Babies and Infants

You might ask, what’s the difference between a regular mattress and an organic mattress?  Well the truth is, there are a lot of reasons to purchase an organic mattress over a regular mattress, especially when it comes to infants.  With an organic crib mattress, you can protect your baby from the harmful chemicals and toxins that are used in creating standard mattresses.  Organic crib mattresses are clean and safe, and will protect an infant from harm.  Most crib mattresses are made of PVC polyester foam, and then covered with flame retardant chemicals that have been banned by certain states.  Organic crib mattresses are suited for all infants and pass the safety regulations set in place by the government.

In addition to being free from chemicals and toxins, organic mattresses tend to be made of higher quality materials, like wool, which are softer and warmer for infants.  You might even find that your infant sleeps more soundly on an organic mattress, and that you get a little more sleep at night!

During the summer, a short sleeve cotton baby Tee can help keep baby cool.  While keeping the baby cool, the Tee also helps protect baby from the sun.

For cooler days, you can find long sleeve cotton Tee’s for your baby.  I would recommend using the long sleeve if your baby will be out in the sun for over a few minutes.  The long sleeves on a cotton tee will help protect the baby’s arms from sunburn without being overly heavy.

I would recommend using organic cotton baby clothing to keep your baby away from harmful chemicals used in regular fabrics.  Formaldehyde is commonly used in cotton, but can stay in the fabric even after many washings.  Formaldehyde is suspected of causing SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome).

A crib mattress using organic rubber as the base is excellent for babies. A rubber mattress provides the medium-firm support that is recommended for babies. Organic rubber is naturally resistant to mold, dust mites, mildew and is hypoallergenic. Rubber is naturally springy. It does not pack down, but conforms to the body while providing excellent support. It is very durable and will outlast other materials.

The rubber core is wrapped with organic wool quilted with organic cotton. Organic cotton ticking keeps the quilted wool and cotton from shifting.

While an organic crib mattress may be a little more expensive, the advantages are the satisfaction you will know with the knowledge that your baby is sleeping safely, free from toxic chemicals. And the comfortable sleep your happy baby will feel in his crib.

During the first few weeks when your infant is sleeping most of the time, his vision is blurred. Gradually, his vision will improve and after a few weeks, he will begin to notice you. Your baby will recognize you by the sound of your voice earlier than by sight.

Babies generally go through a period of rejecting strangers. Your baby may recognize you as being different from anyone else as early as three months. About that time you may notice your baby responds differently to people he doesn’t recognize.

If your baby gives you a toothless grin and giggles when you pick him up from his baby crib, it’s because he’s happy to see YOU. By the age of six months, your baby definitely knows who you are, and probably more about you than you realize.

Wool comes from sheep. For wool to be considered “organic”, the sheep must be raised according to certain standards. Organic livestock production enables the farmer to control parasites, lice, and flies without toxic, persistent, synthetic chemicals. The sheep must be grazed on clean pasture without the use of synthetic hormones or pesticides (internal, external, and on pastures). Certification organizations verify that producers use only methods and materials allowed in organic production.

Some of the organic wool products most widely available today are baby clothes, baby blankets, coats, knitting yarn, socks, sweaters, and throws. As the market for organic wool products grows, so too are applications expanding for its use.

Cotton is one of the softest, most comfortable fabrics. The more it’s washed, the softer it gets. Unless it has been treated with chemicals to make it wrinkle and stain resistant, cotton is great for baby clothing.

Have you ever gone into a clothing store and smelled something. That’s probably the chemicals used to treat fabrics and the chemical dyes used for coloring the fabric. You can see, feel, and smell the difference between treated fabrics and organic fabrics.

Organic fabric smells clean and you can feel the softness. Trust your own senses and use only soft, comfortable, clean and healthy certified organic products for the health of your baby.

Cotton blankets can be found in a number of different weights. Choose a lighter weight for a warm cover and heavier weight for colder temperatures. You can easily regulate temperature using several blankets, layering as necessary.

Organic baby blankets are now available in beautiful color. With the newer approved natural dyes, even a bright blue blanket can be certified organic. And, blankets are also available in a variety of weaves, from tightly woven to a looser , softer weave.

Just be sure the blanket you use for your baby is certified organic and you’ll never have to worry about chemicals in his environment.

A rash can result from many different sources. Diaper rash is easily recognized. Because a rash interferes with the skin’s ability to protect the body, it can result in infection. Many of the things your baby’s skin comes in contact with can cause a rash. Laundry soap and lotions, to name a few.

Some babies can develop rashes from their baby bedding. Baby bedding can contain formaldehyde or other chemicals used in treating or dying the fabric the sheets are made of. This is called contact dermatitis and, in some babies, can become a serious problem.

Organic baby bedding is made from materials without harmful chemicals. With organic growing of cotton or sheep, no pesticides are used. The raw products are processed by natural means using no chemicals. Using organic products can help prevent your baby’s rash.

Do’s
. If you put a ring in the freezer to cool it, take it out before it is frozen.  A frozen ring
  can be quite hard to chew on. Freezing could also cause a ring filled with fluid to burst
  or leak.
. Check a teething ring and discard it if there is any sign of damage.
. Check your baby crib for signs of chewing and look for any damage.

Don’ts
. Don’t share teething rings.
. Don’t tie cords on toys or pacifiers.  This could choke a baby.
. All babies are different.  Some babies go through teething with a smile.  Some babies
   don’t start teething untill they are six months to a year old. So, don’t worry if your baby
   is on his own schedule.  As long as he’s healthy and happy, that’s all the matters.

Cutting teeth can be a painful time for a baby. The process can begin at about five months. Depending on the child, it could take months or even years. By the time your child is three years of age he should have a full set of 20 teeth.

To ease the pain, babies like to chew on things like pacifiers, toys, or their baby crib rail.  A good hardwood crib will take the punishment of teething, but watch out for splinters or paint that is chipped or peeling.

I’ve found that a chilled (not frozen) teething ring can provide an alternative. But, check to be sure that the teething ring you choose does not contain diisononyl phthalate, a chemical used to soften plastic that is believed to cause cancer.