OM Home’s organic cotton crib sheet = sweet dreams #SafeSleep

Throughout this kids’ safe sleep series, I’ve written a lot about the reasons that organic sleep products can be so beneficial for your child – like eliminating off-gassing – and for the earth, by using products that are plentiful.

This week, instead of starting off with an anecdote about something noteworthy from my family life (because do you really want another story that ultimately leads to crib sheets? I thought not), or one of my recent failures at parenthood (despite how amusing that can be), I thought it might be helpful to write briefly about organic certifications.

I think all certifications have value – it means someone, somewhere has done some level of quality assurance and is accountable. The two most common are probably Oeko-Tex and GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard). While I had a good foundation of the Oeko-Tex certification process, I was curious about what differentiated GOTS, so I asked Toni Brem Mullen and Oorbee Roy, mompreneur partners at OM Home, to help clarify.

“Both certifications certify textiles to be free of all harmful chemicals. GOTS takes it a step farther and certifies that no harmful chemicals were used from harvest through manufacture, that waste is disposed of responsibly and that fair labour practices are enforced. Strict guidelines have to be met; companies must provide a safe and hygienic environment, with livable wages, appropriate working hours and absolutely no child labour.”

The short story? GOTS guarantees the organic products you invite into your home are (1) healthy for you and your kidlets, (2) safe for the environment and (3) socially responsible.

In my mind, that third step is an important one.

Considering the extra expense of organic products, I want to ensure that my money isn’t all landing in the hands of a middleman or retailer; I want to know that the people who’ve made them have seen their fair share, too. With GOTS-certified products, you can sleep well at night. That is, until your rugrat wakes you up at 2:35 a.m. because he’s somehow managed to pee everywhere but into his nighttime diaper.

I’m thrilled to introduce you to the beautiful textiles from OM Home – a Canadian company that makes some of the most stunning pattern combinations you’ll find anywhere. I was so lucky to have the opportunity to review OM Home’s brand new organic crib sheet, which is available now.

This is the “Avnee Gray” colour scheme. Perfectly neutral.

THE GOOD

Om Home’s fitted crib sheet rivals the buttery softness of bamboo. It’s easily the softest organic jersey cotton I’ve ever touched. I may pet it from time to time. I promise that your baby will delight in sleeping on this crib sheet. (And you might just want to curl up next to him.)

The pattern I chose for my review – Avnee Green – is so pretty. Miss Q’s bedroom walls are a soft green and we have hits of every pink under the sun throughout her room. The Avnee Green colour combination (with hints of soft blue-greens, pale yellows and a lovely coral pink on a warm white backdrop) couldn’t have been a better match for my gal’s room. It’s feminine without being over-the-top girlie, so someone who’s trying to create a girl’s room that’s fit for a princess but isn’t sickly sweet would probably love it. OM Home calls its prints “gender inclusive.” Interestingly, the pattern was first hand-drawn as a tattoo. If that isn’t edgy enough for you, I don’t know what is.

Although the measurements appear on paper to me as standard for Canadian cribs, I found the fit to be exceedingly generous. It is so nice not to pull, drag and squeeze this sheet around the corners of the crib mattress. It’s by far the easiest crib sheet to get on and off Miss Q’s crib mattress.

THE GAFFE

“Avnee Green”

There are only two colours/patterns to choose from in OM Home’s Avnee Collection, which is its organic crib sheet line. With the label “collection,” I hope this means more choices are coming.

At $68, this crib sheet is the most expensive to come into my home. Keep in mind, however, that it’s made by hand and it’s made in Canada. This will always cost more than designing a product in Canada and having it made overseas. It would make a spectacular baby gift, so at this price (if you’re not feeling super-spendy) go in on it with a friend and surprise a mom-to-be with something she’ll cherish. I know I plan to get some acid-free tissue paper and wrap this crib sheet up when Miss Q is finished with it, because it’s heirloom quality and I hope it will be passed down to my grandbabies.

THE GEARS

4.5/5

So…where can I buy it?

• Exclusively from OM Home (Pssst! Use “FRIENDS25” at the checkout until October 31, 2012, to get 25 per cent off your purchase)