Lambs wool has unique temperature-regulating properties. (See our blog Wool fibres ‘breathe’ naturally). These properties come from the ‘crimp’ in the woollen fleece of lambs and the hollow nature of wool fibres, which trap air and absorb moisture. In effect these properties enable wool to ‘breathe’. This ‘breathability’ means that when the lambskin fleece touches human skin, it regulates our body to a steady temperature.
Are Lambs wool underlays good for babies?
Yes, lambs wool underlays have been shown to be medically safe and beneficial for babies. Long before modern synthetic mattresses, our great grandmothers used lambskins as bedding for babies and natural wool for swaddling blankets and clothes.
Sheep were one of the first animals’ humans domesticated. (Between 11,000 and 9,000 BC. ,with the domestication of the wild mouflon sheep in ancient Mesopotamia). Archaeologists have also found evidence of domestic sheep herding by Europeans during the Neolithic period, about 6000 BC. (The Castelnovien people, living around Chateauneuf-les-Martigues near present-day Marseille in the south of France). Since then, humans have been using the skins of sheep for clothing and bedding, as well as a ready source of meat without the need to hunt. Some traditional societies, notably in central Asia, still use lambskin for bedding and natural wool for swaddling. Lambskin is a traditional bedding material for babies that has been used for thousands of years. However, before buying, we recommend seeking confirmation from your medical practitioner.
Lambs wool is naturally resistant to bed bugs, dust mites and mould growth. Because it draws moisture away from baby’s skin, bacteria are less likely to grow. Lambs wool as we said above is ‘breathable’, allowing air to circulate around baby when you lie them on the rug. Lamb’s wool also contains lanolin, a waxy substance that protects the lamb’s skin and is commonly used as a skin care product. Small amounts of residual lanolin left after the tanning process can help to soothe baby’s skin.
You can also wash Aussie Uggs sheepskin rugs to keep them perfectly clean. We recommend using Tantech Woolskin Shampoo and Wool Wash.
Aussie Uggs lambskin baby rugs are eco-tanned, with a short dense 15 mm pile, so that they are hygienic and safe for babies. Aussie Uggs lambskin rugs are soothing on your baby's skin, perfect for supervised play or for baby sleeping on their back. The soft, thick, dense pile conforms to the baby’s body shape making baby comfortable when lying on lambskin on a hard surface such as a wooden or tiled floor.
Remi Enjoys a Nap on an Aussie Uggs Baby Care Lambskin Rug
Are natural lambskins cooling?
Yes, natural lambskin is cooling. Most people don’t realize this. They know sheepskin will keep you warm and cosy in the winter cold, but don’t think of sheepskin as a bedding material for babies in summer. But natural lambskin is one of the best ways to keep baby cool and comfortable in summer. This is because the wool pile of lambskin absorbs sweat, keeping baby dry. Air constantly circulates under baby through the wool pile. It has been shown that wool fabrics can remove 25% more moisture away from your skin than polyester fabrics, equivalent to an ambient temperature drop of up to four degrees Celsius. If you are trying to find bedding that will keep your baby cool in summer, then sheepskin is the answer.
When sheepskin is in contact with human skin, it helps to regulate body temperature. In hot conditions sheepskin absorbs sweat instantly (and later desorbs it into the air), up to seven times faster than alternative synthetic bedding materials. This has a cooling effect on the body. In hot weather babies sleep better on sheepskin.
Scientific Research into Babies Sleeping on Lambswool
Research published in The Lancet in 1983 showed underweight babies grew faster on lambswool underlays compared with cotton underlays. Half of a group of 34 very low birthweight babies (mean weight 1143 g) in incubators, were randomly assigned to be continuously nursed on lambswool and the other half on ordinary cotton sheets. The weight gain for the group nursed on wool was significantly higher, 22·7 g/day vs 18·6 g/day for the cotton control group (p<0·02). Lambswool seems to have advantages over cotton sheets as a bedding material for very low birth weight babies.
Reference :Stephen Scott, Tim Cole, Penny Lucas, and Martin Richards (October 1983) “Weight gain and movement patterns of very low birthweight babies nursed on Lambswool” Hospital Practice Volume 322 Issue 8357
More recent research done in Germany has shown that sleeping on animal fur in the first three months of life might reduce the risk of asthma in later childhood. The chance of having asthma at the age of 6 years was found to be 79% lower in children who had slept on animal skin after birth compared with those who were not exposed to animal skin.
Researchers investigated over 3,000 children from a city environment, who had been exposed to animal skin by sleeping on the material shortly after birth. The researchers collected information on exposure to animal skin during the first three months of life, along with information on the health of children until the age of 10 years.
The results showed that sleeping on animal skin was associated with a reduced risk of a number of factors connected to asthma. Dr Christina Tischer, from the Helmholtz Zentrum München Research Centre, said: "Previous studies have suggested that microbes found in rural settings can protect from asthma. An animal skin might also be a reservoir for various kinds of microbes....."
Reference : Dr Christina Tischer et al European Lung Foundation (September 2014) "Sleeping on animal fur in infancy found to reduce risk of asthma." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily,
To summarise, the features of lambskin bedding are:
- Soft to lie on and conforms to the shape of the body.
- Regulates body temperature.
- Improves the health of skin by reducing excess moisture.
- Self-cleaning, hypoallergenic and antibacterial.
- Reduces chances of developing asthma.
- A better sleep for you and your baby.