From the moment you welcomed your sweet little bundle of joy into the world, you’ve worked through your fair share of tears and tantrums, night lights and white noise machines, swaddling blankets and bedtime stories.
You’ve fine-tuned every detail of your child’s sleep environment because you’ve had to—we can relate—but have you considered the very important role his or her bed plays?
After all, young ones spend a lot of time sleeping.
The Washington Post reported recently that nearly three quarters of crib mattresses on the market contain “dangerous or suspect chemicals.” Whether flame retardants, antibacterials or waterproofing additives, there’s concern that these chemicals may cause serious health problems in infants and small children—who are particularly vulnerable.
Regulatory agencies are still catching up on this front. One guy in the article even called it “the Wild West in your home when it comes to chemicals.”
Well, that’s nothing short of alarming.
The place our babes lay their heads at night is crucial. So how can we address this travesty of toxicity? Fear not. Like many others, the mattress industry has risen to meet the call for more natural, healthy and eco-friendly products.
Whether it’s organic, all-natural, hypo-allergenic or all of the above, when you’ve decided to move to a healthier mattress for your child of any age, there are a few factors you’ll want to consider before making your purchase.
- Materials: Being familiar with all the components that make up a new mattress will help you get the highest quality. The labels “natural” and “organic” alone do not ensure a mattress is non-toxic. Some of the best materials used in all-natural mattresses today include organic cotton, bamboo, hemp, silk, wool and natural latex.
- Manufacturing: Okay, so the materials sound good, but what processes does the manufacturer use to produce it? Read up on the company that makes the mattress you are considering to ensure their practices are ethical, safe and environmentally friendly.
- Reviews: Like any other major purchase, taking some time to read a few product reviews is always a good way to gauge whether or not the product in question is as good as the manufacturer says it is. Of course, any review should be taken with a grain of salt.
Moving to transform your family’s home into a healthier, greener environment is a commendable choice, no doubt. And with a little time and some thorough research, purchasing the best, safest, most natural mattress for your child will be an investment you won’t regret.