Your baby’s health is the most important thing for you at all times. Then why not consider a green nursery to take care of your baby’s health? Decorate the nursery with eco-friendly items because they cause no pollution and keep the atmosphere clean and healthy. This will have positive effects on your baby. Most of the mothers believe that all the baby products are absolutely safe; the fact is that some of them are not. The permanent press sheets are usually treated with a carcinogenic, formaldehyde. The plywood furnishings used may release some harmful petrochemical VOCs into the air. Since the babies are very small, their internal and external organs are only in the early stages of development. The VOCs may affect them very badly and cause a lot of harm. If you want to prevent such a condition, use eco-friendly products in your baby’s nursery. Here are some green nursery basics.
1. Cribs
All the cribs have to follow the guidelines set by the Consumer Products Safety Commission. However, these guidelines do not address the issues caused by the materials, paints and the additives that go into the making of the cribs. In order to prevent your baby from chewing up these materials, try to use a crib made of solid maple. You can either leave it unfinished or finish it with linseed oil or pure and raw tung. You can also chose to make the cribs with sustainable wood that is treated with some non-toxic paint, stains or finish.
2. Bedding and mattresses
Conventional baby mattresses are made of different materials such as nylon, foam, vinyl and polyester, derived from petroleum. They are treated with fire retardants, antimicrobials and stain reducing chemicals. They can accumulate in fat and breast milk leading to improper brain development as in animals. Avoid such complications and consider using mattresses made of wool padding, organic cotton and natural rubber. They are free from harmful chemicals.
Some babies get eczema rashes due to food allergies or breastfeeding from an allergic mother. Other prominent reasons for the rashes are use of soaps, chemical treatment of the bedding, laundry detergent etc. that come in contact with the baby’s skin. When you buy a mattress, first let out all the extra air. Then use a cover made with untreated cotton flannel. It is a good barrier between the baby’s soft skin and the harmful chemicals. You can also use a water resistant wool pad for extra protection.
3. Furniture
Furniture used should be eco-friendly and comfortable. You can easily find child-proportioned chairs, tables and other furniture made of wood. If you want to add only one single piece, then use a hardwood rocking chair instead of the upholstered types. Such items will look natural and pleasing.
4. Carpets and rugs
Rugs are very important because they protect the knees of a crawling baby and help the toddler to land softly. Most of the synthetic and wool carpets are treated with mothproofing and stain proofing chemicals. According to an EPA analysis in 1994, some carpet samples have chemicals like xylene, toluene and benzene etc. Pollutants, dust mites and other harmful substances can settle in the carpets and cause conditions like asthma. Since the babies spend more time on the floor, the chemicals and other harmful materials can cause other diseases. The best way to deal with this problem is to leave the floor with natural fiber rugs that are washable. Rugs made out of recycled fabrics can also be used. Carpets made of untreated wool are also a good choice. Another choice is to use recycled vintage carpets.
5. Flooring
If the floor of the nursery is made of wood, it can be refinished with polyureseal BP, a low VOC product. Floor made of linoleum is also beneficial. It can be made very colorful and attractive with a collage or a contrasting border. Cork floor is another option as it is a good insulator of sound and heat. It is soft and absorbs the impacts well when your child tumbles. Some cork floor may contain binders with formaldehyde.
6. Paints
The color or the paint in your baby’s nursery depends on your personal choice. However, try to choose from paints that contain low VOC. When the paint dries, the VOCs are let out into the air and release chemicals and gases. They also give out a strong odor of paint. All these can be harmful for your baby.
7. Baby room products
As far as possible, use all natural and eco-friendly materials and do not cause any kind of pollution in your baby’s nursery. There are many stores that specialize in such items. Use a good air purifier in the room to absorb gases, chemicals and other household allergens. Provide proper ventilation to let in fresh air and remove stale air.
