Give Your Baby a Healthy, Eco-Friendly Start

When your new baby arrives, you want everything to be perfect, from the crib to the curtains. Most of your baby’s time will likely be spent in the nursery, so every item in the room should be safe and healthy. Unfortunately, many baby products on the market are exactly the opposite of that. Harmful gases called volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are released into the air by conventional bedding, furniture, paints, carpeting and other nursery components. Babies’ organs aren’t able to process these environmental toxins as well as those of adults.

In addition to VOCs, your baby could be exposed to allergens, chemicals, dust mites, and other pollutants that could be absorbed into her tiny body. You can create a hypoallergenic, low VOC, eco friendly baby nursery with just a little more effort. Low VOC paints, solid wood furniture, organic bedding and hardwood floors are just a few ways you can pamper your baby naturally.

Paint

Choose natural, low VOC or zero VOC paints instead of traditional paints. Natural paints are made of raw ingredients like water, plant resins, natural minerals, milk casein, bee’s wax and essential oils. They can be purchased through interior designers or online. Low VOC and zero VOC paints use water as a carrier rather than petroleum-based solvents and are distributed by paint manufacturers such as Benjamin Moore, Sherwin Williams, Cloverdale and Miller Paint Co.

Zero VOC paints contain volatile organic compounds in the range of 5 grams per liter or less. Low VOC paints must contain no more than 200 grams per liter to meet EPA standards, but most reputable brands contain 50 grams per liter.

Bedding

Cotton is the second most pesticide-laden crop in the world after coffee. Conventionally grown cotton represents only 2.4 % of all cultivated land, but actually consumes 25% of the world’s pesticide production and 10% of its herbicide production. Chlorine bleach, a skin and respiratory irritant, is used to whiten cotton fabrics, and formaldehyde, a carcinogen, is applied to finish the garments. For just one item of conventionally-grown cotton clothing, over 1/3 of a pound of chemicals are used.

Organic cotton is grown without pesticides and processed without the use of harmful chemicals. Organic cotton fields are naturally fertilized and pest-consuming insects are used instead of chemical pesticides. Weeds are removed with tractors, hoes, or by hand. Organic cotton is gentle on baby’s skin, letting in oxygen to maintain a natural moisture balance. It lasts longer and is often softer and thicker than conventional cotton.

Another good choice for your baby’s bedding is organic wool. Sheep raised for wool on organic farms are given special care to make them resistant to parasites, keeping the wool free of allergens. It’s very durable, soft and warm.

Furniture

How many times have you seen a baby standing up in his crib after a nap, chewing on the crib bars? When you consider that conventional nursery furniture is made from wood treated with formaldehyde and other chemicals and finished with varnishes that contain a high level of VOCs, suddenly the baby’s room doesn’t seem so safe.

Sustainable, low-toxicity furniture is the best choice for your baby’s room. Solid wood, wicker or rattan furniture with low VOC finish is available in a wide range of styles and colors to suit any nursery decor. If you don’t have the dough to spend on eco friendly nursery furniture, buy traditional furniture second hand – all the harmful chemicals have most likely already been released into the air, plus you’re saving it from the dump.

Flooring

Wall-to-wall carpeting contains a myriad of pollutants, mold, dust, chemical stain repellants, flame retardants and high VOC adhesives. The best flooring solution for your new baby’s room is sustainably harvested hardwood with a non-toxic sealer, and low VOC area rugs. If you’re already pregnant and the nursery has a carpeted floor, don’t tear it out - it’s best to just keep the carpet as clean as possible using a HEPA-filter vacuum.

Toys

Let your baby gnaw away at good old fashioned wooden toys and organic cloth stuffed animals. Try to keep the toys as natural as possible, and once the baby gets older, choose second hand toys. Babies don’t need dozens of toys to keep them occupied, and your home will look better without all that plastic junk in primary colors.

Cleaning

Use only non-toxic cleaning products in the nursery and anywhere else your baby will spend a lot of her time. Use hypoallergenic, unscented, biodegradable laundry detergent to wash all of your baby’s clothing and bedding before she arrives.