NON-TOXIC BEDDING AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

Bed linens are one of those finishing elements in a bedroom that make your space feel complete. A well made and styled bed always looks so inviting - those crisp sheets, fluffy pillows, and a meticulously turned down comforter exude that luxe hotel feel - it's what sweet dreams are made of. While the appearance is still important, careful consideration should also be made when selecting the materials your bed linens are made of so you aren't unintentionally surrounding your body in hidden chemicals. Your skin is the largest organ of absorption and elimination. When toxins are absorbed through your skin, they are more likely to be absorbed by the lymphatic system and bloodstream. Second to your mattress, choosing non-toxic bedding should be a top priority for your family's health.

Babies can spend 12-16 hours a day sleeping, and adults spend 1/3 of our lives in bed. While a good night's sleep is essential for maintaining optimal health, toxins hidden in bed linens, laundry detergents, and fragrances can disrupt our health as we sleep every night. Babies and children are more vulnerable when exposed to chemicals because their organs, respiratory and immune systems are still developing. They absorb substances faster and have a more challenging time eliminating the toxins. Exposure to chemicals during the early stages of a baby's development can be quite harmful. This is why shopping for organic, natural, and non-toxic bedding matters for the whole family in reducing the toxic burden on our bodies.

100% Organic Cotton GOTS Certified crib sheet from PB Kids. Room design by Rockabye Mommy

Unfortunately, conventional bed linens may not be as safe as we think they are. Most contain many harmful ingredients like formaldehyde, AZO dyes, pesticides, phthalates, toxic bleaches, and more - which you breathe in all night while you sleep. Formaldehyde, a known carcinogen, can be found in sheets labeled wrinkle-free and has been linked to several short-term health problems such as skin irritation, headaches, respiratory issues, and general fatigue. Long-term formaldehyde exposure can be linked to cancer. Here's a shocking fact: The United States has no regulations on formaldehyde in textiles. Which makes it all the more important to keep up to date on the research, allowing you to make informed decisions regarding the safety of bedding products you choose to purchase for your home.

Non-toxic bedding is essential in creating a safe, healthy, toxin-free bedroom environment (read more here for non-toxic nursery tips and here for additional tips to a toxin-free space). Consciously reducing your toxic load by choosing an organic mattress, pillows and bedding, will ensure your best quality healthy sleep. Making the switch to natural, organic bedding can be easier than you think. Below are a few essential tips to keep in mind while you’re shopping.

CERTIFICATIONS TO LOOK FOR:

GOTS - Global Organic Textile Standard: This certification is the strictest organic-textile standard in the world. From harvesting and fabric finishes to the supply chain and social impact- each step is carbon footprint minimal and ensures the purest end product for consumers. To obtain a GOTS certified label, a product must: contain at least 95% organic fiber, must not be treated with bleach, formaldehyde, or any other toxic substances. It must use non-toxic dyes. Must be produced in mills that enforce strict social and environmental standards, treating their employees and the earth with deep respect.

OEKO-TEX: OEKO-TEX 100 is a third-party textile testing and certification system covering all stages of textile production. Even if a product may have started with quality raw materials (or even organic raw materials), it doesn't necessarily mean the product was manufactured to the same principles. This is why the OEKO-TEX certification was created; it certifies the manufacturing process. Textiles which meet the standard have undergone testing beyond legal regulation in many countries, testing for known harmful substances.

MADE-SAFE: Is the only certification examining all materials in bedding from a human health and ecosystem perspective. Brands with The MADE SAFE® seal means that a product is literally Made With Safe Ingredients™ not known or suspected to harm human health, animals, or ecosystems.

Fair Trade Certified: When you see a product with the Fair Trade Certified™ seal, you can be sure it was made according to rigorous social, environmental, and economic standards. Some of the key benefits of supporting Fair Trade Certified™ products include clean water, education, and healthcare for local communities.

Greenguard Gold: While not the best, this certification is a better choice than none and gives assurance that products designed for use in indoor spaces meet their chemical emissions limits - contributing to the creation of healthier interiors. Gold certification considers safety factors to account for sensitive individuals, such as children and the elderly.

GOTS Certified crib bedding from PB Kids

NATURAL MATERIALS TO LOOK FOR:

100% Organic Cotton (grown without pesticides) - GOTS certified is the best.

100% Organic Linen - GOTS certification is the best.

WHAT TO AVOID:

Anything synthetic: Polyester, Acrylic, Nylon. Often containing plastic and other chemicals that can absorb into your skin.

Anything chemically treated: Such as “Wrinkle-free,” “permanent press,” “anti-static,” “shrink-resistant,” “color-fast,” “anti-bacterial,” “anti-microbial,” “soft finish,” “stain-resistant,” “stain repellant,” and “flame retardant.” These fabric finishes are all treated with a chemical process that includes formaldehyde and other chemicals. While these treatments may sound beneficial, they should be avoided. I for one, would not sleep well knowing that my sheets were treated with formaldehyde. With the information in this post and continuing to do more research of your own, you can make an informed choice on what you’re bundling up in.

favorite brands for CRIB BASICS:

Shopping for a baby’s crib bedding is pretty simple. All you’ll need is an organic fitted sheet - keeping all soft bedding items out of your baby’s crib for safety purposes. Adding a crib skirt can safely dress it up a bit.

Naturepedic: GOTS, GOLS, Greenguard, MADE SAFE and Fair Trade certified, they are definitely a go-to source of mine for non-toxic mattresses. They also offer an organic waterproof mattress protector pad, organic cotton breathable covers and 100% organic cotton fitted crib sheets making them a one-stop shop for your crib bedding basics! Colors are limited to white or ivory, however there are plenty of other areas in a space to bring in color and I’m on board with neutral color palettes these days!

Coyuchi: GOTS, MADE SAFE and Fair Trade certified - I love this brand and have their bedding and towels in my own home. They offer organic percale crib sheets in three colors. And a couple organic cotton baby blankets.

Pottery Barn Kids: PB Kids now offers many options that are GOTS and Fair Trade Certified. Look for the icons below each style for these certifications to know for sure what you are purchasing. And you can also filter by “organic baby bedding.” This is where you will find numerous color and pattern options.

Naturepedic 2-in-1 crib mattress and waterproof mattress cover.

FAVORITE BRANDS FOR ADULT BEDDING BASICS:

Naturepedic: GOTS, GOLS, Greenguard, MADE SAFE and Fair Trade certified. They offer 100% certified organic sheet sets and pillow cases in a natural color. A brand you can trust and feel confident with your healthier bedding purchase.

Coyuchi: GOTS, MADE SAFE and Fair Trade certified. Coyuchi has a full bedding collection of sheet sets, pillow cases, shams, duvets and blankets. I love that they offer a variety of colors and patterns.

Avocado Green Mattress: I have not personally tried their bedding collections, however I do have one of their mattresses in my home and we love it. Avocado offers a complete bedding collection including sheet sets, pillow cases, duvets, duvets inserts and blankets. Their bedding only comes in solid colors but they do have some beautiful striped alpaca wool throws.

Coyuchi 300 thread count organic duvet and sheet set

reduce your exposure:

Your little one's bedding and blankets may appear clean, even after you've run them through the washer, but the chemicals that remain can be harmful. So, if you notice symptoms such as allergies or rashes, you may want to consider looking into the fiber content of their bedding. Toxic chemicals don't always go away with time either, so your child may not be sleeping on or breathing in the cleanest of air, no matter how many journeys the bedding has had in the washer. And symptoms don't always present themselves right away as the residue from treatments is permanently in the fibers of your child's bedding and blankets. By purchasing bedding that is 100% organic, you will reduce your child's exposure to harmful chemicals, especially since a considerable amount of their time is spent sleeping, and their little bodies are so sensitive.