It’s hard to imagine but according to studies 6000 babies die of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome every year while 900 of these deaths are actually caused by soft crib bedding sets. So how can you be sure that any bedding bought for your baby will be safe?
It’s never a good idea to lay an infant on her stomach, because not being able to fully lift her head yet, she might actually soffucate with her face pressed on the bed. You may think a soft mattress is more comfortable for your little one, but if it is too soft, it may not be safe. They might not have the strength to roll over to recover from the dangerous position and the fatal accidents might happen if no one is around to take good care of the little one and as infants are too weak, when their heads are being placed on the soft mattress.
Parents can prevent suffocation by ensuring that their baby has a firm mattress to sleep on. You can test this by pressing on the mattress to see if it may be too soft. The higher the resistance rating of your mattress is, the higher the quality.
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. Buy firm bumper pads because there are rare cases of strangulation from bumper pads that have strings, or suffocation from bumper pads that yield to heavier objects.
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. 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. 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. Because infants only sleep in cribs for a short period of time, parents may be tempted to reuse old bedding. However, to avoid the existence of such fungus, this should not be the case. Besides, new baby nursery bedding will be prettier and more personalized than an old, reused one anyway.
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 bedding by Trend Lab), 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, purchase a new, safe bedding option so that your baby can sleep safely and you can sleep without worries.