There are problems with conventional baby mattresses and main one is Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) or vinyl. This chemical is used in nearly all conventional baby mattresses and is considered one of the most toxic and environmentally unfriendly plastics in use today. This chemical makes the vinyl surface of the typical baby mattress soft and flexible.

Chemicals as phthalate plasticizers are added (most often DEHP), which make the plastic soft and flexible and then as the product ages the vinyl cracks, becomeing brittle and the phthalates leach out. These chemicals are absorbed into the bodies of babies and are very harmful as they are found within one inch of your baby for hours a day. Phthalates account for 30% by weight of the vinyl surface of a typical baby mattress. Look on the label of your lotions, shampoo or many other household items. Not only does your baby put these plastic items in her mouth (baby bottles, pacifiers, teething rings, etc) but they absorb the phthalates thru the skin from daily contact. This is evidenced by the increased phthalate levels found in breast milk and household dust samples.

Over the last couple decades there has been increasing numbers of asthmas, allergies, malformations, liver damage, male reproductive damage and other health problems. It use to be that these problems only occurred in about 1 or every 5000 children, today it is 1 in a 100 in the case of asthma it reported in 1 of 20 children. This is a health problem that affects you through out life and it can be so easily prevented. Take a look at thru your house and decide if a change would help you baby and even you.

Not all plastics are created equal. PVC is made from vinyl chloride which is a combination of petroleum (ethylene) and chlorine and is much more toxic than the plastic bag you put your daily lunch in. Then there are added chemicals to the PVC surface which can include lead, cadmium, phosphorus and others. Antimony is a very rare element and not commonly found in water supplies or foods except in parts of the world with volcanic activity. It is not considered an essential element for life and is considered dangerous and occupational exposures may become life threatening. The chemical properties are much the same as lead. It is has been added as the primary fire retardant used on vinyl plastic surface and is very harmful even at low levels. It can cause eye irritation, hair loss, hung damage, hearth problems, and fertility problems Arsenic and its compounds are added to baby mattresses to combat growth of microorganism growth as mildew. It has been shown over the last couple centuries this element doesn't work, yet manufacturers are still putting arsenic into our baby beds. My question is why are we. as concerned parents, not demanding that manfactures remove these deadly compountds?

More Information

One of the concerns of all parents with baby beds (and all beds) is they are made from petroleum products called polyurethane foam or "foam" which is the internal filling. This foam, containing hazardous ingredients will break down over time into small dust like particles that become easily airborne. The mattresses will also off gas or emit highly toxic gases which your baby will breathe daily. One of the gases is VOC (volatile organic compounds) that have caused health problems as irritations of the lung, eye, nose, causing headaches, coughing, asthma & allergic reactions, dizziness, weakness, fatigue, blurred vision, cancer and many other health problems. One of these compounds, organotin messes with the hormone, reproductive and immune systems and causes long term effects on brain development.

Another problem is that the foam is a petroleum product and is highly flammable and causes much danger. Ignited, the foam will burn rapidly, releasing great heat, many gasses and consuming the oxygen. The lack of oxygen to the baby for breathing leads to smoke and toxic gas inhalation which causes suffocation to anyone in the room. One of the deadliest gases emitted is carbon monoxide; this gas will kill you before the flames ever reach you.

If what's already in your baby mattress is not bad enough, add some more chemicals to the pot. The chance of a baby mattress going up in flames is possible, however, the gases your baby will have to breathe daily need to be a concern of yours also. Thus to reduce the flammability of the mattress, various industrial strength chemicals are added to the foam to reduce this tendency of fire.

Baby Sleeps Healthy

Are these chemicals harming our children and should you truly be concerned? I know that I am and it scares me!! Life is hard enough without added hardships caused by toxic chemicals that we as parents are able to control their exposure to - so why don't we do it? My reason was due to lack of knowledge and information, but now that I know, things are changing in my house. We as a family eat healthy, we raise our own meat, eggs, I buy organic products and in the summer I plant a big garden and put up the produce. After research and information that I found, my children are now sleeping on organic mattresses and we are slowly converting to organic clothing (as are we, the parents). I want to reduce our chances of having health problems that will affect the rest of our lives. Since babies are more vulnerable to chemicals than adults and your baby can accumulate up to 50% of her lifetime cancer risk by their second birthday, I am going to do everything I can to eliminate that chance.

When you are purchasing a new bed or replacing an old baby mattress, the only mattress that you should use is an organic mattress. There are many options available to the parents, do you want one with coils in or with out coils? The mattress should contain organic wool as it is naturally fire resistant and resistant to mold, mildew and urine odors. Organic cotton can also be used; however it should be combined with the organic wool to have the most protection for your baby. True they are a bit more expensive that the conventional mattress, I found a cheap one for $35.00: however, my baby's life depends upon the choices I make for her, so I will do everything that I can to make the right choices to protect her and her health. Join me in protecting our children's future.

Organic Mattresses/