Mattress Toxins/Sorry if I sound crazy

[cskme_]

I've done a lot of research about mattresses for babies and I have found that it is apparently very dangerous for babies to sleep on mattresses (due to the chemicals they use for making it fire ******ant), if they urinate or sweat on the mattresses they are susceptible to some sort of fungi that is toxic for them to breathe. Especially in the winter months as the heat in the room plays its own role for creating these toxic gasses. I don't know if anyone else has heard of this or not ...
anyways they have these plastic mattress wrap things online that you can buy to protect your baby from inhaling any of these toxins. So that I am not 100% worried about.
What I AM concerned about is that the baby will be sleeping in my room for the first while, I have a king size bed that takes up pretty much the entire room, about a year ago my nephew peed a huge puddle on the bed, and the mattress has never been properly cleaned. Our rooms are always warm in the winter. I am just really concerned that this could harm our baby. I am going to rent a steam cleaner and steam clean the beds, carpets, sofa, etc. before the baby comes.
Does anyone have any knowledge on this topic?

 

[Lucasmum]

I have no idea I have never heard anything about it before but have never researched either

DS slept with us in our bed till he was 6 he seems OK if thats any help

 

[cskme_]

I have no idea I have never heard anything about it before but have never researched either

DS slept with us in our bed till he was 6 he seems OK if thats any help

I honestly think I just read too much lol. My mattress isn't clean and I just worry about toxins + heat because DH likes to CRANK the heat in the winter and thinks that "fans make you sick".

 

[Lucasmum]

This is why I sometimes dont read much into these things as I know I will scare myself lol

 

[Amygdala]

I was worried about this with our first as well, since baby was in a cosleeper. We actually ended up buying a new mattress anyway, although mostly because our old one was due for replacement anyway. When we did, I also bought a cheap washable mattress topper to try and keep the mattress itself cleaner. I don't think this is something to be terrified of but knowing about these things, there are a few things you can do to improve safety. Steam cleaning everything sounds like a good idea but be aware that it needs to dry quickly or more things might grow. I don't know but could you use a vinegar solution in the steam cleaner to fight mould??

Buy a natural, if possible organic, mattress for baby and/or let it air for a few weeks before baby arrives. Make sure the bedroom and mattresses are well-aired when not in use as well. If you're going to use a plastic cover (I hate them personally), make sure you have thick cotton sheets on top so baby doesn't get sweaty or too hot.

And just as an important aside: Babies bedroom, and therefore yours if you're sharing, shouldn't be more (or less) than 18°C. Sleeping temperature is one of the most important safety measures when it comes to SIDS so hubby might as well get used to the idea of an extra blanket. The temperature is going to be much more important than toxins from mattresses.

 

[cskme_]

I was worried about this with our first as well, since baby was in a cosleeper. We actually ended up buying a new mattress anyway, although mostly because our old one was due for replacement anyway. When we did, I also bought a cheap washable mattress topper to try and keep the mattress itself cleaner. I don't think this is something to be terrified of but knowing about these things, there are a few things you can do to improve safety. Steam cleaning everything sounds like a good idea but be aware that it needs to dry quickly or more things might grow. I don't know but could you use a vinegar solution in the steam cleaner to fight mould??

Buy a natural, if possible organic, mattress for baby and/or let it air for a few weeks before baby arrives. Make sure the bedroom and mattresses are well-aired when not in use as well. If you're going to use a plastic cover (I hate them personally), make sure you have thick cotton sheets on top so baby doesn't get sweaty or too hot.

And just as an important aside: Babies bedroom, and therefore yours if you're sharing, shouldn't be more (or less) than 18°C. Sleeping temperature is one of the most important safety measures when it comes to SIDS so hubby might as well get used to the idea of an extra blanket. The temperature is going to be much more important than toxins from mattresses.

It's nice to find someone on the same page as me! I called a mattress place and explained to them and they told me I can get a hypoallergenic mattress bag and zip it over my mattress and box spring. It keeps any germs, fungi, toxins out of the air (apparently). So I am going to do that, they told me don't bother steam cleaning as it could make the problem worse. So I am going to buy the mattress cover, also there's a crib mattress wrap you can buy online specially made to keep any toxins out, it's like a plastic wrap, so I'm going to buy that one and 100% cotton sheets for the crib. As for the bassinet she will stay in my room but closer to the door where there is more air flow, also I will get one of those small clip on fans to clip to her bassinet/crib to circulate the air. I talked to DH last night and he already agreed that he can not have the heat up too high and he even suggested buying a small wall thermometer for our room. I hope all of these things help. These things really scare the hell out of me!!

 

[Amygdala]

Don't let it frighten you! It's a tiny risk and you're reducing it further. Baby will be protected and safe. I don't know if you're planning on breastfeeding but that's another factor that can further reduce risk.

 

[Fruitmash]

I honestly don't think breastfeeding is a big contributing factor; my mum had 4 children, 3 of us were bottle fed and one was breastfed. The one who was breastfed died of SIDS. I just don't want to increase fear and guilt in people who can't or won't breastfeed

 

[Amygdala]

Fruitmash, I'm so sorry your family went through that. And I completely agree with you that it's not good to increase feelings of guilt in mothers who don't manage to breastfeed. But I also strongly believe that the facts need to be known to enable people to make informed decisions and the fact is that there is solid scientific research showing that SIDS rates are higher in formula fed babies than breastfed ones. See for example here for a review: https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/pediatrics/128/1/103.full.pdf
There's no judgement in this and everyone needs to make their own choices but I don't think denying the benefits of breastfeeding over formula is helpful. On a society level, lives are literally saved by increasing breastfeeding rates and I don't think that should be denied to spare people's feelings.

 

[Fruitmash]

Fruitmash, I'm so sorry your family went through that. And I completely agree with you that it's not good to increase feelings of guilt in mothers who don't manage to breastfeed. But I also strongly believe that the facts need to be known to enable people to make informed decisions and the fact is that there is solid scientific research showing that SIDS rates are higher in formula fed babies than breastfed ones. See for example here for a review: https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/pediatrics/128/1/103.full.pdf
There's no judgement in this and everyone needs to make their own choices but I don't think denying the benefits of breastfeeding over formula is helpful. On a society level, lives are literally saved by increasing breastfeeding rates and I don't think that should be denied to spare people's feelings.

When DD wouldn't latch I fell into depression and wanted to kill myself. I felt I'd doomed my daughter to my brother's fate and if she died it would be all my fault. I was terrified and needed the wake up call from my mum that I had no proof the breastfeeding would have done anything for Lexi at all! This is a sensitive topic at the best of times, and deeply personal to myself so I don't want to carry on this conversation, I don't doubt you aren't looking for an argument either. I can't read your link; I have to take medication for mental health issues the moment this pregnancy is over so breastfeeding isn't an option for me this time and have no interest in making my anxiety any worse lol. I just wanted to put it out there for others reading the thread who can't breastfeed that they haven't doomed their babies, it's something I needed to read last time and so I want to make sure it's there if anyone else needs it. Let's agree to disagree on the matter and leave it at that

 

[Fruitmash]

Just want to clarify that when I said agree to disagree it wasn't that breastfeeding can help protect baby but the degree on how helpful it is, I'm not totally ignorant, just enough to keep my head

 

[ElsMommy26]

I had the same fears with my first. We co-slept and I had invested in an organic mattress, which beyond being organic, was definitely the most comfortable one I owned. Now that she's in her own double bed, I really didn't have the means to fund another organic mattress (they can run quite steep) so I did the next best thing and got her an organic mattress cover. Not sure what I'll do with new baby, thinking about an attached co-sleeper and if so, I will buy an organic mattress for that, since the off-gassing on the cheap ones they come with even make me gag.

That being said, I'm going to try and not get all nutty about SIDS again. I think there are a ton of factors at play - it is not an exact science. I think if you take normal precautions - keep a good air flow, no smoking at all around the baby, stabilize temperatures, etc. you will be fine. I am also like you and need to be severely medicated for anxiety (I stopped cold turkey once I found out I was pregnant) so trust me I know how hard it is.

 

[Fruitmash]

I had the same fears with my first. We co-slept and I had invested in an organic mattress, which beyond being organic, was definitely the most comfortable one I owned. Now that she's in her own double bed, I really didn't have the means to fund another organic mattress (they can run quite steep) so I did the next best thing and got her an organic mattress cover. Not sure what I'll do with new baby, thinking about an attached co-sleeper and if so, I will buy an organic mattress for that, since the off-gassing on the cheap ones they come with even make me gag.

That being said, I'm going to try and not get all nutty about SIDS again. I think there are a ton of factors at play - it is not an exact science. I think if you take normal precautions - keep a good air flow, no smoking at all around the baby, stabilize temperatures, etc. you will be fine. I am also like you and need to be severely medicated for anxiety (I stopped cold turkey once I found out I was pregnant) so trust me I know how hard it is.

At first I was like "I'm good, I got this, I don't need any pills!" Obviously forgetting just how much they help, now I'm having regular panic attacks, extreme paranoia over LO's health that's causing panic attacks and hysterical fits of crying and need to prepare myself for days before I can leave my house, sometimes I still physically can't force myself to the door even then! Quickly abandoned the idea of breastfeeding again this time around, at least in my case I'd be a pretty usless mummy am going to look into an organic mattress for the Moses basket though! Never heard of it with DD but gotta buy a new one anyway might as well do what I can to lower risks!

 

[cskme_]

I had the same fears with my first. We co-slept and I had invested in an organic mattress, which beyond being organic, was definitely the most comfortable one I owned. Now that she's in her own double bed, I really didn't have the means to fund another organic mattress (they can run quite steep) so I did the next best thing and got her an organic mattress cover. Not sure what I'll do with new baby, thinking about an attached co-sleeper and if so, I will buy an organic mattress for that, since the off-gassing on the cheap ones they come with even make me gag.

That being said, I'm going to try and not get all nutty about SIDS again. I think there are a ton of factors at play - it is not an exact science. I think if you take normal precautions - keep a good air flow, no smoking at all around the baby, stabilize temperatures, etc. you will be fine. I am also like you and need to be severely medicated for anxiety (I stopped cold turkey once I found out I was pregnant) so trust me I know how hard it is.

At first I was like "I'm good, I got this, I don't need any pills!" Obviously forgetting just how much they help, now I'm having regular panic attacks, extreme paranoia over LO's health that's causing panic attacks and hysterical fits of crying and need to prepare myself for days before I can leave my house, sometimes I still physically can't force myself to the door even then! Quickly abandoned the idea of breastfeeding again this time around, at least in my case I'd be a pretty usless mummy am going to look into an organic mattress for the Moses basket though! Never heard of it with DD but gotta buy a new one anyway might as well do what I can to lower risks!

I've really been thinking about it the past few days. I'm not getting an organic mattress as I don't have the funds for one. I will get a regular one next week and it will have a couple months to air out. I'm getting a hypoallergenic mold and mildew cover for my own bed just for extra precaution. Other than that I will just run fans around baby while she's sleeping and keep the house at a good temperature. I too have anxiety, it causes me to look way too far into things and I feel a little bit embarrassed when I even discuss my worries to friends or family. I haven't taken medication for a long time now. Even before I got pregnant I stopped taking them cold turkey as they were doing more harm to my body than good. I try to think about everyone who is in poverty and has perfectly healthy babies. Stores couldn't sell regular mattresses if they were constantly causing infants to die. I will just take all extra precautions without completely breaking the bank and I can only pray that I will have a healthy baby

 

[Fruitmash]

I had the same fears with my first. We co-slept and I had invested in an organic mattress, which beyond being organic, was definitely the most comfortable one I owned. Now that she's in her own double bed, I really didn't have the means to fund another organic mattress (they can run quite steep) so I did the next best thing and got her an organic mattress cover. Not sure what I'll do with new baby, thinking about an attached co-sleeper and if so, I will buy an organic mattress for that, since the off-gassing on the cheap ones they come with even make me gag.

That being said, I'm going to try and not get all nutty about SIDS again. I think there are a ton of factors at play - it is not an exact science. I think if you take normal precautions - keep a good air flow, no smoking at all around the baby, stabilize temperatures, etc. you will be fine. I am also like you and need to be severely medicated for anxiety (I stopped cold turkey once I found out I was pregnant) so trust me I know how hard it is.

At first I was like "I'm good, I got this, I don't need any pills!" Obviously forgetting just how much they help, now I'm having regular panic attacks, extreme paranoia over LO's health that's causing panic attacks and hysterical fits of crying and need to prepare myself for days before I can leave my house, sometimes I still physically can't force myself to the door even then! Quickly abandoned the idea of breastfeeding again this time around, at least in my case I'd be a pretty usless mummy am going to look into an organic mattress for the Moses basket though! Never heard of it with DD but gotta buy a new one anyway might as well do what I can to lower risks!

I've really been thinking about it the past few days. I'm not getting an organic mattress as I don't have the funds for one. I will get a regular one next week and it will have a couple months to air out. I'm getting a hypoallergenic mold and mildew cover for my own bed just for extra precaution. Other than that I will just run fans around baby while she's sleeping and keep the house at a good temperature. I too have anxiety, it causes me to look way too far into things and I feel a little bit embarrassed when I even discuss my worries to friends or family. I haven't taken medication for a long time now. Even before I got pregnant I stopped taking them cold turkey as they were doing more harm to my body than good. I try to think about everyone who is in poverty and has perfectly healthy babies. Stores couldn't sell regular mattresses if they were constantly causing infants to die. I will just take all extra precautions without completely breaking the bank and I can only pray that I will have a healthy baby

Yeah, we're pretty broke too, as I think most people preparing for s baby are, but I'll look at it and see if it's worth the money. Probably just won't have the money though, a normal mattress for a Moses basket is a tenner so no way is husband gonna agree to paying I dunno, £40 for one! You make really good points though so I don't think I'll cry myself to sleep at night if money doesn't stretch too far

 

[misspriss]

I don't have information about the mattress issue, although I have read about the urine and gasses and it does concern me. With DS, we coslept on our old (hopefully outgassed) regular mattress. With DD, we (all, DS included) cosleep on a new mattress that uses a silica sand based fire ******ant, not chemical. It's not organic, but we couldn't afford organic.

I suffer from anxiety as well and saw a specialized psychiatrist for pregnancy and breastfeeding and was able to take the anxiety medication I needed in the 3rd trimester and while breastfeeding with no issues. I take a low dose benzodiazapine. The danger for benzodiazapines is a *slight* increase in risk of cleft palate in the first tri only, no shown risk in the 2nd or 3rd trimesters. The risks for breastfeeding are sedation in the infant, which was never an issue for either of my children. They use the same medication I take for anxiety in infants and children at much higher doses for other medical treatments (seizures) with no danger. The amount that gets into my breastmilk is a tiny fraction of the safe dose for a small child.

Both of the OBs for my pregnancy told me I needed to stop my anxiety medication and didn't recommended I take them for pregnancy or breastfeeding. I went to a psychiatrist, who showed me the actual studies and research, and told me what the risks were for each stage of pregnancy and breastfeeding. Having a very small risk from a relatively safe medication is much better for my children than being bathed in stress hormones during the whole pregnancy. The cortisol and adrenaline increases during stress and panic are not healthy for the baby any more than medication. He has seen many women continue on their medication through their whole pregnancies with no ill effects. He constantly sees women who (like some posters in this thread) cut their psychiatric medication cold turkey (sometimes on the advice of OBs, who are specialized surgeons, not psychiatric doctors) who end up spiraling and crashing in the 2nd or 3rd trimester having not been on their medication, I was one of those. Pregnancy is an incredibly stressful and unsure time. I'd recommend anyone who is experiencing severe anxiety consult a psychiatric specialist in addition to their routine prenatal care.

 

[2have4kids]

My DH is a PhD chemist and said the problem with off gassing is buying new. Buy a used mattress and put a plastic cover over it for accidents. Not only will you eliminate all chance of off gassing but you save yourself a bundle. We have a mattress cover for our bed, it's not for accidents lol, it's meant to be washed easily to regularly clean the dead skin off. Simple common sense can save you a lot of money.

I have a friend who went crazy over her obsession with toxins, threw all of her dinner plates out to replace with glass, she believed anything with colour can chip and poison you, refuses to eat anything that's been in a can, uses special skin cream, shampoo, refuses to use any kind of makeup as i't's all toxic, won't drink tap water even though we have some of the best water being so close to the Rocky mountains. What she didn't realise is she caused so much tension behaving this way for her friends and family with her worry, criticisms, and stress that she lost her gf's, strained her marriage, and her own emotional turmoil will probably shorten her own lifespan and leave her kids anxious and high strung. I'm not saying anyone here is like this -this is the extreme end of obsessive. Drinking water from plastic bottles everyday isn't healthy either (all in balance right?), and she never worried about the chemicals in the pampers she used on her kids (if you're going to go overboard you might as well cover every angle no? lol). There are simple solutions off gassing, buy used and use a good mattress cover.

 

[ElsMommy26]

I know this has sort of turned into another topic altogether but I agree with you Fruitmash that a healthy, happy mom is way more beneficial to a child than breastfeeding. I nursed my first for 14 months, all the while, staving off any medication that I so desperately needed. At 14 months, I finally hit the wall, and started to fear for my life. When I went back on meds, I had no idea why I waited so long. My OCD was absolutely crippling, it caused me to become malnourished and underweight, hair falling out, and I didn't even trust myself to be around my daughter. I can't imagine my breastmilk was all that great with all that going on! In retrospect, I wish I shut things down a lot sooner and got help. This time, I am on my own schedule. If I need meds after 3 months of brestfeeding, then that's all I will do. I will not subject my kids to me at my worst when I need help. I have been in therapy this pregnancy and I do feel pretty stable now, so who knows, maybe this time won't be as bad. I'd love to get 6 months in. But I'm not going to beat myself up over anything.