Prev Mom Body Support Pillow Next How to Safely Introduce Your Child to an Unfamiliar DogYou would think that since crib mattresses are regulated and certified with a giant safety seal they would be safe. That's not entirely true.A recent study by the University of Texas showed that:- New crib mattresses release about 4x as many VOCs as old crib mattresses. - Body heat increases emissions. - Chemical emissions are strongest in the sleeping infant’s immediate breathing zone.Manufacturers are interested in pushing product out the door for as little money as possible as long at it passes government regulations and these regulations aren't very strict.So why should you buy one of our organic crib mattresses? Is an organic crib mattress necessary? You be the judge.Here are just a few of the unhealthy components found in your standard crib mattress.These fire retardant materials are cause for concern wherever children may come in contact with them. This applies to sofas and any other soft furniture where they may be present, as well as crib mattresses.
Countries in Europe have banned them entirely. PBDE's get stored in the human body with every exposure, making them bioaccumulative.In experiments with mice, PBDE's lead to problems with the thyroid, developmental problems with learning and motor skills, and cancer.PDBE's are not only found in mattresses, you'll find them in televisions, computers, carpets, couches and anything that may have been treated with a fire retardant.Why do you want to avoid cheap glue? Simply put, cheap glues contain a number of chemicals that are harmful to children, and standard crib mattresses contain a disproportionate amount of these glues to keep it firm and rigid.Many of these glues contain volatile organic compounds (VOC's), the same compounds that paint companies are trying to remove from their paints.One of the more important factors in a crib mattress to most parents is a waterproof surface.In standard crib mattresses, waterproofing is achieved with plastics that contain the hazardous compound polyvinyl chloride, or PVC.
This outgassing isn't healthy to breathe in, let alone 8-12 hours a night.Over time, as PVC breaks down, it off-gasses vinyl chloride as well.According to the EPA, Vinyl chloride is a known human carcinogen that causes a rare cancer of the liver. Harmful dioxins are a by-product of the manufacture of vinyl chloride. Dioxins are very toxic to any ecosystem that they may enter.Another negative to vinyl is that it cracks. Urine, feces, sweat etc seep in through these cracks and accumulate in the mattress. Babies breathe this in while they sleep and every time your child jumps it releases an unhealthy plume of air filled with this concoction of bodily fluids.A proper organic crib mattress will not contain any PCV plastics for waterproofing. Waterproof mattress protectors are sold separately for many organic crib mattresses which can be easily washed.Fabrics and batting in crib mattresses are often made with polyester. Why is polyester bad? According to the Ecology Center website, polyester can cause respiratory tract irritation and severe skin rashes.
Watch disposable diapers as well for baby - they also contain polyester.Most crib mattresses are made with petrochemical-derived foams, such as polyurethane foam. Polyurethane foams and memory foams both give off a chemical odor and have been linked to allergy development and asthma.It's not hype, buying an organic crib mattress could be one of the most important purchases you'll ever make for your baby or child to ensure their safety while they sleep.Check out our organic crib mattresses if you'd like a healthy crib mattress.For more information, please visit our Learning Center.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.