Your new born baby will spend up to 14 hours a day lying on a cot mattress as he sleeps, plays and watches the world around him. So how do you choose the right cot mattress?

You are probably aware of the potentially toxic materials used in conventional cot mattresses; polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyurethane foam and flame retardants, but unaware of alternatives.

No one wants to forego the convenience and health benefits of a water resistant surface but PVC seems to be the most widely available option.  Thankfully alternatives do exist;

• natural latex can be used to make the cot mattress water resistant,
• organic cotton is free from potentially irritant chemicals used in fertilisers, pesticides and herbicides
• sheep’s wool acts as a natural fire retardant so there is no need for fire proof chemicals
• rubberised coir is resilient, strong and durable

Each of the alternative mattress materials have specific health and environmental benefits. Mindful Mum lists the materials used in natural cot mattresses that are both safer for your baby and the environment.

Natural latex is:

• made from the sap of the Hevea tree and  is bio-degradable and environmentally friendly
• provides gentle support that helps to reduce tossing and turning and allows a deeper, more restful sleep
• hypo-allergenic, and breathes to keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer
• resistant to bacteria, mildew and mold

Coir is:

• rubbery in texture and made from the fibrous husk of the coconut from the coconut palm
• has excellent moisture and air permeability properties which keeps the mattress internally dry

Sheep’s wool is:

• hygroscopic which means it can both absorb and give off moisture
• able to absorb moisture up to one-third of its own weight as opposed to the 2-3 per cent that synthetic fibers can absorb before they begin to feel wet
• naturally retardant to fire and not filled with fire retardant chemicals such as Antimony which can cause sever health problems in young children

Organic cotton is:

• free from pesticides and herbicides during cotton growing
• free from bleaches and dyes in the manufacturing process
• better for the wider environment and health of people in the developing world who produce 99% of the world’s cotton

Before you buy an organic cot mattress check for:

• Soil Association certification standards
• British Standards test and pass BS 7177 and BS 1877-10.

Why is it important to think about the substances used to make conventional cot mattresses before you buy?

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) is used to cover most conventional cot mattresses and make them waterproof. Greenpeace considers PVC to be one of the most toxic and unhealthy plastics.

Phthalates are used to make the PVC wrap on your cot mattress more flexible. Phalates are a know hormone-disruption chemical. The European parliament banned the use of phthalates in toys because the chemicals can enter the body when chewed and could cause cancer and damage to children’s livers, kidneys, and reproductive systems. The European Parliament banned phthalates in toys that can be put in a child’s mouth. Europe Bans Phthalates in Toys

Polyurethane foam is used to fill the cot mattress. When the foam breaks down particles can become airborne and form volatile organic compounds. Environmentalists fear that these compounds can cause respiratory disruption, such as eye, nose and throat irritation, as well as headaches, nausea, fatigue, dizziness, and allergic reactions. Furthermore, recent studies have shown that certain bacteria such as the organism, Staphylococcus aureus, can survive for long periods in polyurethane foam mattresses. During analysis 50 per cent of SIDS infants have been shown to have elevated levels of the Staphylococcus aureus toxin in their system. When a cot mattress has exposed areas of polyurethane foam, or has been used previously by another child, Staphylococcus aureus can more easily persist.

Flame retardants are used on cot mattresses because polyurethane foam is highly flammable.  The PVC surface of a typical baby mattress is also treated with toxic fire-retardant chemicals such as antimony, arsenic and phosphorous. Mattresses sprayed with flame retardants can emit fumes know to affect babies brain and nervous development.

Cotton accounts for 16% of global insecticide use, far more than any other commodity. The World Health Organisation estimates the cotton industry consumes $2 billion worth of chemical pesticides annually, just under half of which it classifies as hazardous. Ninety nine percent of the world’s cotton farmers live and work in developing countries and are responsible for 75% of global cotton production. These farmers and their families suffer low levels of safety awareness, lack of access to protective apparatus, illiteracy, poor labelling of pesticides, inadequate safeguards, and chronic poverty. Pesticide poisonings are a fact in cotton producers’ lives and are often taken for granted by pesticide users in developing countries. The WHO report three million pesticide poisoning per year and 20,000 unintentional deaths largely in developing countries among the rural poor.

Sources: Healthy Child,  World Health Organisation, Institute of Science in Society