Babies and Infants

Infant clothing, what chemicals may be lurking in infants clothing? Typically non-organic infant clothing may contain traces of formaldehyde, caustic soda, sulfuric acid, urea resins, sulfonamides, halogens, and bromine. These chemicals may cause reactions such as hives and dermatitis. Some chemicals have been linked to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Parents may want to consider Organic Infant Clothing to avoid these risks. Organic clothing does not contain any harmful chemicals. Your infant can be snuggled in his soft cozy clothing and while being assured he is safe from these chemicals. You can find both organic cotton and organic wool.

I have five children, only one is a boy.  Early on, I thought babies were babies. That is to say, girl babies were no different than boy babies.  I had not expected the difference to show up until they were much older.

I was surprised when my son was stronger than any of the girls-right from birth.  Even in his baby crib he was able to turn over sooner than any of the girls.  However, he was harder to potty train.

One example of the difference was the day my neighbor got a piano. We all went over to see.  My little girls, ages two to eight, sat on the piano bench and gently tapped the keys.  They oohed and aahed over the sounds.  My little boy was, age a little over three, lay on the floor on his stomach trying to figure out where the sound came from.

Your experiences may be different from mine, but I expect that all boys are different from girls right from birth.

Your infant and baby will at times require a baby blanket.  The blanket will help keep your baby warm and cozy.  Blankets also make the nursery look beautiful.  You can buy different colors even in organic cotton or organic wool.

But, you will want to make sure to place the blanket properly on your baby.  Infants and young babies can have breathing problems if the blanket covers their mouth.  It is recommeded to tuck the blanket securely under the crib mattress and have it only go up to the babies under arms.

At the time when a baby’s bones are soft and growing faster than at any time in his life, he needs the support of a firm crib mattress. Some pediatricians discourage parents having a baby sleep in an adult’s bed because the mattress may not be firm enough to properly support the growing baby’s needs. 

The mattress should also be sturdy enough to withstand the baby’s activities during the period when he is practicing standing and jumping.  Babies may use the crib as a playpen at times and the mattress needs to be able to withstand the wear and still retain its firmness.

Boric acid is one of the chemicals used in many mattresses as a fire retardant and is required by law in most states.  Boric acid is a known toxin that is harmful to babies.  Fortunately,  alternative manufacturing allows for other means of fireproofing. This may be accomplished by building the mattress with a plastic cover or by using natural materials such as cotton and wool that are naturally fire retardant.

Organic cotton and wool are more expensive, however the term “organic” means that the material is free from any chemicals.  An organic baby crib mattress meets all legal requirements for fireproofing while keeping your baby safe from toxic chemicals.

What is wrong with this picture?  Possibly nothing, it depends on the age and capability of the baby.  Infants should not be placed on their stomachs. This is an old rule.  Infants can suffocate if their face sags into a soft mattress.  Or they can rebreath their own air so much that they do not get enough oxygen. 

Infants should be placed on their backs on a firm mattress.  It is best not to have soft items in your baby crib, where the baby might get tangled up or if the item is so close to the baby’s mouth it interferes with his breathing.

When your baby is ready to use a toddler bed, they can use a toddler mattress.  The toddler mattress is designed to have extra support around the edge so the mattress does not break down.  Crib mattresses are usually firmer than toddler mattresses, to help keep babies from suffocating.  Infants and young babies cannot push themselves up if their face sinks into a soft mattress.  Most toddler mattresses are less firm to provide more comfort to the toddler.

Normally a toddler is transitioned to the toddler bed between 1 ½ - 3 years of age.  When the child is using the toddler bed you would want to use a toddler mattress because they have the support needed for when your child is going in and out of the toddler bed.

The difference between a daybed and a toddler bed is the guardrail.  When your are transitioning your baby from the crib to a bed, the daybed provides a guardrail to keep your young one from falling out of bed.  Your toddler will still be able to get himself out of bed to be able to go to the bathroom.

The toddler bed has no guardrail.  It will usually still have 3 sides but the front side is totally removed.  The toddler bed will help get your child ready to use a regular size bed.  The toddler bed will generally use crib baby bedding, so you do not need to acquire new bedding to start your child using the bed.

 An organic crib blanket made of pure wool is an investment in the future.  Wool naturally regulates body temperature to keep you warm in winter and cool in summer.  A large crib blanket can continue to be used for many years, even after your crib is converted to a toddler bed. Organic wool is fire resistant, odor resistant, dust mite resistant and, because it is produced without chemicals, it is hypoallergenic.

To protect your wool blanket from burps, spills, diaper changes etc., use a duvet (a cover over other bed clothes). Organic cotton that is easily washable in a duvet will keep your wool blanket clean.  The duvet for a crib blanket is made like a bag similar to a pillowcase that covers the blanket.  The duvet may have snaps or ties at the open end or the opening may be smaller so that it will hold the blanket inside. Decorating is easy. With a change of the duvet you can have a whole new look.

No need for a top sheet with a duvet to cover any blanket you use on a crib.  And with organic cotton baby bedding, you protect your baby from chemical toxins while you protect the bedding with a duvet.

When you are setting up your nursery, you want to considure your infant’s safety, not just how beutiful the room appears.  Placement of the convertible crib is important.  You will want to make sure the baby is not near a window where there are draw strings or cords that the baby could become entangled in.  Considur where there might be drafts.

It is also a good idea to check to make sure the crib meets US Safety Standards, that it is well built, and does not have broken slats.  A crib made from hardwood normally will last and can be reused, make sure it is put together correctly and all connections are tight.

There is an article http://www.healthychild.com/cribdeathcause.htm by Jane Sheppard.
Has The Cause of Crib Death (SIDS) Been Found?

I believe that any parent would want to read this article.  Even though there has not been enough testing in the United States to prove chemicals in mattresses cause SIDS, does not mean we should ignore information provided by others.  I would always recommend doing research and making your own decision. But as noted using a mattress cover or better yet buying and organic crib mattress could save your baby from the effects of harmful chemicals.

Harmful chemicals can effect all humans.  It’s just that babies are more prone to have problems because their immune system is not fully developed.