What are Safer Pillow Options?

QUESTION:

“Any suggestions on where to look for a "friendly" toddler pillow? :) Thanks!”

ANSWER:

Since your toddler’s face is nestled into a pillow for 10-13 hours a day, you really want to make sure it’s a safe pillow and he’s not breathing in risky chemicals. Our friend and detox diva, Annie B. Bond, has a great post about this on her site, Green Chi Café:

Now we learn from new research that pillows and car seats give humans the highest amount of PBDE flame retardants of any product.

Before this, when I’d focused on pillow toxics, I’d focused on outgassing foam and polyester. If I had really thought about it I would have suspected that pillows might have flame retardants, but maybe the thought was too gruesome to entertain. There is something so innocent about people, especially children, snuggled up with their pillows every night that it is heart breaking to realize that they/we are breathing in chemicals that are long-lasting in the environment (and our bodies), and are being linked to developmental, reproductive disorders and more.

Wisconsin researchers have tracked the most significant sources of human exposure to one type of flame retardant chemicals – polybrominated dipheylethers (PBDEs) – by using a new kind of portable x-ray analyzer that can detect bromine levels in household items.

The PBDE content was substantially higher in pillows made of polyurethane foam (3,646 parts per million) compared with those made of polyester fibers (107 parts per million) or feathers (6 parts per million).

Car seats made of cloth upholstery had bromine levels that were almost 25 times higher than those made of leather.

The highest sources of PBDE are, according to the study reported in Environmental Health Perspectives, computers and televisions, with averages of about 30,000 and 95,000 parts per million, respectively, but they are not the highest source of exposure for people.

Share sources of organic pillows! Some I suggest are lifekind.com, heartofvermont.com, earthsake.com, and goodnightnaturals.com.

Here are some additional resources:

• Organic Toddler Pillow Buying Guide
• Naturepedic (a Healthy Child Trusted Partner!)
• Pure Rest Organics
• EcoBedroom
• The Clean Bedroom
• White Lotus Home
• A Happy Planet

General Tips:

• Avoid pillows labeled as meeting California TB 117 as they are likely to contain toxic fire retardants.
• Look for pillows made with polyester, down, wool, or cotton as they are unlikely to contain toxic fire retardants according to The Green Science Policy Institute.
• If you can sew, consider making one! Use your choice of natural, untreated materials and keep it fairly flat because toddlers have small necks.

This answer was provided by our fabulous Chief Communications Officer, Janelle. See all of our questions and answers at Get Answers. Do you have a question? Let us know!