Toxic Beds

Toxic Beds

The whole flame-retardant bed thing is ridiculous. As you note, Nicole, if the house is on fire, a tiny swath of flame-resistant bedding isn't going to do much. But the chemicals involved in the flame retardant process certainly can over time.

There are a lot of ways that manufacturers make mattresses flame retardant. Some treat their fabrics and foams with toxic flame retarding chemicals like polybrominated diphenyl ethers, or PBDEs. Some use less toxic substances like melamine, but this technique can result in a mattress that emits formaldehyde. Some use flame proof fabrics based on materials like Kelvar, which is okay. It's hard to know which mattress is using what technique without asking.

In your case, I wouldn't worry too much about the polyester itself. Polyester, while synthetic, is a material of low concern as far as off-gassing goes. I'm not aware it off-gases much if anything at all. What would worry me is what that polyester has been treated with to make it flame retardant. There's got to be something pretty potent there because polyester by itself will basically melt under heat, and flame retardancy tests usually require a material to be able to withstand so many seconds in direct contact with flame, which fries polyester pretty much on contact.

Whatever it is, I'd avoid it. And yes that unfortunately means getting a doctor to write a prescription. I would hope that your family pediatrician wouldn't require an office visit or a payment or give you any kind of a hard time over this. That they would just write you a prescription you could pick up. (If not I might consider a new pediatrician!) Then you'll take this to the mattress dealer and special order a flame-retardant-free mattress. A bit of a rigamarole, I know, but worth it when you consider the less-than-healthy alternative.