Alarming research suggests that the gases emitted from mattresses treated with various chemicals, including most adult, bassinet, and crib mattresses, may be associated with sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). When naturally occurring fungi grow in the mattress they react with these chemicals producing a toxic gas cloud that hovers just above the baby’s bed. Turning babies onto their backs to sleep has resulted in a dramatic decrease in deaths, because the babies’ noses are no longer stuffed into the mattress where the concentration of gases is highest, claims New Zealand researcher James Sprott. Wrap all mattresses in polyethylene sheeting (at least 5 mil in thickness), available at hardware stores, to seal the gases into the mattress. Since a mattress-wrapping campaign was initiated in 1994, the rate of SIDS has dropped by 48 percent in New Zealand and no infants sleeping on mattresses that were wrapped in polyethylene have died. A study published in the British Medical Journal * confirmed that crib mattresses contribute to SIDS.
This study sought to examine whether infants who died without obvious cause were more likely to sleep on a used mattress. Dr. Sprott contends that older, used mattresses will contain more fungus growth and release more toxic gas. This new study, conducted in Scotland, lends further credence to Dr. Sprott’s findings. This research study investigated whether infants who slept on a previously used mattress were more likely to die of SIDS. In this study conducted between 1996 and 2000, these researchers confirmed their previous findings from 1997. They discovered that, “Routine use of an infant mattress previously used by another child was significantly associated with an increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome.” The authors of this new study do not assert a cause and effect relationship between SIDS and used infant mattresses, nor do they discuss the toxic gas theory. An accompanying editorial in the same issue of the British Medical Journal discusses the possible role of bacterial accumulation in the mattresses.
Toxic bacteria could grow on saliva, urine or milk that have soaked into the mattress from a previous child. However, the editorial reviews no evidence that these infants have died of any bacterial infections. This new evidence should reinforce every parent’s resolve to wrap their infant’s mattress with polyethylene. This includes the bassinet, the crib, or the parents’ own mattress if they sleep with their baby. * Tappin, D., et al. Used infant mattresses and sudden infant death syndrome in Scotland: case-control study, British Medical Journal, 2002;325:1007 (2 November). HOW TO WRAP A BABY’S MATTRESS FOR SIDS PREVENTION Instructions written by James Sprott The advice to wrap mattresses applies to every mattress on which a baby sleeps (except a BabeSafe mattress) and includes: adults’ mattresses; mattresses of other children; and all mattresses made of or containing natural products such as sheepfleeces, goatskins, kapok, tree bark, coconut fibre, etc.
The most convenient way to wrap a baby’s mattress is by means of a BabeSafe mattress cover. As an alternative, parents can purchase polyethylene sheeting to make their own mattress wraps. If they select this option, the following instructions apply: 1. Use thick, clear (not colored) polyethylene sheeting, available in the paint section of your local hardware store. The thickness of the polyethylene must be at least 125 microns, or 5 mil. On no account should PVC be used for wrapping mattresses. 2. Place the polyethylene over the top of the mattress and down the ends and sides, and then secure it firmly beneath the mattress with strong adhesive or duct tape. 3. The polyethylene should not be airtight on the underside of the mattress. 4. It is imperative to use the correct bedding with a BabeSafe mattress or BabeSafe mattress cover or polyethylene-covered mattress. On top of the polyethylene place a fleecy pure cotton underblanket and tuck this in securely. Then make the bed using sheets and pure woollen or pure cotton overblanket/s.
5. Do not use any of the following items in your baby’s bed: Any form of moisture-resistant mattress protector 6. Proprietary mattresses and mattress covers must not be used unless they carry the Campaign against Cot Death logo or are accompanied by a certificate of analysis showing that they contain no detectable phosphorus, arsenic or antimony (lower limit of detection 0.001% = 10mg/kg = 10ppm). For more information about baby mattress issues read the articles at the healthychild website.The IP address used for your Internet connection is part of a subnet that has been blocked from access to PubMed Central. Addresses across the entire subnet were used to download content in bulk, in violation of the terms of the PMC Copyright Notice. Use of PMC is free, but must comply with the terms of the Copyright Notice on the PMC site. For additional information, or to request that your IP address be unblocked, For requests to be unblocked, you must include all of the information in the box above in your message.
Are organic crib mattresses safer for babies? What are the risks of traditional crib mattresses and are organic crib mattresses worth the extra money? What about breathable crib mattresses? If you’re buying a crib mattress you’ll be bombarded with online ads for products that are supposedly safer, but the truth is the science behind crib mattress safety is limited. Here’s what we know: Pthalates and other known toxic chemicals related to PVC are commonly used in crib mattresses and mattress covers: Phthalates are common in our environment because they are used in the processing of plastic, especially in the softening of vinyl and PVC. Phthalates are not bonded to the vinyl so they are easily and invisibly sloughed off onto our hands, or into the mouths of children with oral habits. They can also be inhaled into the lungs. A recent shows that the baby’s warm body temperature actually increases the release of pthalates from the crib mattress. The authors write, “In infant sleep microenvironments, an increase in the temperature of mattress can cause a significant increase in emission of phthalates from the mattress cover and make the concentration in the infant’s breathing zone about four times higher than that in the bulk room air, resulting in potentially high exposure.”
Phthalates, which are restricted in children’s toys, are permitted in mattresses because these items are not technically “toys.” California has banned pthalates in crib mattresses. Phthalates are also found in PVC, including the PVC piping used for home drainage pipes. Have you ever wondered why we use PVC piping for home drainage pipes but not home water supply pipes? It’s because PVC contains phthalates. As a society we have decided not to use phthalates in children’s toys and home water supply pipes. But pthalates are still permitted in crib mattresses. Exposure to phthalates is associated with disorders of hormonal regulation including diabetes, obesity, early puberty, and infertility. Phthalate exposure is also associated with ADHD, cancer, and a host of other disorders. Crib mattresses can emit toxic gasses: Many chemicals used in the plastics and foams of crib mattresses can evaporate at room temperature, resulting in toxic gasses. These chemicals are called “Volatile Organic Compounds” or VOCs.
A recent identified some of the VOCs found in crib mattresses. The authors write, “[VOC gas concentrations] were greater for new mattresses compared to used ones and were influenced by the type of foam material and the presence of mattress cover layer. A variety of VOCs were identified, with polyurethane foam releasing a greater diversity of VOCs compared to polyester foam.” Flame retardants, such as PBTE and chlorinated-TRIS, are required on crib mattresses in most states: PBDEs (polybrominated diphenyl ethers) were used as a flame retardant for crib mattresses in the past. They are known to interfere with thyroid function. Poor thyroid function during infant development results in mental retardation. PBDEs were banned in Europe and some U.S. states after they were found to be accumulating in blood and breast milk. New crib mattresses now contain other flame retardants, such as chlorinated-TRIS. This cancer-causing toxin was banned in children’s sleepwear but is still used on some crib mattresses.
Manufacturers don’t have to tell you what chemicals they are using as a flame retardant on their mattresses. Even mattresses made from organic materials such as cotton and wool still have to have flame retardants added. Many infants die of SIDS while sleeping on crib mattresses: That doesn’t mean that the crib mattress caused SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome), but there is a theory that toxic fumes from crib mattresses could be related to SIDS. There is limited research on this hypothesis in the pediatric medical literature. We do know that the best way to prevent SIDS and infant suffocation is to put babies to sleep on their backs and remove suffocation hazards from the crib. Many companies are now marketing breathable crib mattresses that allow a baby to breath even if sleeping face down. Organic crib mattresses aren’t necessarily safe crib mattresses: Just because a crib mattress is labeled as “organic” doesn’t mean your baby will sleep safely. Many organic fibers, such wool, use chemicals in processing and still have flame retardants added.