When searching for mattresses for kids, there are several important factors to consider. Safety is the biggest concern. Kids sleep on mattresses for eight to twelve hours a night so you want to make sure your kids' mattresses are non-toxic and healthy. You will also want a high-quality mattress that will be comfortable and last throughout most of the childhood years.
Mattresses for Kids Should Be Firm, Yet Comfortable
A firm mattress is important to support your child's growing body. You don't want it to be hard as a board, but there needs to be firm support with proper cushioning.
Two-Sided vs. One-Sided
When you see a low price on a kids mattress, check to confirm that it is two-sided and not one-sided. Many manufacturers make mattresses with only one side to save on materials and costs. Therefore, only one side can be slept on. You will want to purchase two-sided mattresses for kids if you want them to last a long time. Two-sided mattresses can be flipped so that all the wear is not on one side. Mattresses for kids should also have strong warranties to ensure use for 10 years or more.
Think About Future Needs
You may want to put your toddler in a twin-size bed, but is this going to be what he or she wants to sleep in when older? When friends sleep over, full-size mattresses for kids work out better. Tweens and teens prefer to sleep on full or queen-size mattresses.
Waterproof Is Best
Kids have accidents and will wet the bet. All it takes is a one-time accident to ruin an expensive mattress. You can either buy a mattress that is already waterproof or buy waterproof mattress pads for protection. Be sure to confirm that the waterproofing materials used in the mattresses and the pads are non-toxic.
Organic, Non-Toxic Mattresses for Kids Are the Safest
The issue with most mattresses for kids is that they are made with toxic materials that off-gas. Kids receive direct and prolonged exposure to this chemical off-gassing from sleeping on mattresses for many hours every night. Children are vulnerable to toxic chemicals since their brains are developing and they have immature nervous and immune systems. In addition, it's difficult for young children to eliminate toxins. It's also been found that older mattresses continue to off-gas for years, even though they no longer contain the chemical smell.
It is imperative to buy a mattress that is not made with toxic chemicals. Organic mattresses are available, but just because it's organic does not mean it's non-toxic. Some organic mattress manufacturers use toxic materials inside, covered with an organic cotton covering. The toxic materials inside the mattress can off-gas right through the organic cotton, so this does not make a non-toxic mattress.
The inside mattress materials to be cautious of are polyurethane foam, eco foam, soy foam, or plant-based foam. Polyurethane foam is a petroleum product and one of the most toxic mattress materials available. Unfortunately, it is used in most mattresses, including the more expensive memory foam mattresses. Eco, soy or plant-based foams sound better, but they are polyurethane foam with a small percentage (12%-17%) of plant material added to make it sound like it's natural or eco-friendly.
Fire retardant chemicals can be very toxic, and these are added to all mattresses so they can pass federal and state flammability regulations. It's a U.S. law that mattresses cannot be sold without passing open flame tests. Some of the more toxic fire-retardant chemicals have recently been banned, but these have been replaced with chemicals that have not been tested and may be just as toxic.
Safest Materials in Mattresses for Kids
The safest, most non-toxic material used in mattresses for kids is organic cotton. Cotton is also firm and breathable and provides a comfortable sleeping surface. Wool and latex are also good materials, but they can be allergenic. Plastic is the only material that can completely waterproof a mattress, but some plastics, like vinyl, can be pretty toxic. The safest waterproofing material for a kids' mattress is food-grade, low density polyethylene.
Wool, baking soda, and hydrated silica are safe, natural alternatives to chemical fire retardants that will pass flammability standards. However, be cautious with wool since some companies use wool with chemical treatments added to boost the wool's fire resistance. A manufacturer should provide complete details about what they use to pass fire standards. Unless you have a doctor's prescriptions for chemical-free mattresses, you cannot buy mattresses for kids without some sort of fire protection.
Fortunately, there are organic, non-toxic mattresses for kids available now that contain safe and healthy materials. These mattresses do cost more, but they are definitely worth the investment.
Mattresses for Kids Should Be Firm, Yet Comfortable
A firm mattress is important to support your child's growing body. You don't want it to be hard as a board, but there needs to be firm support with proper cushioning.
Two-Sided vs. One-Sided
When you see a low price on a kids mattress, check to confirm that it is two-sided and not one-sided. Many manufacturers make mattresses with only one side to save on materials and costs. Therefore, only one side can be slept on. You will want to purchase two-sided mattresses for kids if you want them to last a long time. Two-sided mattresses can be flipped so that all the wear is not on one side. Mattresses for kids should also have strong warranties to ensure use for 10 years or more.
Think About Future Needs
You may want to put your toddler in a twin-size bed, but is this going to be what he or she wants to sleep in when older? When friends sleep over, full-size mattresses for kids work out better. Tweens and teens prefer to sleep on full or queen-size mattresses.
Waterproof Is Best
Kids have accidents and will wet the bet. All it takes is a one-time accident to ruin an expensive mattress. You can either buy a mattress that is already waterproof or buy waterproof mattress pads for protection. Be sure to confirm that the waterproofing materials used in the mattresses and the pads are non-toxic.
Organic, Non-Toxic Mattresses for Kids Are the Safest
The issue with most mattresses for kids is that they are made with toxic materials that off-gas. Kids receive direct and prolonged exposure to this chemical off-gassing from sleeping on mattresses for many hours every night. Children are vulnerable to toxic chemicals since their brains are developing and they have immature nervous and immune systems. In addition, it's difficult for young children to eliminate toxins. It's also been found that older mattresses continue to off-gas for years, even though they no longer contain the chemical smell.
It is imperative to buy a mattress that is not made with toxic chemicals. Organic mattresses are available, but just because it's organic does not mean it's non-toxic. Some organic mattress manufacturers use toxic materials inside, covered with an organic cotton covering. The toxic materials inside the mattress can off-gas right through the organic cotton, so this does not make a non-toxic mattress.
The inside mattress materials to be cautious of are polyurethane foam, eco foam, soy foam, or plant-based foam. Polyurethane foam is a petroleum product and one of the most toxic mattress materials available. Unfortunately, it is used in most mattresses, including the more expensive memory foam mattresses. Eco, soy or plant-based foams sound better, but they are polyurethane foam with a small percentage (12%-17%) of plant material added to make it sound like it's natural or eco-friendly.
Fire retardant chemicals can be very toxic, and these are added to all mattresses so they can pass federal and state flammability regulations. It's a U.S. law that mattresses cannot be sold without passing open flame tests. Some of the more toxic fire-retardant chemicals have recently been banned, but these have been replaced with chemicals that have not been tested and may be just as toxic.
Safest Materials in Mattresses for Kids
The safest, most non-toxic material used in mattresses for kids is organic cotton. Cotton is also firm and breathable and provides a comfortable sleeping surface. Wool and latex are also good materials, but they can be allergenic. Plastic is the only material that can completely waterproof a mattress, but some plastics, like vinyl, can be pretty toxic. The safest waterproofing material for a kids' mattress is food-grade, low density polyethylene.
Wool, baking soda, and hydrated silica are safe, natural alternatives to chemical fire retardants that will pass flammability standards. However, be cautious with wool since some companies use wool with chemical treatments added to boost the wool's fire resistance. A manufacturer should provide complete details about what they use to pass fire standards. Unless you have a doctor's prescriptions for chemical-free mattresses, you cannot buy mattresses for kids without some sort of fire protection.
Fortunately, there are organic, non-toxic mattresses for kids available now that contain safe and healthy materials. These mattresses do cost more, but they are definitely worth the investment.
For more information about finding the healthiest, safest and best organic mattresses for kids, visit Healthy Child.
Jane Sheppard began researching the toxicity of children's products in 1997 and founded Healthy Child to provide parents with the most up-to-date, reliable information so they can make informed choices. All of Healthy Child's products have been extensively researched to be of the highest quality with the safest, most non-toxic materials available.
Jane is a child health advocate and parent educator with a passion to help empower parents to protect the health and well-being of their children. Jane has been researching natural health for over 25 years, with 17 years of extensive research and experience in raising a vibrant healthy child using natural and holistic methods.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jane_SheppardJane Sheppard began researching the toxicity of children's products in 1997 and founded Healthy Child to provide parents with the most up-to-date, reliable information so they can make informed choices. All of Healthy Child's products have been extensively researched to be of the highest quality with the safest, most non-toxic materials available.
Jane is a child health advocate and parent educator with a passion to help empower parents to protect the health and well-being of their children. Jane has been researching natural health for over 25 years, with 17 years of extensive research and experience in raising a vibrant healthy child using natural and holistic methods.
No comments:
Post a Comment