What Not To Do
❌ For the best start possible, avoid using conventional bedding, sheets, blankets, quilts and pillows, no matter how ‘natural’ the retailer claims it to be, unless it is certified organic to conform with the Global Organic Textile Standards (GOTS). Some are sold as ‘Non-iron’, ‘Easy care’, ‘Wrinkle free‘, ‘Permanent press’ and ‘Ultra Fresh’. They might sound good, but these are all created using chemical additives.
❌ Don’t get conned into buying Waterproofed Mattresses and Liners. We recommend you avoid placing babies tiny body on or near any conventional baby bedding that has fire retardants or water-proofing. This includes ‘Water-proof’ and ‘Flame-proof’. They might sound good, but these are also manufactured using chemical additives and highly toxic plastics.
❌ Don’t use Latex Mattresses or Mattresses with Latex in them. While it might make sense that the SIDS foundation recommends latex mattresses for their firmness, to us, an even more important aspect is that baby does NOT sleep on a toxic mattress full of chemicals which can exacerbate SIDS, allergies, asthma and so many other health issues.
❌ Do your best to stay away from Bamboo products too. They are NOT organic or even 100% natural. Both latex and bamboo must be converted with chemicals to produce products to wear or to sleep on. The addition of chemicals in manufacturing alters the organic state to man-made or ‘Synthetic’. Some advertisers now call them ‘natural latex’ and ‘organic bamboo’; it sounds better but it’s still synthetic. If they’re not certified by the Global Union, they are most likely not truly organic either. To find out more read Facts, Fiction & Myths Revealed.
❌ Don’t sleep babies on Baby Cots, Cribs, Cradles, Trundles, Bunks or Beds that are imported from other countries or made from imported timber. All of these must be fumigated before arriving in the country. A cot or crib can be a big-ticket item that makes accepting a hand-me-down a tempting way to save money. However, a used baby bed may not meet current safety standards and may also have had stains applied that can be poisonous if licked, chewed, touched or even simply inhaled regularly over a period of time..
❌ DO NOT use Pine Baby Furniture due to the high content of terpenes (turpentine). People who suffer with allergies are allergic to pine, eucalypt and teatree because, even though they are natural materials, these plants are classed as volatile. It is the oil in them that make them so. Same for timbers like Cedar and Cyprus. DO NOT use furniture with chipboard, MDF or plywood backings either, or you are decreasing the chances of experiencing the real healthy benefits gained by purchasing a pure organic cotton mattress in the first place.
❌ Beware of toxic glues, paints and finishes on Baby Furniture. They might not (noticeably) negatively effect an adult, but all these chemicals produce a gas that most of us get so accustomed to smelling, we forget it’s even there.
❌ Avoid the adorable Baby Clothes from online stores or major retailers. Tell your family and friends you’d prefer Certified Organic Baby Clothes, Body Suits and Grow Suits instead and you won’t be tempted to use them just because you’ve been given them once baby is born. They might look cute, but the toxins contained in the dyes and the chemicals used in producing fabrics such as what retailers call 100% cotton and bamboo, is potentially harmful. If they’re not certified organic by GOTS, they’re most likely not. Plan in advance and have peace forevermore.
❌ Don’t bring hand-me-down or commercially produced toys into the room. There’s no need to introduce potential allergens into the space. Most of us remember having a favourite soft toy from childhood, but these cute creatures can cause more trouble than joy. That’s because they’re a prime breeding ground for dust mites and other allergens, and can also contain toxic fillings and dyes that irritate children’s (and adults) sensitivities.
❌ Don’t use plastic. Consider what you are doing when you buy plastic nappies, acrylic chairs or plastic storage chests. Toxic chemicals leach out of plastic and are found in the blood and tissue of nearly all of us. Exposure to them is linked to cancers, birth defects, impaired immunity, endocrine disruption and other ailments. You don’t need plastic for anything anymore.
❌ Don’t blindly take all the advice from major organizations, even us. While the SIDS foundation (for example), provides some really useful guidelines for baby safety and well-being, as far as we can ascertain the ‘SIDS’ foundation has never directly indicated the possibility that chemicals in conventional mattresses and bedding may be the cause. We believe chemicals (among other things) have a very strong bearing on these “sudden deaths”. If this were deemed to be true, making such a controversial statement would upset a lot of major players in the baby, textile and bedding Industries.
❌ Try not to get too caught up in the latest wave of media hype or fashion fads. The best health and safety methods are always based on simple education and common sense. And when you take your own path without being pulled by the crowd, you might well become the leader who helps others find a better way too.
❌ Baby Mattresses should NOT be placed directly on the floor OR on a flexible slat base. A bed base for babies, children and frankly all of us, should be firm, not flexible or sagging. Organic Cotton is a natural product perfect for Cot Mattresses, Crib Mattresses, Cradle Mattresses and Bassinet Mattresses. All these items need airflow as they are a breathing product and a hardwood slat base is ideal for this purpose. This in turn allows your baby to breath comfortably and release toxins while they sleep.
What To Do Instead
✔ It is for these reasons that we recommend a hardwood slat Organic Baby Cot or bed base MADE IN AUSTRALIA from Australian Timber. No toxic glues, No fumigation, No MDF, No Plywood and No Chemical Paint or finishes. These allow the mattress to receive continual air flow that helps dissipate unhealthy toxins picked up by the body during the day, and release them from the body naturally during sleep.
✔ For comfort, quality and peace of mind, use the purest, healthiest Certified Organic Baby Mattress from Organic Baby Mattress Australia with their 100% safety record. On the market since 2004 and they continuously receive positive comments and testimonials. They do start a little softer than conventional rubber mattresses but they do NOT contain chemicals and are thus far healthier for your baby. As cotton does not have a ‘memory’, it does not bounce back. The surface will become firmer with regular turning and use.
✔ Go for the best Organic Water-Resistant Organic Baby Mattress Protector Pads you can find so you don’t get sucked into a lulled sense of security with water-proofed products. Not only are they unnecessary, they cause run-off (let’s face it, the liquid needs to go somewhere) and they are also potentially harmful to your baby’s health.
✔ Think about what makes the most sense to you when it comes to Baby Safety, Health & Well-Being and the well-being of your family. Decide what’s right for your unique situation. As you are already reading this, we congratulate you for doing your own research. Thank you for being here. We hope we’ve been able to help make things clearer.
✔ We also recommend purchasing Organic Baby Bedding made with 100% GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) CERTIFIED ORGANIC COTTON as this has the highest standard of all, and companies like Organature® deliberately manufacture Above Certification Standards for a very personal reason. You know how conventional bedding always suggests washing prior to use? Not only are regular sheets generally stored in toxic plastic (made to look like cellophane), when you open them up, the smell is overwhelming. A huge difference when you open up Organic Cotton Bedding — no need to wash, a fresh, clean, almost earthy scent, ready to put straight on the bed. See the Organic Baby Nursery Australia range of Organic Baby Sheets, Quilts, Blankets and Mattresses.
✔ Get some Organic Baby Toys too. There are some unique organic baby mobiles on the market and you could even make a beautiful handcrafted one from things like natural bamboo cane, twine, brown paper, raw wool and dried leaves. Small things make a big difference and can be fulfilling and fun to do it yourself. Buying Certified Organic Filled Toys right from the start, eliminates the problem completely.
✔ For Organic Baby Storage, one idea is to recycle the organic cotton bags that are often wrapped around your organic bedding. An Australian Hardwood Timber chest of drawers, organic cotton lined laundry hamper and matching Australian Hardwood Timber change table are both beautiful, stylish and long lasting items that can be safely passed down through your family, for many generations to come. Cellophane Bags which are made from true cellulose (not plastic that’s made to look like cellophane), are great for storing clothes or bedding to protect them from the environment. We also use them in our own homes to store vegetables in the fridge and to freeze meat. Much better for everyone.
✔ Consider using the tried and true Organic Baby Nappies occasionally, instead of opting for disposable ones all the time. With 100% GOTS Certified Organic Cotton, you can be assured they are super soft and fluffy and made from an ideal fabric to put next to your little babies sensitive skin. These could also be used to wipe up spills, as burp cloths, mini-towels and more.
✔ Choose Organic Baby Clothing that has been checked to contain high quality Certified Organic Fabric. An ideal material to be used as Baby Clothes and safe to place next to your babies skin no matter how sensitive it might be. See Organic Baby Clothes Australia.
✔ Find an Organic Baby Nursery Manufacturer in Australia that you trust and see what else they can do for you. A good business will care that their Cot Mattresses have undergone the voluntary standards testing. And an Australian family owned business like Organature® take the question of baby safety even further. It makes so much more sense to be thoughtful about what babies are inhaling though their nose, ingesting through their mouth and/or absorbing through their skin! They’ve thought about everything regarding the health of children by making sure there are definitely NO chemicals in any of the bedding products like there are in most regular bedding products. NO potential volatile oils such as you would get in pine nursery furniture, NO fumigation of mattress fillings, NO toxic timber finishes etc. Current advice is that the cot, crib, bassinet or cradle mattresses need to be ‘firm’ so that baby doesn’t suffocate. When the mattress is made from a natural and fully breathable medium such as Certified Organic Cotton, the likelihood of suffocation is minimised even further.