Baby Blog – News & Tips on Organic Parenting

Keeping Your Baby Healthy Using Organic Crib Bedding

March 1st, 2010

When you have your first child, you are probably worried about everything that they interact with and how it will affect their health.  One common thing that many parents do not consider is how the bedding that they choose for their baby can make a difference in one’s health, but the truth is that using organic crib bedding is an important step to maintaining your child’s health and well being.  We go to the store expecting the materials there to be of the highest quality and to be safe for our children, especially where babies are concerned.

The truth is that this may not necessarily be the case because baby bedding and even mattresses are commonly treated with a flame retardant that has been known to have links to cancer and sudden infant death syndrome.  These chemicals are known as polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE), and they have caused so many problems that they are outlawed in Europe because continuous studies have shown how dangerous they can be to children.  However, they are not outlawed in the United States, which means that your children are exposed to these chemicals every single night while they sleep.

By relying on organic crib bedding instead of the common bedding materials that you can buy at the store you are making sure that your child is sleeping on materials that are one hundred percent organic.  This means that they are free of the pesticides that are used in large farms to treat cotton as well as the PBDEs, so you will not have to sit up at night worrying about whether or not your baby is being unnecessarily exposed to dangerous substances that could cause them problems later in life.

On top of this, organic crib bedding does not rely on harsh dyes to color treat their material.  This is important because many babies have difficulty with chemical dyes and they can have allergic reactions like rashes, as well as other side effects from prolonged exposure to these dyes.  The organic crib bedding is also hypo-allergenic and extremely soft against your baby’s skin, so it will be extremely comfortable to them, and this means that it will help both of you to sleep easier.

Tags: bedding, crib, organic
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Organic Mattresses and Crib Sheets Protect Your Baby

September 22nd, 2009

Babies can be very susceptible to dust and other small particles, plus chemicals are always a danger to newborns.  This leads many parents to wondering what they can do to protect their babies from the various chemicals, dyes, and other things used in the creation of baby mattresses, blankets, and sheets.  The answer is to purchase organic baby bedding.  These various organic crib sheets, blankets, and other items are all made with completely natural, organic materials that are guaranteed to contain nothing that will harm your child.  Even organic products that are dyed specific colors use only dyes that are all natural and will not cause any type of allergic reaction.

One of the worst chemicals that babies are often around is a type of flame retardant that is known as polybrominated diphenyl ether.  This PBDE is often used in baby mattresses and other baby bedding products in the United States and other countries.  However, it has been completely outlawed in Europe because studies have shown that it can be linked to SIDS and certain types of cancer.  It’s unknown why U.S. manufacturers still use the chemicals in their products, but why risk your baby’s health?

Purchasing an organic mattress, organic crib sheets, and other organic products will not only protect your baby from horrible chemicals but they will also help your child sleep better.  Organic products are naturally hypoallergenic so they won’t hold in so much dust, plus they’re incredibly soft.  These organic fibers also tend to be stronger than artificial ones, so organic materials often last much longer than others.

Tags: baby, bedding, crib, mattresses
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Why should you Buy Organic Baby Bedding?

September 10th, 2009

Everyone seems to want to buy organic these days, but is there any reason to really go about buying organic baby bedding?  In some cases, it may be more expensive, and it doesn’t really seem to be any different from other types of baby bedding.  However, that’s just on the surface.  If you dive into the details of organic baby bedding, you’d see that there is certainly a purpose to it.

There are several different items needed in your baby bed, and all of them are available in organic forms.  Organic baby bedding includes sheets, mattress pads, crib bumpers, blankets, and pillow cases.  All of these items are made from purely organic materials, even the ones that have been dyed different colors or feature patterns on them.  Organic baby bedding is all hypo-allergenic, meaning it won’t hold in dust or other particles that can give your baby difficulty breathing.

In fact, that’s the entire reason of outfitting your baby bed in organic sheets and the like.  Standard bedding uses dyes and other materials that both hold in dirt and dust and can trigger allergies.  These allergies can make it difficult for your baby to get a good night’s sleep.  While purchasing organic baby bedding is a good idea, especially if your baby doesn’t seem to sleep well, there is one thing you need to remember.  Buying just one part of the organic baby bedding set, such as an organic blanket, won’t be as effective as replacing your entire baby bedding with organic bedding.

Tags: baby, bedding, organic
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Using Organic Baby Mattresses

August 28th, 2009

When it comes to sleeping, many people do not expect their babies to sleep through the night.  It’s just a part of being a baby, they believe.  However, that’s not entirely true.  Have you ever found yourself awake at night because you’re coughing or having other breathing issues?  If so, you may be allergic to something in your mattress.  The same can be true for babies—some are allergic to materials found inside their baby bed’s mattress.  To combat this, you may wish to outfit your baby bed or crib with an organic baby mattress.

Organic baby mattresses are made from all natural, all organic ingredients.  This means there’s nothing there that will cause your baby to have an allergic reaction to the mattress.  Even if it looks like a dye was used, that dye will have been made using organic materials.  Most of these organic baby mattresses are made out of cotton.  This makes the mattress nice and plush in addition to making it hypoallergenic.  Many of these organic baby mattresses are also flame retardant and water proof, making them even more useful and safe for your child.  However, they do not use harmful flame retardants, so there’s no fear of chemicals damaging your baby.

One of the great things about organic baby mattresses is that they aren’t really that much more expensive than standard baby mattresses.  Likewise, since green products are becoming more and more popular, you can now find organic baby mattresses in more furniture and department stores.  In the past, this wasn’t true, but now it is much easier to outfit your baby’s bed with an organic mattress.

Tags: baby, bedding, organic
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Buying Baby Bedding

August 20th, 2009

There are so many options for expecting parents as to what type of baby bedding to buy.  You can easily spend a little of a lot, go for simple or go for luxury.  A lot of new or expecting mommies and daddies could certainly use a few pointers to help with picking out the baby’s cozy new bedding.  In that light here you go:

1. Buy Extra Sheets

During their first year newborn babies can create many messes and it is always prudent to be prepared to deal with them as they happen.  One of the best ways to be prepared is to have anywhere from 1 to 4 extra sheets ready to go when messes occur, and they well.

2. Make Sure Everything Fits

Although most baby bedding is made to a standardized crib size it is still a good idea to go ahead and make sure that everything fits before the baby is born, this will give you time to make any changes if necessary.  You really want to aim for a snug fit from the crib bedding to the mattress for the most safety conscience setting.  Once you have a good snug fit then go ahead and wash all the bedding both for hygiene and also that washing will help make the materials soft for your child’s comfort.  Remember that baby’s skin is much more sensitive then ours.

3. Planning for the Future

Here are some thoughts on budgeting.  There are many purchases that you can really skimp on when baby planning and others that it is wise to invest a little more.  Baby bedding falls into the later category.  Most standard sized baby bedding will seamlessly transfer from cribs to toddler beds, this means you really can get much more use out of it then just the infant stage.

Tags: baby, bedding, crib, cribs, mattresses, organic, safety
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Baby Crib and Bedding Safety

May 4th, 2009

The first three things new or expecting parents think of when arranging the space that their baby will be sleeping in are comfort, aesthetics, and above all else, safety.  A newborn baby’s crib and bedding easily conjure cozy images of duck-dappled or teddy bear adorned bedding, lining cribs that may be or may someday become a family heirloom.  Infants can spend anywhere from eleven to sixteen hours a day sleeping; this alone places their crib and bedding among the most important aspects of their new life.  Disturbingly however, the crib is also host to the leading cause of infant death in the country, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS. When combined with the fact that well over a million cribs have been recalled in the last few years, it is paramount for new parents to have a strong understanding of baby crib and bedding safety.  Here are some safe bedding guidelines laid out by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

•    Lay baby on his or her back on a firm mattress that fits tightly into a crib that meets current safety standards.

•    Take out any excess comforters, stuffed toys, and pillows.

•    Look into using sleep clothing as an alternative to blankets.

•    If using a blanket be sure to tuck it in under around the crib mattress and reaching up only as high as the infant’s chest.

•    Room temperature should be comfortable for an adult in light clothing.

•    Make sure child’s head remains uncovered during sleep.

Although the cause of SIDS is still a topic of debate, some experts maintain that off-gassing by chemicals used in baby bedding is the culprit.  One way to sidestep this possible problem is to avoid potentially toxic chemicals in your baby’s crib and bedding.  It is advised when budgeting for your child’s sleep setup that you consider organic bedding options.  It is also a good idea to occasionally check the US Consumer Product Safety Commission’s website for any recalls.  Knowledge is the most effective tool in ensuring that the choices you make regarding your baby’s crib and bedding are the right choices to preserve your baby’s safe and happy development.

Tags: baby, bedding, crib, safety, SIDS
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Organic Baby Bedding

March 13th, 2009

If you’re having a baby or already have a little one in your home, you’ll need to have a number of supplies. These include baby bedding-sheet, pillows, blankets, and other items for the crib. You want to make sure that these crib sheets and blankets are safe for your children, however. One of the newest crazes in baby bedding is to purchase blankets and sheets made out of organic cotton. These sheet and baby blankets do not include any harsh metals, dyes, or other fabrics.

Just because something is made from organic cotton, though, does not mean it won’t be soft and cozy. On the other hand, these sheets and blankets are incredibly soft and cuddly, and your child will love being tucked in under these blankets. Even though they do not include harsh dyes, these sheets and blankets are still available in multiple colors. They simply use all natural dyes for the coloring. In fact, some of them even include patterns or animal prints.

In addition to crib sheets, you’ll also find swaddling blankets made out of organic cotton flannel. These blankets are very nice and warm, keeping your child protected from the cold no matter where you are.

Sheets, blankets, and swaddling blankets made from 100% natural cotton provide numerous benefits. This includes providing relief from some allergies and chemical sensitivity. In fact, it’s possible that organic baby bedding may even help make your children healthier. They can also help relieve your allergies, too, plus they help save the environment.

Tags: bedding
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Sleep and Safety, Why to Use Organic Baby Mattresses

September 9th, 2008

Sleep, what is that? New parents all over are deprived of sleep during the first year of their children’s lives, but it shouldn’t be due to worry over the bedding and materials their angels are sleeping on. An easy way help increase sleep and decrease worry for parents when their little one’s will actually sleep, buy organic.

The media is increasingly making us aware of the harmful effects man-made materials have on the environment and on individuals, toxins seep into the ground and into our very bodies emitted from the manufacturing and use of daily products.  So why buy items full of poison when there are alternatives.

The baby’s bed, the place where they will spend 12- 16 hours of everyday is a perfect place to start.

Mattresses made of man-made materials have chemicals in their make up that can create allergen problems and issues with immunity development and reproductive systems.  These mattresses are also covered in secondary chemicals to decrease their flammability. These chemicals have been linked to the increase in hyperactivity and neurobehavioral alterations in children. Babies spend hours with lying on there, breathing in these poisons and increasing the chances of permanent problems.

Organic baby mattresses are a slight bit more expensive but the initial increase in cost is buying peace of mind that your child is sleeping on materials that will not hurt them further on down the road. The use of organic cotton and wool work to decrease dust mites, contain a resistance to bacteria and are more flame retardant.

The drawback to organic: they are not as pretty. Due to the lack of dyes and added chemicals there are less options in visual appeal when buying organic baby bedding. This can be easily fixed by keeping the bedding simple and adding colorful wall hangings and decorations.

Keep the items your baby will touch natural, there will be plenty of time for the rest.

Tags: baby, bedding, mattresses, organic
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How to Choose Organic Baby Bedding

August 29th, 2008

Choosing baby bedding is a fun venture for any expectant parent. There are so many choices out there though, that it makes it hard to know which one is best for baby.

Organic baby bedding is easily the best option. Organic fabrics, such as cotton and bamboo, are produced without using pesticides or other harmful chemicals. These chemicals not only harm the environment, they can also potentially harm babies and others who use products made from them.

The youngest infants only need a few items of baby bedding: a fitted sheet and a light blanket for cool evenings. Both of these items are available in organic cotton, wool or silk and these fabrics are amazingly soft and will go a long way toward comforting baby.

While it is very tempting to give baby a soft pillow or a stuffed animal to snuggle against in the crib, do not succumb to the temptation. Newborn babies can easily smother against these items because they do not yet know how to roll away from them or to push them away.

In addition do not use a crib bumper pad for the same reason. Many experts believe that some cases of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) actually occurred as the baby became entangled in the bumper pad and could not free themselves.

Some new parents, already frightened at the cost of baby supplies, balk at the price of organically made baby clothes and bedding. However, when they consider that using organic products lessens the risk of allergies and other illnesses later in life, they could consider the money well spent. Buying organic bedding is a great investment in the future.

Tags: baby, bedding, organic
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What’s The Deal With Organic Mattresses Anyway?

March 30th, 2008

I find most people react to that with skepticism when we suggest that you should only buy organic baby bedding. I did at one point too. But you might not sleep so well at night if you knew what was really inside there. That comfy spot where you spend 1/3rd of your life is actually full of non organic materials, some of which are possibly toxic.

Most mattresses are made with polyurethane, a type of material that gives off a nasty mix of organic compounds believed to cause breathing and skin problems. Also studies show formaldehyde, used to hold the mattress together, is linked with lung and throat cancers, as well as asthma. Dr. Jim Sprott of the New Zealand Institute of Chemistry stated that the huge increase in SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrom) over the past 40 years is mostly likely caused from the toxic gases emitted from our bedding. You can read his article here.

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Tags: bedding, mattresses, organic
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