Over 6000 cases of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) are reported each year, and more than 900 of these are due to babies’ soft crib bedding sets. Which brings up the question of safety for your infants mattress.
For infants soft baby nursery bedding may cause suffocation when head sinks into soft mattress during baby placed in her belly. Even though soft mattresses may seem like they are more comfortable, they can also prove to be much more dangerous. Infants are not physically able to roll over and “save” themselves from the dangerous position on a soft mattress. They are not yet strong enough, and this can be fatal if no one is around to watch the baby.
Parents should make it a priority to test a baby’s bedding by applying some weight to it. If it depresses under medium pressure, pass on it as it could lead to an accident. The strenght of the mattress can be assessed by pressing one hand against the mattress with the resisting force. This is a simple way to assess a mattress. The more resistant a mattress, the safer it is.
Bumper pads in the crib are another cause of suffocation. While attractive and cute, infants’ faces may be pressed against the soft pads, causing suffocations when baby is unable to free himself.
As a parent, it is necessary to take extra precautions during this weak and vulnerable period in a baby’s life. Although there are still some that say bumper pads are okay if you buy the firmer ones, the majority opinion is to remove them completely. There have been reports of suffocation with the baby pressed between the bumbers and another object in the crib, and also of strangulation by the strings of the bumper pads.
Research has shown that toxic gases, harmful to baby, are found in mattresses. Chemical compounds such as phosphouous and arsenic are being added to mattresses. They are used as fire retardants but can be very dangerous. Babies may die while sleeping as a result of inhaling hazardous chemicals that have reacted with other chemicals found in mattresses.
Scientists later discovered that one of the reactants, helping to release the poisonous gas, is a fungus that commonly grows in baby bedding. Because of that, they suggest that mom and dads not use any older style bedding in the baby’s room that could have mold and/or mildew on it from being used prior. Babies crib bedding should not be reused from one baby to another because old bedding can carry fungus. New bedding in a baby’s room is far more welcoming than recycled.
In addition, there is some concern about synthetic fabric in baby bedding sets. While there is no solid proof that synthetic fabrics are harmful to a baby, you may want to stick to natural fibers. There are plenty of stylish cotton baby crib bedding sets available (one of my favorites is the Maya baby crib bedding set), so there is no need to sacrifice style for safety.
Using these guidelines, it should be easy for a parent to determine if their baby’s nursery bedding is safe. If not, it is a good idea to select and purchase a new, safe bedding which will not only ensure the safety of your baby but will help you sleep worry-free at night.