SIDS: Safe Sleep with Safe Mattresses

Today’s guest post is from Angela, who can usually be found blogging over at  www.BeGreenBeHappy.com.

Many times SIDS is unexplainable. Luckily we know what to avoid to reduce the risk of it happening. A baby spends an average of 16 hours sleeping and much of that will be within inches of their sleep surface…the mattress. What you may not know is mattresses can contain an array of harmful chemicals. These toxic chemicals can increase the risk of SIDS and are not contained by a mattress cover. Among them you will find Flame Retardants. It is required by federal law that a mattress is resistant to fire. Although there are safer alternatives, most mattresses contain cheap, toxic chemical retardants.

Many chemicals used in crib mattresses are linked to:

• Lung and heart problems
• Skin irritation
• ADHD
• SIDS
• Cancer

Some fire retardants are:

• Antimony- A highly toxic metal that is applied to the fabric inside a mattress. This is almost always used with halogen flame retardants. You can also find it in vinyl. The manufacturing process is also very toxic. (Can be found in PET plastic bottles!!)
• Boric Acid- This is also added to interior fabric. Although it is lower in toxicity, it is still bad for the eyes and lungs and can cause irritation.
• Halogenated Flame RetardantS (HFRS)- Bromine and chlorine. Bromine has replaced what was once used and now banned, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). You may have heard of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). These have been found to be toxic and are slowly being phased out. Products purchased before 2005 may still contain PBDEs.
• Some SAFE fire retardants are hydrated silica and wool.

Other toxins you will find:

• Vinyl- A plastic used on the outside to make the mattress waterproof. Vinyl contains phthalates and heavy metals, like lead, to make it soft and flexible. It requires toxic chemicals during every step of production.
• Polyurethane Foam- Another plastic made from petroleum. It is used in the internal structure. It burns easily so it requires fire retardants and in most cases it will contain VOC’s. The VOC’s in polyurethane foam leak into the air and make the indoor air more toxic than outside.
• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)- can include isocyanates and toluene. They can cause headaches and irritate the eyes, nose and throat. They can also damage the liver, kidney, and central nervous system causing loss of coordination and nausea. Some cause cancer after long term exposure.
• Antibacterials-example: STAPH-GARD®. These are registered as pesticides with the EPA. The formulations can vary and for the most part unknown because the ingredients are kept secret. The overuse of antibacterials can cause super resistant bacteria.

As parents, we do the best we can to keep our children safe from apparent dangers. The problem is, there are toxic chemicals leaking from products that we are made to believe are safe for children and babies. It is unfortunate but companies do not have to label the chemicals used to make their products. I wanted to share this because I didn’t know this with my first child and made the mistake of buying the cheapest mattress there was at Walmart.

I DO NOT WANT YOU TO MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE I DID!

This is the mattress we tossed after three years. It started to shred like this after only a year of use.

Covered in vinyl and full of toxic flame retardants

How to choose a safe mattress for your baby?

Expect to pay an average of $200-$400 for a good crib mattress. You will want organic cotton and wool. The cheapest non-toxic mattress on the market is a Lullaby Earth Mattress which is made entirely of recyclable food grade plastic. They run $160-$200. Contact companies directly and ask lots of questions. Those willing to give you details on the materials used are more likely to be trusted. Don’t buy a mattress just because is says it is organic. It could still be covers with vinyl and fire retardants! Ick! Please refer to this article for some safe mattress brands, “The Mattress Matters.” Do keep in mind. The mattresses in the article were not tested. The information is based on what the company provided. So, it’s a good start, but it may need some further investigation. Sources:

• www.womensvoices.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Mattress-Matters-11.2.11-final.pdf
• www.healthyenvironmentforkids.ca/sites/healthyenvironmentforkids.ca/files/cpche-resources/The_Right_Start.pdf
• healthychild.org/blog/comments/new_report_on_toxics_in_crib_mattresses/

About the author: Angela Vullo is a work-at-home mom who is passionate about living green. She writes for many blogs and enjoys sharing her research to help make the world a better place. She spends her free time creating in the kitchen and playing with her two little boys. You can read more of her articles on her blog www.BeGreenBeHappy.com.