baby stuff: mattress

I am hardly having a good night sleep these past few weeks. We are on our 3rd trimester, that's why. I remember the joy of having slept on my back again after Kid #1 was born. Can't wait.

Talking about sleep, as I have said from my previous post about baby stuff, that it seems rather best to have the baby sleep on the papag and banig. Why? Because the crib mattress is another baby necessity that is stirring up controversy in the "baby products" world.

There has been a study released by Cockrell School Engineers that "Crib Mattresses Emit High Rates of Potentially Harmful Chemicals".

Excerpt:
Analyzing the foam padding in crib mattresses, the team found that the mattresses release significant amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), potentially harmful chemicals also found in household items such as cleaners and scented sprays.

In summary, there are chemicals in the mattress composition (foam, the glue, the covering) that might trigger allergic reactions (lung complications, asthma) or may cause long term effects (hormone disruption) to the baby sleeping on it after inhaling all those fumes.

There is also a theory that SIDS is caused by the toxic chemicals released by conventional crib mattresses. They said that the chemical fumes being inhaled by the baby just shuts the baby's system off and might have causes the SIDS. Read here.

So parents, what to do?

Here's a link on How to Buy Non-Toxic Crib Mattress

And here's another list of Recommended Crib Mattresses

Other suggestion is to air out the new mattress months before the baby uses it (we won't be able to do this anymore).

Or opt to use an old mattress (crib mattress or your own mattress) but be sure that it has no molds as molds are known to eat up chemicals and release toxic gases, increasing the risk of -- you're right -- SIDS.

A New Zealand scientist, Dr. Sprott, have discovered and invented a crib mattress cover -- the BabeSafe® crib mattress cover, which is a non-toxic plastic cover that seals the crib mattress inside resulting of no gas generation occurring in the mattress that can reach the baby.

Of course, we have already bought the mattress before I have read all about this. And here's what we bought.

Simmon's Peaceful Slumber 2-sided Crib Mattress from Sears

Description from the website:

Featuring healthy support with lightweight sleep technology, this two-sided Simmons crib mattress gives growing babies a restful and supported sleep 

Thermo bonded polyester core; Recycled polyester fibres are compression packed for firm and uniform support 

Polyurethane foam free

100% certified organic cotton cover is cool in the summer and warm in the winter; Phthalate and PVC free -- but not necessarily VOC free. There are lots of chemicals that are considered VOC. Not just Phthalate and PVC. There's phosphorus, arsenic and antimony, to name a few.

Innovative two-sided design; one side for baby and one side for toddler for just the right amount of support

I believe it is made in Canada.

We haven't picked it up so I guess we still have time to change our mind because it is not on the "Recommended" list? I don't know. Or should I buy the said mattress cover/protector?

I have talked about this with J and he said that too much reading is giving me more anxiety and more things to worry about.

I guess I still won't be having a good night sleep even after the baby is born.