Organic Nursery Ideas

So, you've decided to make your nursery as eco-friendly and chemical free as your sweet baby. Good for you! It really isn't that hard or expensive to make your baby's nursery a safe, natural place to sleep and play.

The first step is to ensure that your baby has fresh, clean air to breathe. Conventional paints emit dangerous chemicals into the air called volatile organic compounds, or VOCs. VOCs quickly enter a gaseous state and are chemically very similar to smog. They damage the ozone layer and are a threat to human health. VOCs are monitored in the workplace by the US Department of Labor and in the air by the US Environmental Protection Agency. VOCs are emitted from paint long after the paint is dry and can potentially affect your baby's health.

Buying paint that contains "low VOCs" or is "VOC free" can be a little misleading. The paint may be VOC free when you purchase it, but as soon as the tint is added to the can, then the VOCs are right back in there. VOCs are what give paint that "paint" smell, so if you smell it, then it's probably been added. Luckily, there is a new line of paint called "Freshaire" that is available at The Home Depot. Instead of using traditional tinting measures, they have a powder packet of dye that is added to the paint. This keeps the paint truly VOC free and ensures that your baby isn't hacking paint fumes in the nursery.

Another sneaky source of chemical exposure is carpet. Synthetic materials used to make carpets contain many, many toxic chemicals. Whenever possible, opt for renewable bamboo, cork or hardwood flooring. Tongue and groove style wood floors don't require harsh glues or other chemicals to install. Use natural fiber rugs made from hemp, wool and cotton. Not only will the floors be safer for your baby to play on and breathe near, but cleaning up all those messes that come along with having a baby are a snap, more sanitary, and do not take up your precious time and energy.

You can even choose eco-friendly furniture for your baby's room. Bamboo is an easy choice. It's a totally renewable resource; it is more fire-resistant than other woods and is lightweight, yet very strong. Look for companies that offer recycled wood furniture or bamboo furniture finished with no or low VOCs in their varnishes or glues, as well as no formaldehyde in their dyes. Companies like Celery, ModernNursery, and Mod Mom Furniture use low VOC finishes and have sleek designs that will fit a variety of nursery styles.

Stock your child's nursery closet with environmentally friendly bamboo infant hangers or baby hangers and you'll be on your way to a nursery you can be comfortable with!