The Low Down On Green Living
March 19th, 2008
Eco-Smart Nursery for Baby
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A new baby on the way is the perfect excuse to undertake a new green home improvement project. Babies are more susceptible than adults to toxic chemicals present in most traditional home decorating products such as carpet, upholstery fabric and paint. Fortunately, there are tons of eco and baby friendly choices, making it easier than ever to create a safe, cozy nursery for your precious new arrival.
Before you go out and buy all new nursery furniture, consider getting a few used items. Most toxic chemicals off-gas in the first few months and reuse is the best way to save energy and resources. Try Craig’s List for used cribs and changing tables in your local area, which will eliminate the need for shipping. The only caveat is that all used furniture and toys should be tested for lead safety and given a good chemical-free cleaning.
For those few new items you must purchase, there is no shortage of irresistible, green baby decor on the market. Here is a small sample of our favorite nursery room items.
This lovely Cariboo bassinet available through Scandinavian Child is made with sustainable pine wood and finished with lead-free, water-based and biodegradable stains and paints. They also offer 100% unbleached, formaldehyde-free, eco-dyed fabrics and a natural wool bassinet pad.
We decided that a vintage rocking chair is the perfect item to find on the used market place. Check out this beautiful Danish and modern rocker at Lotus Blue Design. If this chair is not in your price range, eBay has an amazing selection of rocking chairs.
The chic and modern Hiya Crib by Spot on Square available at Generation Orange features low VOC,
non toxic paint, 100% recycled or reclaimed MDF and it’s designed to to grow with your child and last well beyond infancy.
Outfit your crib with a PBDE-Free, organic cotton and wool mattress by Eco-Baby; an organic cotton mattress pad from My Organic Textiles for an extra layer of comfort; and the WHITE – mini crib sheet sets by Area Home. Top it all off with Kate Quinn’s luxury organic cotton sherpa blanket in persimmon and vanilla.
Serena & Lily offer the perfect pallet of low-VOC nursery room paint colors. Washable, organic cotton play mats from KushTush Organics can create a soft landing spot for baby. Add custom-made blinds with Live Textiles‘ beautiful organic cotton, formaldehyde-free fabric for an extra bit of polish.
Hardwood floors are the best choice for indoor air quality, because carpets often contain toxic chemicals and they trap dirt and allergens. You can find excellent wood flooring options that are environmentally sustainable, like bamboo and reclaimed wood. You can also find a great zero-VOC wood stain by Bioshield in our product directory.
Lastly, find a contractor to install energy efficient windows, choose soft dimmable compact florescent lighting and bring in a Energy-Star air purifier for a well insulated, low-energy, clean environment. You’ll have a healthy, eco-smart nursery where your bundle of joy will thrive.
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Comments
canadiyank
March 19th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
Another even cheaper and more eco-friendly option is to consider co-sleeping. We ended up not using the lovely crib and toddler bed we bought and enjoyed snuggling with our babies and not having to get up for night feedings.
I enjoy your blog…thank you!
Stephanie
March 25th, 2008 at 8:38 am
I hate to play devil’s advocate here, but somebody has to talk some sense.
To add to the caveat on used cribs and changing tables: this practice is usually advised against by experts. Before buying a used crib, make sure there was never a product recall on it, and make sure all hinges, screws, etc are still tightly secure.
Furthermore…until being green becomes more economical, our planet will continue to be in trouble. The prices on almost all the green nursery items mentioned here are ASTRONOMICAL. $675 for a crib? $315 for crib bedding? Who can even AFFORD to be green at those prices? I got into being green because I believe in doing all I can to save the planet…but I’m starting to feel like I’m being excluded from a rich girl’s club.
Monica Schenk
March 25th, 2008 at 11:09 am
Hi Stephanie,
We love your comments! The importance of checking the safety of used cribs and changing tables is paramount. Checking into the product history, testing for lead safety and seeing that all screw and hinges are secure are essential steps in acquiring used nursery furniture. In addition, used mattresses are not recommended.
That being said, there is a huge amount of suitable and affordable used nursery room furniture on the market. Taking the time to find the right used crib and changing table will save money and the planet too. In addition, I encourage you to visit some of the eco-friendly online stores mentioned in the blog, There should be a few more affordable options for organic crib sheet sets.
Using your resources to set-up an affordable and green nursery should be a fun, creative challenge that you can feel good about.
sarah nash - organic baby nook
December 28th, 2008 at 4:24 am
Speaking from experience, I can attest to the benefits of organic baby products with my own child. When my daughter was 14 months, she developed awful eczema. Her skin was so bad, it looked like she had Leprosy. My sister-in-law, a pediatrician and organic specialist, told me to buy only organic cotton baby clothing, since my daughter’s skin is likely extra sensitive to all the chemicals used in traditional baby clothing.
It made a huge difference.
Organic cotton clothing, combined with oatmeal baths, organic baby skin care products like 100% Unrefined Grade A Shea Butter and Free & Clear Sensitive Skin Products, and dumping old toys and switching to organic baby toys sent my daughter’s eczema into remission, and we couldn’t be happier.
Cheers,
Sarah
cedar chests
September 8th, 2009 at 11:13 pm
Thanks for the post! I enjoyed reading it! Babies are more sensitive so we should take care of their health as much as we take care of ours.
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