Sleep tight, don't let the vinyl bite!

Photo: Rachel Batya Alintoff

When choosing a baby mattress I did a lot of research. I chose a Moonlight Slumber mattress for Hayden's crib, bassinet as well as his changing pad. Did you know that it is illegal in the state of California for mattresses to be sold that contain phthalates? Unfortunately, in the other 49 it is still perfectly legal and acceptable. According to their website,

“Moonlight Slumber mattresses are free of PVC, Vinyl, PBDE, Phthalates, Phosphorous, Arsenic, Antimony and many other harsh and dangerous chemicals commonly used in crib mattresses.” 

I also really liked that the company was started by a Chicago mom, Terri Paul. When she was pregnant, she couldn't believe that none of the mattress standards for industries like hospitals, hotels and nursing homes were in place for infant mattresses. So she went out and created her own sleep products.


My mattress is firm (very important to look for in a crib mattress as soft mattresses have been linked to SIDS) and fits snugly in a standard crib (also extremely important for reason stated above.) The mattress cover is waterproof and completely sealed (so there is no bacteria, like mold, getting in.) Unlike standard mattresses, mine does not smell of--nor contain--all those nasty chemicals. And since there is no off-gassing to worry about, you don't have air out your brand-new mattress for two days before putting it in baby's crib. Imagine that? The cotton is not organic, but the company says their cotton is not "bleached, dyed or chemically altered."


While Moonlight Slumber mattresses are pricier than conventional mattresses, I would suggest that a crib mattress of this kind is a wise investment. The crib is where your baby will be spending most of its time for a long time, so why not make it as safe and chemical-free as possible?


Watch this video from Good Morning America last year. Heather Maclean--another mom/entrepreneur--explains why she loves the Moonlight Slumber and also gives some great safety tips on cribs and mattresses.