I think having baby sleep on a caregiver's chest is MORE safe than on the mattress. There is research to suggest that the fire retardant chemicals break down over time and produce toxic gasses that are heavier than air, thus forming a cloud right at baby level. Having baby off of the surface would keep them out of the off-gassing danger zone. This (IMO) is why back sleeping has better success than belly sleeping- baby's face isn't right down in there with the toxic gasses. From what I've read, wrapping the mattress in plastic, or elevating the head of the bed a few inches is an effective solution. We just bought a chemical free mattress, and it has given me great peace of mind!
post #21 of 22
3/29/08 at 11:02am
Follow Mothering