Published on October 2nd, 2008 | by Stephanie Evans

The Best Bedding for Baby

Babies spend so much time sleeping and hanging out in their cribs that they deserve safe, soft, pure places to rest.

Here’s what you need to know about the mattresses and bedding that contain potentially harmful chemicals and turn this baby haven into a baby hazard…

Baby Sleeping on Natural Bedding

Certified organic cotton, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is free from pesticides. Cotton absorbs pesticides easily, and conventional crops are treated with large amounts of pesticides—on average four pounds of pesticides per acre. Non-organic cotton bedding retains these pesticides, which have the potential to cause cancer and other health problems.

Mattresses are another major health corruptor. While mattresses seem like soft, peaceful places to lay your baby’s head, the truth is in the toxins. Mattresses contain toxic materials like boric acid and antimony that work to make mattresses flame-retardant, but these chemicals, when leaked into the soft skin of a baby’s body, can lead to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Mattresses also typically contain numerous pesticides and formaldehyde, a known carcinogen. Organic mattresses made from organic cotton and other natural materials eliminate chemical health threats and are much safer for baby—and are just as soft and comfortable! Visit Sleep Safely with Organic Bedding for more about natural mattresses, linens, comforters, and more.

If you’re shopping for a wood crib, inquire after the finish used on the wood. Many finishes contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are toxic and easily enter a baby’s system as the baby seeks out something to taste. Look for cribs with natural or non-toxic finishes. To maintain wood cribs, use a non-toxic furniture polish, or make an organic polish using lemon juice and bit of olive oil and water. Also look for cribs made from sustainably harvested wood.

Organic baby bedding is easy to find:

Cotton Monkey offers certified organic cotton bedding for cribs
Ecobaby Organics sell 100% organic mattresses, mattress pads, and bedding
Pure Beginnings uses 100% organic materials in their mattresses and bedding
EcoChoices’ EcoBedroom offers a natural bassinet and crib bedding
Crystal Baby Organics offers organic cribs, mattresses, mattress pads, and bedding