Does your baby’s crib mattress contain phthalates? Chances are, if you don’t know then it probably does. Is it a concern? Considering that effective February 10th of this year the CPSIA has banned the manufacture of child care articles and toys containing phthalates, I have reason to be concerned.
Phthalates are found in the vinyl waterproof covering found on mattresses and mattress pads. PVC is commonly used in mattresses and phthalates are used to soften this hard form of plastic. PVC and phthalates are both found to be very harsh chemicals, so what are they doing in our children’s mattresses? Thankfully attention brought to this issue has instigated the change brought about by the CPSIA but guess what, most mattresses for sale still have phthalates. Why? Well because while the CPSIA is taking a step in banning them in children’s products, right now they are only banned in items that a child could possibly put in his mouth (in other words, it’s toxic for a baby to gum phthalates but perfectly ok to sleep on them….yeesh!)
There is a great article on the Naturepedic site explaining the issue in more detail which you can find here. The site it’s found on, Naturepedic, is the first and only mattress company that exclusively designs and manufactures infants and childrens mattresses that feature non-toxic, organic materials. The site is full of information about the chemicals commonly found in mattresses and it’s enough to make you toss and turn at night wondering what our children are sleeping on.
Naturepedic very generously sent us their No-Compromise Dual Firmness Organic Crib & Toddler Mattress to review. The dual firmness mattress is a great investment, as one side is more firm for infants and the other side is softer for toddlers. I always wondered how toddlers could stand sleeping on such a firm mattress when the crib mattress is commonly moved to a toddler bed! This is a great feature. Other great features include organic cotton filling, and organic waterproof cover, and it’s hypoallergenic with a dust mite barrier cover. The mattress sells for $359 on the Naturepedic site. When considering the health and safety aspects of this mattress, no price is unreasonable but of course we’re all looking for value. I think, since this mattress can be used in the crib and then in a toddler bed with the dual firmness feature, it’s a solid investment.
What if you already bought a brand new mattress but are still concerned about safety? One step you can take is to get an Organic Cotton Waterproof Mattress Pad from Naturepedic. Featuring DrySweep technology, this mattress pad blocks liquids while still allowing the fabric to breathe. There is no vinyl, no pvc, no latex, and absolutely no phthalates in the mattress pads from Naturepedic.
THREE readers are going to each win an Organic Cotton Waterproof Mattress Pad from Naturepedic! To enter, take a look at the site and comment here telling me 1 other item that caught your eye.
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