It seems to be what everyone is talking about these days – global warming, carbon footprints, manufacturers that are environmentally responsible, companies that produce “green” or organic products. But what does that really mean to you personally when you are in the process of making room in your home for a new child? Planning a nursery can feel overwhelming, especially if you don’t know where to begin. Adding environmental concerns on top of everything else you have to take care of right now can seem like more stress when you need less. However it’s not complicated if you are aware of what to look for – when designing a green nursery, it’s just a matter of focusing on the right elements.
The whole point of designing a green nursery is to provide a safe, healthy and non-toxic environment for both you (after all, you will be spending a lot of time in this room too) and your baby. Start with the paint – choose water-based paints with low VOCs (volatile organic compounds). If you are pregnant, plan on having someone else do the actual painting. Even when using a non-toxic paint, to ensure that it is properly “cured” and won’t emit chemicals into the air, paint the nursery at least one month before bringing baby is to occupy the room.
Bare floors with an area rug made from natural materials like cotton or wool are best. If there is already wall-to-wall carpet in the room that cannot be removed, give it a good cleaning with an eco-friendly carpet shampoo.
When shopping for baby furniture, choose a crib and changing table made from timber (real wood) as opposed to furnishings made from composite woods such as pressboard or MDF (medium density fiberboard). Make sure that paints, stains and other types of finishes are non-toxic. Avoid plastic wherever possible. Choose toys made from natural materials like cotton and wood.
Select a crib mattress that is the most organic or eco-friendly that you can afford. Look past what you can actually see. Make sure that the materials used to make a crib mattress are manufactured without the use of toxic fire retardant chemicals. If a purely organic crib mattress is out of your price range, an economical option is to buy a quality firm crib mattress and then purchase a separate organic cotton crib mattress cover.
Consider materials like untreated pure cotton and wool for window treatments and crib bedding. Another option is to use wood shutters that have a nontoxic finish or mini-blinds. Make sure that you choose a type that doesn’t have dangling cords.
Designing a green nursery is relatively simple when you know what to look for. It is simply a matter of buying items and products that are as toxic-free as possible for anything that your infant will directly come into contact with. An eco-friendly nursery will be the perfect place for your little one to sleep, grow and play.
