SIDS...Mattress Cover

We attended a birth class and were told of a study done in New Zealand on SIDS. Evidently, two doctors found that it was the fumes from the fire-proof crib mattresses - when they came in contact with a common household mold - that killed babies. They suggest wrapping the mattress in a heavy plastic wrapping. They have had 100% success rate in their research, and SIDS has gone down 70% (or more) in New Zealand. I don't know why we haven't heard more of this here in the US, but here are a couple of links. You can buy the mattress cover for about $30-ish or make your own. I bought a cover online and it looks like a plastic pillow case for the mattress...with two holes (dinner plate size) on the bottom. You fold the ends and tape them down. That's it.

They suggest putting a wool or cotton blanket over the plastic before you put the crib sheet on, but they wouldn't stay in place, so I just put the sheet directly onto the plastic. Do not use waterproof mattress pads because they are made from the same "fire-proof" material as mattresses. During the winter, I put a flannel (cotton) blanket directly under the baby for added warmth.

If you buy yours online, I think Size E or F is what we need for the US mattresses, but you can make sure the measurements match your mattress. The cost, including shipping, is $41.00 (was $27 in 2008).

http://www.healthychild.com/cribdeathcause.htm

http://www.eves-best.com/babesafe-mattress-covers.htm

http://www.stopsidsnow.com/Orders.html

http://www.babymattresscovers.com/

~~~

http://cure-guide.com/baby-bedding-sids-do-crib-mattresses-cause-infant-deaths/

HOW TO WRAP A BABY’S MATTRESS FOR SIDS PREVENTION
Instructions written by James Sprott

The advice to wrap mattresses applies to every mattress on which a baby sleeps (except a BabeSafe mattress) and includes: adults’ mattresses; mattresses of other children; and all mattresses made of or containing natural products such as sheepfleeces, goatskins, kapok, tree bark, coconut fibre, etc.

The most convenient way to wrap a baby’s mattress is by means of a BabeSafe mattress cover. As an alternative, parents can purchase polyethylene sheeting to make their own mattress wraps. If they select this option, the following instructions apply:

1. Use thick, clear (not colored) polyethylene sheeting, available in the paint section of your local hardware store. The thickness of the polyethylene must be at least 125 microns, or 5 mil. On no account should PVC be used for wrapping mattresses.

2. Place the polyethylene over the top of the mattress and down the ends and sides, and then secure it firmly beneath the mattress with strong adhesive or duct tape.

3. The polyethylene should not be airtight on the underside of the mattress. It must be airtight on the top and sides of the mattress.

4. It is imperative to use the correct bedding with a BabeSafe mattress or BabeSafe mattress cover or polyethylene-covered mattress. On top of the polyethylene place a fleecy pure cotton underblanket and tuck this in securely. Then make the bed using sheets and pure woollen or pure cotton overblanket/s.

5. Do not use any of the following items in your baby’s bed:

Sheepskin
Sheepfleece underlay
Any form of moisture-resistant mattress protector
Acrylic blanket
Sleeping bag
Duvet

6. Proprietary mattresses and mattress covers must not be used unless they carry the Campaign against Cot Death logo or are accompanied by a certificate of analysis showing that they contain no detectable phosphorus, arsenic or antimony (lower limit of detection 0.001% = 10mg/kg = 10ppm).

For more information about baby mattress issues read the articles at the healthychild website.