When my daughters were babies, I would sing, swaddle and shush them before I put them in their crib. I considered it a win if they slept through the night. But a recent study by the University of Texas at Austin means parents have more to worry about. The study of foam from 20 old and new crib mattresses found that mattresses release up to 30 different types of volatile organic compounds, also known as VOCs, among them, phenol, a strong skin and respiratory irritant. The study detected other chemicals, including linalool and limonene, known fragrance allergens that can cause skin allergies. Repeated exposure over time increases the chances of an allergic reaction. The Texas researchers discovered that the sleeping zone of the crib gave off the most intense VOC fumes. New crib mattresses released four times as much as old cribs. These results are especially troubling because infants’ respiratory systems are fragile, many babies spend much of their first year of life in a crib, and body heat intensifies emissions.
Which mattresses are the worst? The study doesn’t name crib mattress brands or manufacturers. But you can find some answers elsewhere. A report called “Flame Retardants Finally Fade,” released last year by Clean and Healthy New York, a non-profit environmental health group, supplies names of crib mattress brands that use wool or other coatings to limit fumes and that don’t use persistent flame retardant chemicals. So how is it legal for crib mattresses and nap mats to release potentially harmful chemicals? Blame the broken federal toxics law -- the Toxic Substances Control Act, enacted in 1976 and never updated. This weak law assumes chemicals on the market are safe. Organizations like EWG, the Center for Environmental Health, Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families and academic researchers have to show a chemical is unsafe before it is taken off the market. The burden of proof is so difficult to meet that theadministration of President George H.W. Bush couldn’t ban asbestos, a known carcinogen.
This backwards system makes it easy for thoughtless manufacturers to peddle toxic baby mattresses. Despite bipartisan interest in reforming the federal toxics law, the two most recent legislative drafts in Congress wouldn’t help much. Earlier this month, Rep. John Shimkus (R-Pa.) circulated a draft of a bill we call “More Toxic Chemicals in Commerce” bill. This proposal would actually make it easier for toxic chemicals to flood the market. Our detailed analysis is here. On the Senate side, Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) is sponsoring a proposal called the Chemical Safety Improvement Act. It’s actually worse than the 1976 law. We’ve also done detailed analysis here. We need real change, like the reform outlined in the Safe Chemicals Act championed by Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.). This bill would make sure that chemicals are proven safe for children before they go on the market. So what do we do while we’re waiting for Congress to act? Here are five steps you can take:
1. Air out your crib mattress or use a recycled crib mattress, but don’t hang onto a crib mattress made before 2009 because it may contain toxic phthalates. Don’t use a crib mattress made in China. Some contain banned flame retardants. Older mattresses can harbor mold. 2. Buy organic wool mattresses if your budget allows. They are often expensive. 3. Look for certifications by Green Guard or Oeko-Tek. They test mattresses for chemicals that release fumes. 4. Tell your member of Congress to support the Safe Chemicals Act. Any one of these steps can help us all sleep better at night.Skip links Skip to primary navigation Skip to content Skip to footer Vibrant health means you can live life to the fullest. Empower yourself with the steps I used to free my life of chronic disease and medications. I’m an author, entrepreneur, and nutritional therapy practitioner (NTP). I began this website at 19, to share the steps that freed my life of chronic disease and medication.
Now, Empowered Sustenance has reached 30 million readers with healthy recipes and holistic resources. Essential Oils for Brain FunctionBurn 600 Calories Sitting, and 6 other Infrared Sauna BenefitsThrive Market: The Netflix of FoodMeal Plans, Customized Exactly for YOUHolistic Hair CareeBooks from Mommypotamus The Busy Mama’s Guide to Getting Dinner On The TableSubscribe to my newsletter and receive this FREE GUIDE along with exclusive coupons, links to recommended products, and much more! I'm Heather, aka The Mommypotamus. I’m a wife, mom, real food lover, research geek, and amateur homesteader. Don’t miss these popular posts Why I Ditched Meal Plans For Real PlansSafe Essential Oils For Babies And ChildrenMTHFR Gene Mutations: A Beginner’s GuideHow To Really Increase Happiness In 5 Minutes A Day15 Ways To Be Kind To Your AdrenalsAnd you thought choosing a name was hard.Navigating the maze of crib mattresses involves more than noting your crib's measurements and heading to the nearest baby store -- especially if you're concerned about the chemical makeup of your child's bed.
), for pointers on choosing a mattress that lets you all sleep soundly (albeit in two-hour increments). Lunder has a master's of public health from the University of California, Berkeley, and specializes in the risks posed to children's health by toxins and pesticides. Her three tips:Avoid vinyl: This is not easy, as the vast majority of crib mattresses are covered in vinyl for water resistance. But it's Lunder's No. 1 priority.Vinyl is a hard plastic (PVC) with chemical plasticizers (often phthalates) added for flexibility. Many environmental and health professionals question the safety of PVC and phthalates, which may damage the liver, increase the risk of asthma and act as endocrine disrupters.A couple of options: Naturepedic mattresses are covered in polyethylene, a waterproof plastic used in food packaging and lauded for its non-toxic properties. , they range in price from $259 to $399. IKEA mattresses are covered in a cotton/polyester blend and range from $39.99 to $79.99. For mattress covers, Lunder recommends cotton, wool or water-resistant polypropylene, which emits fewer toxic chemicals than vinyl.
Know your chemicals: Because polyurethane foam, which many mattresses are stuffed with, is so flammable, chemical fire retardants are added to meet safety standards. True, your child won't be smoking in bed (nor are you likely to leave a burning cigarette in a crib), but the laws are in place to protect children who play with matches or lighters.Some manufacturers use brominated flame retardants, which are banned in several states. Others use less toxic chemicals, and still others stuff their mattresses with materials that aren't as flammable (such as cotton) and require fewer retardants. But finding out what a specific manufacturer does is no small feat."It's hard to deal with as a consumer issue because manufacturers are all doing pretty similar things," says Lunder. "A lot of things advertised as natural may be on some level, but they may not be free of fire retardants."Your best option, Lunder says, is to air out the mattress before your child sleeps on it."When you buy a new couch or a new mattress, it smells very intensely from the curing of the foam," Lunder says.