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HOW TO BUY A NATURAL ORGANIC CRIB MATTRESS FOR YOUR BABY | |
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Congratulations! You have decided to reduce your baby’s exposure to potentially harmful chemicals by choosing a natural organic crib mattress. This guide will help you understand the available options so you can select the right mattress for your child. WHY DOES MY BABY NEED A NATURAL ORGANIC CRIB MATTRESS? Nearly all crib mattresses today use vinyl/PVC as the mattress cover and polyurethane foam as the filling material. These materials have been shown to release or “leach out” potentially harmful chemicals such as phthalates and PBDEs (read the Five Problems With Crib Mattresses). Organic crib mattresses do not contain these chemicals. They offer a healthy and safer alternative to conventional crib mattress offerings. WHICH NATURAL ORGANIC CRIB MATTRESS IS BEST FOR MY BABY?
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WHAT ABOUT FLAMMABILITY? All mattresses sold in the United States must comply with government flammability standards. While having a fire retardant crib mattress is a good thing, using toxic fire retardant chemicals is not. Naturepedic features FlameBreaker™ non-toxic fire protection, based on baking soda and silica, to eliminate the dangers associated with traditional fire retardant chemicals used in mattresses (such as PBDEs, antimony, modacrylic, and polyacrylonitrile (PAN)) while meeting all government flammability standards. WHAT ABOUT FIRMNESS? Pediatricians and child specialists recommend a firm baby mattress. To that end, it may be wise to avoid soft futon type baby mattresses (regardless of how natural or organic they may be). A quality crib mattress with a firm innerspring is a better choice. WHAT KIND OF MATTRESS PAD SHOULD I USE? Mattress pads are always a good idea. Firstly, no one wants to clean a mattress in the middle of the night. Secondly, they add a nice layer of breathability under the baby. Using DrySleep™ technology, the No-Compromise™ Waterproof Pad provides full waterproof protection while maintaining a degree of breathability. The Organic Cotton Flannel Pad provides a highly absorbtive breathable layer (although not waterproof), and works great with the any waterproof baby crib mattress since the mattress itself is waterproof. For older children, we recommend the Organic Cotton Quilted Topper which provides a bit more “cush” and effectively converts a firm waterproof mattress into a softer quilted mattress for toddlers. WHERE CAN I BUY A NATURAL ORGANIC CRIB MATTRESS Baby stores around the country are beginning to stock organic crib mattresses (Store Locator). They may or may not be available in your neighborhood. If your local store does not have any, you can always buy online by visiting www.naturepedic.com/products.php. Additionally, your local store may start carrying them if you express interest. BUT DOESN’T THE GOVERNMNET REGULATE CHEMICALS IN MATTRESSES? Basically, no. For example, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has asked manufacturers to voluntarily remove phthalates from toys. However, the CPSC has not acted regarding phthalates in baby mattresses. The FDA has encouraged medical facilities to discontinue the use of products with phthalates. However, the FDA has no jurisdiction over crib mattresses. The EPA has pressured manufacturers to voluntarily discontinue the use of certain PBDE fire retardants. However, these are simply being replaced with other chemicals that are arguably no better. There are government flammability regulations that exist for mattresses. However, they do not mandate, or even advise, how manufacturers should meet those flammability standards. Many of the chemicals found in vinyl and foam have already been banned for children’s products across Europe. In the U.S., some states (particularly California, Washington and Maine) have already begun to ban certain chemicals commonly found in crib mattresses. However, virtually every vinyl/foam baby mattress sold in the United States still contains questionable chemicals of one sort or another. The best approach is to simply avoid these chemicals as much as possible. GET MORE INFORMATION
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