Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) claims the lives of over 6000 babies yearly, with more than 900 of these deaths caused by soft baby bedding. That brings to mind the question, is your baby bedding safe?
Suffocation can occur with the use of soft baby bedding, particularly when baby is on her belly and her head depresses the mattress. Plush mattresses provide maximum comfort for babies but are a safety threat as well. Infants should be supervised at all times and be given the best care to avoid deadly accidents. For example, special care should be taken when placing an infant a crib with a soft mattress so that suffocation does not occur.
To avoid accidents and fatalities, it is best to choose crib bedding and mattresses which are firm and not easily depressed under weight, even the light weight of a baby. You can assess the strength of a mattress with the simple test of pressing one hand down on the mattress and guaging the resistance to the force applied. A mattress with the strongest resistance is is best.
Bumper pads in baby cribs pose a threat of suffocation. There is no doubt that the colors and designs are attractive but many recommend removing them from the crib as an infant who falls asleep with their tiny mouth up against the padding will have their movement and breathing restricted and can potentially suffocate.
As a parent, it is necessary to take extra precautions during this weak and vulnerable period in a baby’s life. While some recommend firmer bumper pads, the best option is to remove bumpers from the crib entirely. The reason for this is that there are rare cases of strangulation by the bumper pad strings, and of suffocation between the pads and another object.
Another danger to the baby’s well-being are toxic gases, detected inside of mattresses by researchers. Chemical compounds such as phosphouous and arsenic are being added to mattresses. They are used as fire retardants but can be very dangerous. The chemical compounds present in the mattress when reacts with certain material, then they release toxic gases which is very dangerous for the baby, if the baby inhales a large amount of it while sleeping.
Scientists have since found, however, that a frequently occurring fungus in baby bedding may be one of the reactants which is an aid in releasing these toxic fumes. Do note use nursery bedding which may contain fungus. This may happen if the bedding has been used for a long time. Babies crib bedding should not be reused from one baby to another because old bedding can carry fungus. Old reused bedding will look less pretty than a new baby nursery bedding.
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 crib bedding sets available (one of my favorites is the Trend Lab’s Maya nursery bedding), 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. To avoid sleepless nights, parents should just choose safe beddings for their babies, it will not only relieve them of their worries but will also let the baby enjoy his/her slumber.