Did you ever imagine even in your dreams that that Organic Baby Mattress can be a life saver (or rather I should say “Life Protector”) for your baby? Or, that ordinary baby mattress can be fatal to the newborn babies? Perhaps you couldn’t! You must be thinking that how can a humble looking mattress be a protector for your baby. To get to its answer, you must know what differences an Organic Baby Mattress has with the ordinary baby mattresses, the dangers associated with the ordinary baby mattresses and the benefits of using Organic Baby Mattresses.

Here are they

The Slow Poisoning Mattress: If you thought that poison could only be those strange looking things in those bottles with a label “Poison” on them or having a “Skull & Cross Bones” marked on them, then you were wrong. Many innocent and harmless looking things can be fatally poisonous as well. And the chemicals, dyes, colours and foams used in ordinary baby mattresses are only a few of them. Baby Mattresses? Yes! I am right! The ordinary baby mattress may seem an attractive and colourful resting place for your baby, but it may turn out to be a lump of harmful toxic chemicals. The place where your newborn spends almost ninety percent of his or her time (This reduces to seventy to eighty percent when he or she grows a little older) seems no more a safe place. Let us see what are the threats associated with these mattresses.

• The particles of very harsh and toxic chemicals used in the bright colours, dyes, material etc. of these mattresses, keep degenerating or breaking down all the time and mix with air and enter the body during inhalation.
• The same thing goes in the body orally when the baby accidentally licks or bites the mattresses.
• That is not all! These toxic chemicals often react with several species of fungi and bacteria (which are in plenty around and otherwise not that harmful) and release even more toxic gases and enzymes and give rise to deadlier species of these fungi and bacteria which can be really dangerous.
• The bright colours and dyes used in these mattresses are often compounds of dangerous metals like chromium, cobalt and lead. You know very well that what harm they can do. They can cause several physical deformities, weakened bones and improper mental growth etc. over a long period.
• One of the most dangerous substances used in these mattresses is the foam itself, which keeps decomposing into dust and can become a major cause for allergies, asthma, severe cough, bronchitis, suffocation etc. Being a petroleum product, this foam is highly inflammable too. Some studies have also related these mattresses even with the untimely infant deaths.
• Last but not the least, the very contact of these toxic chemicals with the skin is sufficient enough to cause irritations, allergic eruptions, dryness, itches and other skin problems.

The Solution: After you have read the above, you must be scared and thinking about how would you manage the situation. So, here is some good news for you! There is Organic Baby Mattress to help you out. They not only protect your baby from all the dangers above, but are also environment friendly. They are made from organic natural fiber and coloured with organic natural colours. Here are the differences that an Organic Baby Mattress has with the ordinary one.

• Since no chemical colours and dyes are used in these mattresses, there is no question of degeneration of these substances and consequently no threat of these toxic things entering the body.
• If it is properly washed and dusted, then your baby can even chew at it. It won’t do any harm (unless the baby manages to tear a piece and tries to swallow it).
• Since there are no chemicals used, therefore they cannot react with the fungi and bacteria and produce toxic substances. But, since the mattress itself is made up of organic material, therefore it should be properly washed and dried to avoid any growth of germs or fungi on it, because we know that these things grow on organic matter.
• No poisonous metals or their compounds are used in these mattresses.
• These mattresses use organically grown natural rubber, cotton, flannel or coir (padded with soft cotton, flannel etc.). These things too, start decomposing after a certain period, but their particles are not as harmful as those of foam (a petroleum product) and cause only minor problems like sneezing. Still, it is highly recommended that Organic Baby Mattress should be replaced before it starts decomposing.
• Being made of natural fiber, these mattresses do not catch fire easily.
• The Organic Baby Mattresses are soothing for the skin and are skin friendly. They are good absorbent of moisture or water (You know why I am telling this!) and so keep your baby in comfort. They do not produce any kind of itching, rashes, irritations etc. So, never matter how long your baby stays in touch with these organic mattresses, it will not harm.

Common Issues: Like all other organic products, the Organic Baby Mattresses are costlier than their non-organic counterparts. Further, they are not easily available in developing and under developed nations. The reasons may be lack of awareness, lesser income, higher cost of these mattresses etc. If you are living in these places, you may have to order these mattresses on internet or order your local dealer to get it imported for you. But that is going to cost you a fortune. In India and neighbouring countries, the situation is a bit different. First of all, the ready made baby mattresses are not popular (in fact, not at all in use) in Indian middle sized cities and rural areas. They prefer to used already used cotton clothes or new cotton mattresses as baby mattresses. These are predominantly made from cotton (not foam) but cannot be called organic, since the colours used in them are not organic, but that too, not much. So, although they are not organic, they are not that harmful too and there has been no report of any irritation, asthma and other dreadful diseases caused by these mattresses as such. Hence, things are going on like that and people do not actually care about Organic Baby Mattresses. But, the situation is changing and as per capita income in increasing, people started taking interests on these products and are searching for them.

Authenticity: Since we cannot judge by ourselves that whether these Organic Baby Mattresses are really organic or not, so we need to depend on certifications. There are various agencies, operating in different regions, who certify organic products. These certifiers are well known in European and American nations because it is there where these Organic Baby Mattresses are most sold and manufactured and people are most aware. In the Indian Subcontinent, you may not find such a certificate on a locally manufactured mattress, but you can expect one on the imported ones. But this does not mean that all local mattresses are not certified. The recognized and reputed local producers get it certified from some authorities who operate in these regions. Here are the names of some of the certifiers for your ready reckoning.

• Global Organic Textile Standards (GOTS)
• USDA National Organic Program (NOP)
• European Organic Regulations (EU 2092/91)
• Export Certificates for Japan (JAS Equivalent)
• Indian National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP)
• Quebec Organic Reference Standard (CAAQ)
• Bio Suisse Standards
• IOFAM Basic Standards

So, I think that was more than enough you should know about Organic Baby Mattresses before you buy one. Just make sure a few more things. Try to get the white or less coloured ones. Do not go for the bright colours (they are far from being organic). And yes, do not forget to look for the certifications, because it alone can make sure that your money is not spent in vein. Bye!

The article is contributed by Aparup Mukherjee