Sandersmr wrote:Just an FYI - organic mattresses are made from chemicals as well. So are our bodies for that matter.
But organic products don't contain polyurethane foam made from petroleum and fire retardants made from products which the manufacturers, aren't required to disclose their composition. Some people can tolerate these for a period of time others can't.
Here is a bit on what are in crib mattresses as they are filled with the same products as adult mattresses. I am not a scientist but I was chemically poisoned at my work place so I do have to be careful and in trying to remain as healthy as possible I avoid as many toxins as it is possible. I don't know how true this information is but I do know that there is enough information out there to have serious doubt as to the safety of many of them.
One cause of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) may be from exposure to toxic chemicals being emitted from crib mattresses.
Crib mattresses off-gas many toxic chemicals similar to adult mattresses (they are made from polyvinyl chloride [pvc], polyurethane, etc.). They also contain phosphorus, arsenic, and antimony compounds as preservatives and fire retardants. Toxic nerve gasses (phosphine, arsine, and stibine) can be emitted because of interactions with these chemicals and cause anticholinesterase poisoning and cardiac failure in infants. These chemicals are linked to SIDS; in fact, Richardson (1994) and Taylor (1996) found high levels of antimony in the blood and livers of babies who died from SIDS. An article in Midwifery Today goes into detail as well as explaining how these chemicals in crib mattress may be related to other SIDS risk factors (Quinn, 2002). To read this article, go to:
http://www.midwiferytoday.com/articles/ ... b+mattress. However, there has been some revolt against the conclusion that baby mattresses can cause SIDS (see, for example, Mitchell, Fitzpatrick, & Waters, 1998). As with most things, the truth probably lies somewhere in the middle; toxic chemicals in crib mattresses may be one of the many causes of SIDS. Either way, most parents are not willing to risk it.
See also
http://www.jeffreywarber.com/hc%20pages/sids.html for more information on SIDS.
Avoid exposing your baby to toxic chemicals by choosing an organic crib mattress and organic sheets for baby’s crib.
References:
Mitchell, E.A., Fitzpatrick, M.G., & Waters, J. (1998). SIDS and the toxic gas theory revisited. The New Zealand Medical Journal, 111, 219-221.
Quinn, J.B. (2002). Baby's bedding: is it creating toxic nerve gasses? Midwifery Today, 61, 21-22.
Richardson, B.A. (1994). Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: a possible primary cause. Journal-Forensic Science Society, 34, 199-204.
Taylor, A. (1996). Antimony, cot mattresses, and SIDS. The Lancet, 347, 616.