Buying eco-friendly or organic "baby gear"

[Izzybelly]

I have been trying to buy mattresses, etc. that lack flame retardant chemicals and other materials that off-gas, but I am struggling with "baby gear."  My MIL wants to buy us a playard, which is very sweet of her, but I can't find any organic or chem-free mattresses to fit in them (or any eco-friendly playards, for that matter).  Lots of organic sheets, but... what's the point of that if the mattress fumes get right through?  Does anyone have a good source for this sort of thing?

[Amy May]

One thing you could consider is a used play yard/ mattress.  My understanding is that the chemicals have had time to off-gas, and in general, re-used things are much more eco-friendly anyway.  We're custom-making a crib/co-sleeper and are making our own mattress out of wool panels (not organic, but flame resistant, waterproof, and not too chemical-y), but I'd actually prefer a used pack&play over new.  I totally relate to what you wrote though!  Good luck!

[not_telling]

We didn't have a pack n' play for our first and don't have plans to get one...so I'm not completely familiar with how they work.  Is there a mattress that sits down in the bottom?  And you cover it with a sheet?  I would second what Amy May said...although, what are pack n' plays made of anyway?  If any part of it is vinyl then I think there's no end to the off-gassing.  Dax Stores is a great online source for things like organic/toxin-free mattresses at good prices.  You might check there to see if they have a mattress that would fit.

[theboysmama]

I was going to post what amy may did. Used is better. Maybe there is no end to the offgassing but there would be less if it has been around a while... Plus you are being eco friendly by keeping something from being tossed and not buying a new product AND it is way way cheaper. If you are really worried I would buy a wool mattress pad or piddle pad and use that under your organic sheet. Then there would be something between the sheet and the mattress.

[meggles]

I think there are some sites like Ecobaby Organics that will custom make an organic mattress with whatever dimensions you need. 

For me, whatever the baby is sleeping on/in is most important. We have a mini cosleeper with an organic latex and wool mattress and an organic moses basket. I have a pack & play, baby swing, and baby bouncer seat and I'm not worrying too much about those because I won't be using them as much as the things baby will sleep in. 

[Izzybelly]

Thanks for the advice!  We are going with a used playard (though how I will explain that to my MIL has yet to be revealed to me...)  And Dax stores has proved to be a great resource (I don't have a crib yet either).

Meggles, agreed to the sleeping.  We've got a moses basket as well now, plus our stroller came with a bassinet that has a latex organic mattress.  Working on the crib... I think my MIL was thinking that the playard would be convenient, since it also has a bassinet on top, and since she's already had 4 children and 9 grandchildren, it's the culture of the family.  Sigh...

Thanks all!

[meggles]

You could also google mattress wrapping--where you wrap the mattress in thick plastic and create a couple of vents on the underside. That might give you more peace of mind in using an non-organic mattress of any sort and is super cheap.

[Amy May]

We're making our own co-sleeper, as well as the mattress.  An organic mattress is a bit pricy for us, and because the co-sleeper is homemade, the mattress also needs to be custom-sized.

We haven't finished the mattress, but we're making it out of wool panels. Basically, we ordered 3 100% wool blankets from an Army surplus store, as well as lanolin.  We'll felt the wool in the washing machine.  I don't know if we'll lanolize all of the wool pieces, or just the top and bottom.  But, we'll sew togetehr 6 or so panels into a mattress.  The felting process makes them stiff, and wool is naturally flame resistant, and waterproof, and doesn't contain the chemicals of a synthetic mattress.  It'll be fairly hard and thin, but neither of us believe that a baby needs a super soft mattress anyway. 

We're also going to get a used pack & play.  Good luck with your baby products!