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So, we know that you need a firm mattress but there are other safety factors to consider:
1. Is it ok if there are gaps between the mattress and the cot?
Every cot which meets the Australian Standard (AS/NZS 2172-2003) will have recommended mattress dimensions printed on the base of the cot. This is the perfect size recommended by the manufacturer of your cot, so always follow the recommendations to ensure your mattress is properly fitted in your cot, with no more than a 4cm gap between the edge of the mattress and the adjacent cot side (when the mattress is placed on the opposite side).
Conversely, if the mattress is too big it will buckle inside the cot, especially when you try and lower the side of the cot to reach your baby. This may damage your cot or make it difficult to lower your drop side.
Pro Tip: Do not buy a mattress that does not meet the manufacturer’s mattress recommendation, as most mattress manufacturers have a tolerance built into their mattresses, so don’t buy the wrong size.
The thickness of the mattress is also important as a baby cot mattress should be positioned at a safe depth for your baby. The distance from the top of the mattress to the top of the lowest side when the drop side is closed should be at least 50cm when the base is in the lowest position, and at least 30cm in the upper position. This is why we do not recommend stacking multiple mattresses inside a cot. Babies can wiggle between the mattresses and have been known to become trapped and die.
2. What is inside the cot mattress?
Most baby cot mattress are made with foam. Some foam mattresses contain toxic chemicals such as formaldehyde, benzene, and naphthalene. Some even contain isocyanates, which, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, can cause irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, and skin. Foam is also highly combustible and often requires the addition of formaldehyde and other fire retardants, to make it fire safe.
There is no foam in our breathe eze fibre mattresses. We use thermally bonded fibre as this process utilizes less chemicals and reduces your baby’s exposure to harsh chemicals used in other chemical and petroleum methods of bonding. There are no binders, adhesives or blowing agents which may have significant health impacts over time. There are no fire retardants or formaldehyde in our mattresses as our breathe eze fibre is inherently flame retardant and does not flare up like other textiles. So, our breathe eze mattresses are low VOC (volatile organic compounds).
Some companies promote Coir or Coconut Husk filled mattress. Whilst this sounds cool, we believe there are too many problems associated with these mattress fillings which makes them unsafe for your precious baby:
1. Hygiene Issues: Coir mattresses tend to retain moisture, dust and allergens that can reduce the hygiene of the mattress and attract dust mites and insects. When these pests breed in a mattress not only is it dirty, but it can lead to off-gassing. The coir also can attract body odour and sweat and as we know our little bubs do sweat a lot, especially in their heads. If you live in a humid climate, which is most of Australia, these issues are exacerbated as fungus and algae infest in the coconut husk mattresses, more readily.
2. Not Supportive: Coir is not uniform and when packed in a mattress can leave unevenness through the mattress, which is not safe for your delicate baby’s growing body.
3. Not Durable: Coir mattresses compress easily and lose their shape. Unlike fibre, they cannot be reshaped, with washing and so they become uneven and are not supportive for your baby’s growing body.
4. Cheap Waste By-Product: Coir is often used by manufacturers because it is a waste of coconut fibre, which is abundant and cheap but not necessarily best for your baby.
Our breathe eze mattresses are unlike coir mattresses, they are dust mite, allergy resistant and anti-microbial so little nasties prefer not to live in your baby’s mattress, so they are more hygienic. The mattress pads are heat baked to the correct size and thickness, so you don’t have uneven surfaces.
Babyhood believe our mattresses are more breathable and safer than a foam mattress. We have undertaken breathability testing of our fibre and so we know they are safer.
We create our famous Breathe Eze Innerspring range of mattresseswhich provide optimal ergonomic support for your baby as they grow, for much longer. Our innerspring mattresses are made differently from other mattresses.