Baby Snuggle Bugs, Inc.

BabySnuggleBugs.Com

BabeSafe

FAQ | Wrapping Instructions | Bedding Instructions | Radio Interview of T.J. Sprott Concerning Crib death (48min)

"It's not about "being better", zero-risk means just that. My objective is not to reduce the risk of cot death, but to totally eliminate it. So "safer" and "better" have no meaning in the life-and-death issue." Dr. Jim Sprott

Every day around 8 babies die from crib death in the United States. However, research now shows that simple precautions can prevent crib death.

CAUSE OF CRIB DEATH
Two scientists, Dr. Jim Sprott in New Zealand and Mr Barry Richardson in the United Kingdom, have proven that crib death is caused by gases generated by fungal activity on compounds of phosphorus, arsenic and/or antimony present in many baby mattresses and other items of baby bedding.

SOLUTION
The solution is to wrap your baby's crib mattress with a strictly specified mattress cover which prevents the gases from reaching the baby; and to use on top the wrapped mattress specified bedding which is not capable of the gas generation concerned.

"Mattress-wrapping for crib death prevention" has been publicised nationwide in New Zealand for the past 10 years. During that time a very large number of New Zealand babies have slept on mattresses wrapped in specially formulated slip-on polyethylene co-polymer mattress covers. These mattress covers (which were designed by Dr Sprott and are called BabeSafe covers) are now in use in a number of countries.

There has been no reported crib death – anywhere in the world - on any mattress wrapped in accordance with Dr Sprott's mattress-wrapping specifications

Size Selection

BabeSafe slip-on mattress covers are made of high grade 125 micron internally plasticised polyethylene. The Mattress Covers are available in seven sizes displayed below as Length x Width x Thickness. Girth is the distance around the width of the mattress.

To fit mattress size:

Size A Max. length: (35") Max. girth*: (37") For bassinets/cradles
Size B 47" x 23" x 3"
Size C 47" x 23" x 5" For PaknPlays/Co-Sleepers
Size D 47" x 23" x 7"
Size E 52" x 26" x 5"
Size F 52" x 26" x 7" For USA Crib Mattresses
Size P Max. length: (45") Max. girth*: (60")

Sizes B, C and D accommodate most British cot mattresses.

Size C accommodates many American co-sleeper mattresses.

Sizes E and F accommodate American crib mattresses.

Size P accommodates many portable cot/crib mattresses and some co-sleeper mattresses.

* Girth is the distance around the width of the mattress.

If you are unsure which BabeSafe cover size you require, e-mail the three mattress dimensions (length, width and thickness) to support@babysnugglebugs.com.

Wrapping Instructions

10 Steps to BabeSafe Wrapping your:

Remove all Bedding from the Crib.
The Printed Side of the Mattress Cover faces the Floor.
With the Yellow Strip facing Up, Slide the Mattress inside the Cover.
Slide the Cover Down the Mattress.
Fold Over the End, Tucking in the Corners.
Pull Off the Yellow Strip to Seal the End of the Mattress Cover.
Snugly Fold Over the End and Seal the Adhesive Strip.
If there is excess material, then tape the item into position using strong wide adhesive tape (such as 3M Scotch Super Clear tape, 2"/50mm wide).
The BabeSafe Mattress is now ready to be placed in the Crib.
The vent hole/s in the cover should be located at the Bottom of the Wrapped Mattress to allow for ventilation of the mattress.

Cribs/Bassinets/Play Yards with a solid baseboard and no ventilation for the BabeSafe covered mattress to breathe, you should do either of the following:

(a) Drill hole/s in the baseboard corresponding to the position of the hole/s on the underside of the BabeSafe cover; or alternatively

(b) Raise the BabeSafe-wrapped mattress slightly by placing a longish thin item across the baseboard. For this purpose you can use (say) a long pencil, or a thin piece of wood, or a piece of thick string or thin rope. (Of course, the item must not be capable of puncturing the BabeSafe cover.) Place the item across the wrapped mattress from one side to the other so that the ventilation hole/s are slightly elevated. Then tape the item into position using strong wide adhesive tape (such as 3M Scotch Super Clear tape, 2"/50mm wide).

The raising of the wrapped mattress slightly above the baseboard will permit ventilation of the mattress, and it will have no effect on the baby's sleeping pattern.

BabeSafe Bedding Instructions:

Many items of western-style baby bedding are capable of gas generation from compounds of phosphorus, arsenic and/or antimony in the bedding. Therefore it is essential to use strictly specified bedding on top of a BabeSafe-wrapped mattress which is not capable of this gas generation.

Bedding Instructions:

On top of the wrapped mattress place a pure cotton underblanket (defined below).

The pure cotton underblanket placed immediately on top of a BabeSafe-wrapped mattress and beneath the lower cot/crib sheet can comprise of:
- A pure cotton blanket
- A pure cotton flat sheet (folded into layers, if desired, to achieve thickness)
- Pure cotton nappies/diapers sewn together
- A pure cotton bath towel
However, whichever option is used for the underblanket, this item must be made only of 100% pure cotton.

Note that the underblanket cannot be a so-called "cotton mattress pad." No item which is padded/quilted/filled complies with the bedding specificiations for use with the BabeSafe-wrapped mattress.
On top of the pure cotton underblanket, place a pure cotton or polyester/cotton fitted lower sheet and a cover sheet. (The baby sleeps between these sheets.)
On top of the cover sheet, place pure cotton or pure woolen overblanket/s.
Do not use any of the following items on a BabeSafe-wrapped mattress:

Moisture-resistant crib mattress protector
Any form of mattress pad
Any blanket which contains polyester
Any blanket which contains acrylic
Sheepskin or sheepfleece underlay
Sleeping bag
Duvet or quilt
Pillows or cushions
Do not use any bedding or "clothing" item which is in the form of a bag.

Cleaning instructions:
Do not remove the BabeSafe cover from the mattress for cleaning. To clean the cover, wipe it with bar soap and warm water, and then dry with a towel. Do not use chemical bleaches or sterilants to clean a BabeSafe cover.