Greening the Nursery

You plan your pregnancy. (Sometimes.)

You take special vitamins and get regular check ups to make sure the baby grows healthy.

You take classes to prepare yourself for the birth.

You learn about breastfeeding and baby care.

So why would you fill your baby's room with a bunch of chemicals?

Actually, most of us are guilty of this, myself included, until I got an education in "green." Shockingly, paint, carpeting, bedding and even furniture upholstery can contain or are treated with chemicals that produce dangerous gasses that linger in your baby's room and home for months, sometimes years, and result in poor interior air quality. Is there a link here to the rise in the rates of asthma and other childhood respiratory illnesses? There are no clear studies that indicate this (of course!) but you can draw your own conclusions.

The good news is that the popularity of the green baby is surging and now there are more choices than ever. Hollywood celebrities like Julia Roberts and Halle Berry have greened their nurseries, but they spent thousands of dollars on a green interior design consultant.

Try IDOG's Green Nursery Guide! The price is right!

Step 1: Pick out your colors! When painting the baby's room, you need to use a low or better, no VOC paint. Traditional paints contain volatile organic compounds that linger in a room for long periods of time. A great no-VOC paint is the Harmony line by Sherwin Williams. It's so safe that you can paint with it by day, and move in that night. Color choices are in the hundreds.

Step 2: Many parents like carpeting in a baby's room because the baby may be crawling on the floor. True, but the bad news is that wall to wall is treated with toxic chems- even benzene and formaldehyde in some cases, as well as moth repellents, stain repellents, and dangerous adhesives that can off gas into your home for months if not years. Imagine their little faces rubbing on it! No, no, that won't do. Check out http://www.flor.com/, a very eco-conscious company that offers natural fiber rugs that come in these cool, easy to install, easy to clean carpet tiles. If a tile gets stained, you just pull it off and replace it. The tile adhesive doesn't ruin the floors underfoot either. You can use it for wall to wall, or create an area rug. For true wall-to-wall and other flooring alternatives, try http://www.greenfloors.com/. This company's products are made from recycled materials and are some of the lowest VOC carpet on the market. Or stick with wood floors, especially if allergens are an issue, but make sure they are treated with a water based sealant, not the usual oil based polyurethane.

Step 3: Buy an organic mattress and bedding. New babies spend much of their day sleeping, and it's important they are not on or close to dangerous substances. Did you know that regular mattresses are treated with a host of chemicals, including PVC, phthalates, lead, or antimicrobial biocides, pesticides and even formaldehyde? This will not do for a pure newborn! Go to http://www.babyandmeboutique.com/ and purchase a Naturepedic mattress, a company that specializes in organic baby mattresses. I also found some well priced crib sheets at http://www.babycenter.com/ in pink, blue and ivory, and check out the "Best Blanket in the World" according to Esquire Magazine, at http://www.underthenile.com/. It's organic, and super soft!

Step 4: Stock your crib with organic crib toys like this adorable crate of veggies from Under the Nile. Babies chew on everything, and it makes sense that they chew on something that is made and stuffed with organic, pesticide free cotton.

Step 5: Make sure that you keep the room well ventilated, and get fresh air circulating daily!

Last One: If you are going green all the way, then consider natural furnishing as well. http://www.downtoearthhome.com/ offer a complete line of cribs, bassinets, changing tables and rockers made from natural wood, free from all types of toxic adhesives, paints, and finishes. Most of their fabrics are primarily hemp and organic cotton. If you don't want to take it this far, the first 5 steps should serve your baby very well!

Congratulations on taking the first step to a natural, healthy baby!