Much of the concern about flammable mattresses arose in the days when many people smoked in bed, says Sonya Lunder of the Environmental Working Group. Smoking rates have fallen sharply, from nearly 50% of adults in the 1960s to about 20% today.
Taking certain simple steps — using smoke detectors and keeping cigarettes, candles and matches out of a home with youngsters — can sharply reduce the risk of fires, Lunder says.
Reducing exposure to chemical flame retardants
Parents can reduce potentially harmful chemicals in household dust by using a vacuum with a HEPA filter, says Sarah Janssen of the Natural Resources Defense Council. Kids also should wash their hands before eating. And families should replace furniture with ripped upholstery that exposes the inner foam, which is commonly treated with flame retardants.
Smarter shopping
Products treated with flame retardants aren't labeled, so parents can't tell what's inside their nursery supplies, says Alan Fields, co-author of Baby Bargains, which rates children's products.
Furniture and textiles made from natural fibers, such as wool or cotton, "are more naturally flame-retardant than synthetic fibers and require fewer chemical additives," Janssen says.
Before buying electronics, check with the manufacturers to see if they have pledged to phase out the use of flame retardants, she says.