankets at their back, just to make sure they don't roll over and sleep in a prone position - a common belief of a contributor to SIDS.
However, new research has brought us closer to understanding what exactly may be the cause of SIDS. For dozens of years, new mothers may have been laying their babies down on the cause of SIDS - chemical-laden crib mattresses and portable crib mattresses.
Crib Mattresses and Their Relation to SIDS.
Unlike organic crib mattresses, the traditional crib mattress contains chemicals like arsenic, phosphorus, and antimony. These were added to the mattresses initially with the best of intentions, as they act as fire retardants. However, before manufacturers added these chemicals to their mattresses, SIDS was rarely heard of. Afterward, the death rate skyrocketed in newborns.
As more and more people began to look at the relationship between non-organic crib mattresses and portable crib mattresses and SIDS, science discovered a very scary possibility.
As crib mattresses start to age, these fire retardant chemicals react with ordinary household fungi (harmless fungi, at that) to create a very, very dangerous chemical reaction. The toxins emitted, as these compounds interact, are actually a thousand times more toxic than carbon monoxide.
While other factors like nutrition, smoking around the baby, and sleep position are still potentially factors in SIDS, given the research relating non-organic crib mattresses to fatal toxin release should be enough for new mothers to take a look at their portable and non-portable crib mattress purchases.
Why are Organic Crib Mattresses Better?
It's no secret that as new parents we want what's best for our babies - whether it's our first or our fifth. Buying organic baby products is a great step towards insuring the health of our children - not only because it's better for them right now, but because organically grown material is better for the environment as a whole. This is the same environment we will pass along to our children and their children in years to come.
Organic crib mattresses are produced without any of the harmful chemicals traditional non-portable and portable crib mattresses contain. They're made of 100% organic material, most of which is organic cotton. Organically grown cotton is great for the environment and absolutely the healthiest choice you can make for you and your family.
Because organic crib mattresses don't contain any of the harmful chemicals that could potentially be the cause of SIDS, you can put your baby to sleep knowing you're doing your absolute best for him or her. And, as I mentioned earlier, because new babies sleep over 70% of their first year, resting their heads on the safest material you can get is a big step towards insuring their future health.
What Kind of Organic Crib Mattress Should I Look For?
Buying organic baby items and organic household items can sometimes be tricky. In the grocery store, we're bombarded with labels claiming "pure" and "organic". But how do we know if they really are?
In order to meet federal regulations, before a company can stamp their product with "organic" they have to meet several requirements. This is the case, as well, with organic baby mattresses.
The material must meet standards like being produced from renewable resources and include the conservation of soil and water to ensure the health of the environment for the future. If a product is stamped as 100% organic, by federal law, it must be exactly that. It cannot contain ingredients that harm the environment or are synthetically produced.
When you're purchasing your new organic crib mattress or portable crib mattress, look for those that say 100% organic. Also make sure that it clearly states that they don't contain arsenic, phosphorus, or antimony. These two little steps will ensure that you're getting a mattress that is clean, safe, and perfect for your new little angel.