Do Babies Really Need Mattress Protectors? Safety Benefits Every Parent Should Know
The mattress cover- do I really need one for my baby? Whether your baby spends their nights in a bassinet, crib, your bed, or any combination, a mattress cover is a non-negotiable.
Let’s get into the why
You likely added some sort of cute cotton muslin sheet to your baby registry, but did you think about the mattress protector? If you prepared to bedshare with baby or are suddenly finding yourself in that territory now (here’s a free guide on how to bedshare safely!) did you ever consider a mattress protector on YOUR bed?
Maybe not 🤷♀️ You wouldn’t be alone in that. It’s not exactly something we are preaching from the roofs.
But here’s why you need one-
A study found that certain mattress materials were investigated as potential reservoirs of bacteria. A related study suggested that the presence of these bacteria/molds was correlated to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
So theoretically, the idea of adding a mattress protector could prevent the growth of bacteria and mold and lower the SIDS rates significantly!
WILD. What they found was that the bodily fluids that come with a New baby (drool, spit up, leaking milk, leaking diapers, etc.) were getting trapped in the mattresses and growing mold. These molds were releasing spores and babies were breathing them all night long causing adverse health effects and in some instances, SIDS.
It’s usually a pretty easy add- on when you are purchasing a mattress but if you need some ideas I’ve complied some for you here:
I have a LOT of thoughts on SIDS but what I hope is that this blog gives you a little more peace knowing that babies really don’t just die with no explanation. It’s just a matter of digging deep enough to know what actually happened. As studies like these come out, we see SIDS numbers dropping and deaths being categorized differently. While it is always a hard subject, we are inching towards more answers and that’s a big deal.
