How Mattresses Can Affect Your Kids' Health

A good night’s sleep hinges on a lot of factors. Your bedroom should help you relax and should also help you fall asleep. The same applies to your kids. Their bedroom is their safe space to rest and unwind after a long day at school and play. Your child needs all the sleep they can get without interruptions. So it is up to you, as a parent, to ensure that your child faces no obstacles in their path to a night of healthy sleep. Something that all parents should keep in mind is the bedding that they choose. There are various factors to consider when choosing a proper mattress for your child. The wrong mattress would not just disrupt their sleep, but can also cause various side effects. Here are some ways you can buy a mattress that won’t hamper with your kids bedroom idea and will give your child the ultimate peace and relaxation.

Watch out for mattress off-gassing

This is the least talked about topic when it comes to buying a mattress, but it is the most crucial one as this can severely affect our health. Mattress off-gassing is the process in which harmful chemicals that are present in the mattress evaporates and mixes in the air we breathe. This evaporation process can happen for many years, hence we might not even know about it. What causes off-gassing in mattresses? It is mainly the chemical components used in synthetic foams and certain fire retardants that cause the emission of fumes. If in contact with these chemicals over a long period of time, it can cause serious negative reactions, and companies have never tested these on children for the full length of time that one would be sleeping on throughout their lifetime. When kids are exposed to these fumes for a long period of time, they are most susceptible to allergies, asthma, or even cancer. Some other side effects from off-gassing include:

• Asthma
• Allergies
• Puffy, red, watery eyes
• Congestion
• Coughing
• Rashes
• Hives
• Respiratory Problems
• Nausea
• A headache

When you are about to select a good mattress, ensure that you keep a close eye on what goes in it. Some chemicals you need to steer clear from in mattress are:

• Formaldehyde
• Petroleum-based chemicals
• Toxic foams
• Synthetic foams
• Chemical Fire Retardants
• Polyurethane Foam
• Polybrominated diphenyl (PBDEs)
• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

Try switching to eco-friendly mattresses over traditional mattresses. Eco-friendly mattresses are made with all natural, renewable resources, and are anti-microbial and don’t contain harsh chemicals. Since the materials used for eco-friendly mattresses are natural and safe for the environment, they do not emit any toxic fumes into the air.

Get rid of old mattresses.

Mattresses need as much care and attention as everything else in your household. Your bed is where you spend the maximum of your sleeping nights in, hence it would do you good to check yours and your child’s mattresses for any lumps, bumps or loose springs. There are many negative side effects from sleeping on an old worn out mattress, aside from the usual body aches when you and your child wake up. There is no sure-fire number to determine when your mattress needs to be changed, but experts suggest that, if you take good care of it, it can last you up to 8 years or a decade. You can refer to your manufacturing label to check out how long you can keep using your mattress for till it’s time to get a new one. Some ways you can take care of your mattress to ensure its longevity:

• Don’t let your kids jump on it
• Rotate mattresses periodically
• Purchase a bed frame with center support to prevent sagging.

Keep your bedding as clean as possible.

Since your child will spend a lot of time in his or her bed, there are a lot of chances for their bed to collect a lot of nasty things, such as dead skin and body oils. These attract dust mites, which live and breed on your child’s bed without them even knowing it. Usually, we have by now grown accustomed to dust mites that your child won’t display any symptoms. But if they suffer from allergies, sleeping on a dust mite infected mattress can cause sneezing, runny nose, coughing, and even asthma. This can escalate and cause life-threatening illness such as difficulties breathing, chest tightness, or shortness of breath. There are some ways to ensure that your child does not get affected by all this by keeping a cleaning routine for your mattress.

• Use allergen-proof bed covers.
• Don’t go for bedding that’s difficult to take out and wash
• Wash bedding as frequently and thoroughly as possible. Take time out once a week to wash it in very hot water.
• Vacuum the mattress frequently. Buy a vacuum with HEPA filter attached to remove dust.

Complaints of frequent back pain.

If your child complains of frequent backaches or overall body aches, it is time to check the condition of their mattress. Lumpy, old mattresses that have a dent in the middle are usually the culprits. Sleeping on an uneven surface for a long period of time can cause your child to toss and turn, trying to find a good spot to sleep in, resulting in sleepless nights and body aches. In that case, it is time to invest in a new mattress.