New Baby, New Concerns

Let me first state that I am SO not a science person. The last science class I took in college was called "Bacteria: Friend or Foe?" I think I got a B. So please don't bash me if I get terms or ideas wrong here....it is your job to read up on things yourself if you are interested.

But wow, I had no idea that this was out there. When AJ was born in 2006 I thought I had read all of the important stuff, but somehow I missed seeing this? I read it on a blog linked from Carla's blog. Thirteen years ago, a scientist named Dr. Jim Sprott came out with a study from New Zealand that said SIDS is caused by toxic gasses and fungi in flame-retardant crib mattresses. He claimed that wrapping a mattress in a specific covering would trap the gasses inside the mattress and prevent a SIDS death.

I have skimmed research from both sides and I just really don't know what to think. Again, I am a liberal arts kind of gal and am having a hard time just getting through the studies. On one hand, APY and I agree that it's absolutely essential to take any steps necessary to prevent SIDS, even if it means resorting to unconventional tactics. On the other hand, if this research is so clear-cut and 13 years old, I don't understand why it hasn't been endorsed by major SIDS prevention groups. I don't think they are being paid off by the U.S. mattress industry (as has been suggested in some things I've read) and I truly believe that SIDS prevention is of the utmost importance to many of these groups. But there are also groups on both sides that sell SIDS-related products so they have an economic motivation.

I just don't know what to believe. I obviously don't have a position either way, so if you'd like to learn more you can Google something like "SIDS mattress wrapping." I may end up getting one of those Angel Care monitors that alerts you when your baby stops breathing, just for peace of mind.

But here's the thing....terrible tragedies DO happen in life. In the grand scheme of things, I prefer to be a little paranoid about my family's health, safety and security because it helps me to appreciate what I have and to take care of them as best I can.

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