Organic Crib Mattress - Benefits
A mattress is one of the most significant items you can purchase when you are expecting a new baby. Why? First, your new baby will undoubtedly spend over 70% of their time sleeping in their crib. All new parents want the best for their babies, and a comfortable and safe mattress is no exception.
Many people are becoming aware of the importance of avoiding products that are created without the use of harmful toxins and other materials which are harmful to us and the environment, and since we spend so much of our time in bed, this has special importance to our babies.
Therefore purchasing an mattress for your baby has many health benefits. While we will look at these, let's initially look at some possible problems with the crib mattresses that have been the standard for years.
Traditional Mattresses - The Problems
Mattresses have been produced basically in an unchanged manner for years. To protect the outside of the mattress against the likely diaper spill event, these mattresses are encased with a impervious vinyl covering. The soft inner fiber used to stuff the mattress looks strangely similar to the insulation that is used to fill our home ceiling and wall cavities. Although this makes for a moisture-proof mattress and one that is comfortable, there are toxins used in the chemicals used to make the stuffing fire-proof.
These chemicals that are used in these traditional mattresses are potentially very unhealthy to our babies. Chemicals that are used in these typical mattresses off-gas and the babies breath these gasses while they are sleeping. Phosphorus, antimony and arsenic are some of the chemicals that are used in the manufacture of the typical crib mattress. While there isn't actual proof that the use of these chemicals in these mattresses is related to SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome), what is known is that after chemicals were initially added to crib mattresses, the incidents of SIDS rose dramatically.
While the chemicals used for the filling are bad enough, the moisture-proof vinyl covering has various potential health hazards as well. According to the FDA, the vinyl that has been used in the moisture-proof outer layer has been known to cause allergic reactions in many humans. Another issue with the moisture-proof vinyl outer layer is that this material does not breath and restricts air flow. When you consider that in conjunction with the chemicals used inside the traditional crib mattress it gets pretty scary. Even though the vinyl outer layer is moisture-proof, these chemicals can still leach through it and your baby can breath the gasses while inside the crib. The good news is that an organic crib mattress offers a safe and healthy option.
The Organic Crib Mattress
Nowadays most mattress manufacturers claim to have mattress options, and for the most part, they all do. However, they mostly use slightly different outer layer and filling materials. Since there are many safe and healthy options available today, understand that you are not looking for just one option when shopping for an organic mattress. Some items you ought to look for in an organic mattress include:
The use of 100% organic cotton and wool - both in the filling and the outer layer of the crib. There are not any herbicides or pesticides used on organically grown cotton crops.
The fire retardants that are used in organic mattresses are organic.
As we mentioned before, the chemicals that are used in traditional mattresses, to protect against fire can have serious health effects. In-crib fire barriers are required per governmental regulations. Organic fire retardants such as baking soda, hydrated silica, cellulose fiber and wool, which is a natural fire retardant, are some of the products you should look for. These are all natural alternatives that may meet the fire protection requirement of crib mattresses.
The Use of Recycled Materials.
Some mattress manufacturers in reality, produce use of recycled materials in the production of their products. A company called Pixel Organics uses recycled plastic bottles in their mattresses. These eco-friendly methods are a great way for a manufacturer to supply an environmentally-friendly product to the consumer.
Where You Can Find One
Nearly every crib mattress manufacturer now offers an organic crib mattress option. The one you select on will depend largely on your budget. Expect to spend anywhere between $100 and $600 for an organic crib mattress. Just be sure to do your research, and obtain assurances that all organic materials are used in its manufacture. In your search for an organic crib mattress, be sure to use the materials contained herein as a good beginning point.
