Do you remember the feeling when you first brought your little munchkin back home for the first time?
Of course, the preparation of a baby’s arrival starts from the moment you realize you are expecting.
From picking up baby clothes to baby proofing the house, there are plenty of things on your to-do list.
But the most awaited project has to be the preparation of the nursery for your little one. It is a riveting, exhilarating experience - one that you are sure to look back on fondly.
It’s not only a fun experience, but it can also help to soothe your nerves and take your mind off any anxieties or nervousness that you might be feeling.
As you let the reins loose on your imagination and look for more creative ways to complete this project of setting up your baby’s room, keep in mind a few things.
Considering your baby is going to spend a lot of time in their nursery room for napping, feedings, playtimes, you have to make sure that the environment your nursery creates is full of warmth and love.
However, a parent’s journey is never easy. Considering that as a parent you are responsible not only for your baby’s growth and development, but also their health and safety, you can’t blame new parents for being a jittery mess.
While a beautiful nursery must be your goal, you also need to keep your baby’s safety in mind.
Using organic and non-toxic products is not only important for your baby’s health but also for the environment.
By using such chemical-free products you can start your own journey of green parenting as you take a step towards reducing your own carbon footprint on the planet.
How to create an eco-friendly nursery
There are several actions you can take to creating an organic, natural and chemical-free nursery that is also easier on the environment.
1. Redo, Reuse and Recycle
Designing an entire room from scratch is not easy, and it definitely isn’t easy on the wallet either.
Add to the fact that natural, organic products are also very expensive, you might have to find your supply of products from alternate sources as well.
So what better way than to start at your own home? Look for any furniture that you can reuse. An old dresser that can be renovated and painted again? Or any old picture frames that can be used again?
If not available, then you can always shop locally. Go out and explore nearby thrift stores or visit your local flea markets.
Using second-hand purchases or a relative or friend’s items in your nursery is a common practice among environmentally conscious parents.
Not only are you making less purchases, less emissions as well as keeping functional and useful items from wasting away in landfills longer.
2. Flooring
While changing the flooring is not a viable option for many, the fact that babies and toddlers spend a lot of their time on the floor, it is something you do need to consider.
If you do decide on updating your flooring, there are two great, eco-friendly options you can find:
- Cork flooring
Cork happens to be naturally anti-allergic and anti-microbial, thus a great choice for a kid’s room.
It is also warmer and softer than wood flooring, thus cushioning their falls and providing a safe and comfortable play area.
Cork is quite resilient and durable, and can last up to 15 years.
Cork comes from a highly sustainable practice of harvesting it without harming the tree (and only takes 3 to 4 years to grow back!), and is energy-efficient and free of harmful chemicals and VOCs.
- Bamboo flooring
Bamboo is pretty popular with the eco-friendly group, as it is strong, durable and an affordable alternative.
Considering it is naturally pest-resistant, there is no need of using pesticides on bamboo, which makes it completely free of toxins and chemicals.
3. Lighting
For an eco-friendly nursery, make sure the lighting is energy-efficient. Make sure you are choosing LEDs or CFLs, so that you can get most energy efficient and long-lasting bulbs.
For lamps and lighting fixtures, look out for those made up of wood or recycled material of glass and metals.
Do keep in mind that some of these are coated with toxic finishes, so do check with the manufacturer.
You can also make sure that natural light brightens up your baby’s nursery. It can limit your dependence on artificial lights, saving energy while making the room brighter.
Make sure your windows are clear, and you can even use a mirror to boost sunlight. Look for white, cream or pastel colors as they emphasize natural lighting.
4. Non-toxic Textiles and Beddings
While choosing any textiles, whether it be curtains, rugs, clothes, sheets or beddings, make sure they are made of organic and chemical-free materials.
Fabrics produced using chemicals include toxins like formaldehyde, flame retardants, VOCs and heavy metals.
In this previous blog, we have discussed what chemicals you need to keep away from your baby, and what you can do to counter these chemicals.
Not only are these chemicals polluting our environment, but also pose serious threats to our health and safety.
Avoid textiles having been produced chemically to reduce your baby’s exposure to it. Select an organic and sustainable fabric for clothing, sheets, drapes and beddings.
Examples of such natural fabrics include cotton, organic linen, flax, Tencel and organic hemp.
Fabrics to look out for: polyester, nylon, acrylic, rayon, and silk.
Avoid carpets if you can, as they are not only difficult to clean, but are full of dust, molds and mites.
Those made of synthetic fibres like polyester and nylon contain VOCs and other harmful and toxic chemicals within its composition.
As for sheets, choose a breathable and hypoallergenic material.
You’ll find cotton sheets to be a perfect fit for your baby’s needs, and even yours for that matter! They’ll also keep your baby cool in the summer heat.
5. Crib, mattresses and furniture
While planning on buying furniture, do look out for multi-purpose ones. Some pieces, like changing tables, are essential but your baby will outgrow them before you even know it.
In such cases you can choose a large chest or a large size dresser and add the changing table on top.
Such multi-purpose furniture is a good investment as you can use them even after your baby grows. They are quite resourceful, and save both money and space.
While buying cribs and other furniture, make sure they don’t have any toxic finishes.
Avoid items made of plywood, laminate or permanent press fabrics (like most ready-to-assemble furniture) as they can possess higher levels of formaldehyde, a carcinogen which is generally found in furniture and household products.
You can recognize sustainably and organically made products through the following labels:
- UF-Free: Made without urea-formaldehyde glues and foam
- ULEF: Meet ultra-low emitting formaldehyde requirements
- NAF: Meet no added formaldehyde requirements
You can also invest in furniture made of solid wood. But avoid buying used cribs or mattresses, as they tend to deteriorate over time and cause other concerns.
6. Clean air
Your natural nursery would be incomplete without some natural, fresh air.
Air is filled with toxins and air pollutants, so do invest in a baby-safe air purifier.
Portable air purifiers are great resources for improving indoor air quality in a single room, so you can choose one for your baby’s nursery.
But before buying, make sure it is safe for your baby.
Avoid those labelled as ‘ozone-generating’ as they can cause chest pain, coughing, shortness of breath and throat irritation in both children and adults.
While cleaning, try to use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter as it cleans up tiny particles.
Also consider the moisture content of the air and use either a humidifier or dehumidifier to balance it out.
7. Natural paints and colors
Did you know that household paints are one of the leading contributors of poor indoor air quality?
Regular paints contain thousands of chemicals and toxins which are known carcinogens and are hazardous for our health.
The strong odor that comes from a freshly painted room is the off-gassing of VOCs from the paint itself.
If on the paint can you find ingredients like turpentine, formaldehyde or animal products, then dispose of it as quickly as you can!
For your baby’s nursery, look for natural, water-based and is marked as low or zero-VOC, meaning the paint base is free of VOC.
Even before getting started, do get a professional opinion as while the paint base may not have VOC, the paint pigments might have low VOC levels.
When it comes to wallpapers, be sure to select chemical-free papers. Ditch the vinyl, PVC and VOCs and make sure the paper is breathable so as to keep mold and mildew away.
As for the color scheme, choose on carefully as it greatly impacts the mood and atmosphere of the room.
For a baby’s nursery, you can choose soft and calming colors like pale or pastel colors.
On the other hand, if you are going for a playful and energetic space, go for bold and vibrant shades.
8. Plants
Including plants is going to brighten up the nursery and create a natural atmosphere.
While there are plenty of plants to choose from, make sure they are safe for your babies.
Your little one is curious and you might never know when they try to taste a leaf if the plant is within reach.
It’s also important to keep this in mind if you also have pets, who also have the tendency to chew on things that they’re curious about.
You can hang up your plants but make sure they are safely secured and do not get knocked over. There are a few plants you can choose from:
- Money Tree
Money plant is non-poisonous, pet-friendly and also removes toxins from the surrounding air.
You can position the tree in medium-to-bright indirect light and turn it every time you water it for even growth and leaf development.
- Spider Plant
If air purification is what you are looking for in a plant, than you have no need to look further than spider plant.
It is one of the best air purifying plants around as it can filter up to 90 percent of the the carcinogen Formaldehyde from the air.
You can hang it in a corner or on top of an armoire.
Considering it multiplies by growing small spider plants, you can re-pot those and place them around your house.
- Parlor Palm
Parlor Palms tolerate low light and are great for air purifiers. They also like bright light, and can go by a window or in a more shaded place.
- Baby Rubber Plant
They produce high amounts of oxygen, and work greatly in improving the air quality of nursery. It needs almost zero sunlight, but in case of exposure to some sunlight, they can flower up in spring.
- Bird’s Nest Fern
Bird’s nest fern is pet-safe, and efficiently removes harmful chemicals from the air.
Place it near a window that gets morning or late afternoon sun, or anywhere with moderate sunlight.
In case the air around the plant is too dry, use a humidifier or occasionally mist the plant to increase humidity.
- Snake Plant
Snake Plant works best as an air purifier as it gives off oxygen even at night. It’s drought-tolerant, so you need to water it only when it dries out.
9. Natural baby products
While keeping your baby’s nursery organic and eco-friendly, do not forget about your baby’s personal care products!
While keeping these products out of the reach of your baby, make sure you avoid harmful chemicals and toxins.
Among the plethora of choices, you can find a lot of products that are safe and organic.
Avoid anything containing fragrance, and opt out of plastic items as they may be made of BPA or PVC.
For a feeding bottle, consider using one made of glass and for dinnerware, look for bamboo utensils.
Bamboo works well as it is extremely strong, durable, heat-resistant and stain and odor resistant.
Make sure the diapers you are choosing are free of harmful chemicals and chlorine.
Visit Allter’s diapers here, which are free of harmful chemicals, made of bamboo and sustainable.
Allter diapers are clinically certified rash-free diapers that are super absorbent and comes with a wetness indicator.
As for wipes, look for wipes that are fragrance free and gentle on the skin. You can choose Allter’s water wipes here, as they are free of artificial fragrance, parabens and phthalates.
These water wipes are made of 99 percent water with aloe vera extracts that are super-gentle on the skin and very moisturizing.
10. Toys and décor
Décor that is to your taste but at the same time non-toxic, chemical-free and environmentally friendly might seem like a daunting task, but it’s possible.
Look for products that are natural, organic, and free of synthetic materials.
If you are going for wall décor and baskets, opt for thrifting or reusing old purchases you had made.
There are some great items you can find through drifting, so get creative with what you find!
You don’t need new picture frames for the nursery! Old ones would work just as well.
If you are worried about toxic finishes on the frames, then pick a safe, chemical-free color and get to painting. Have fun while you save money and also the environment!
As for toys, inexpensive and plastic ones for your baby might seem like a good option, but they contain multiple chemicals like BPAs, phthalates and other toxins. Some might even contain lead.
Wooden toys can be a great option, but do make sure that the wood itself and its finishes and paints are chemical-free and safe for children.
As these toys are bound to end in your baby’s mouth at some point or other, make sure it is made of organic cotton, toxin-free plastic or wood.
Conclusion
While planning your nursery is super-fun, but it is extremely time consuming. So do make sure you start on time.
Do not wait for long, because when your baby arrives you would neither have the time nor the energy to get through the product labels and research every chemical you find.
Before buying any product, go through the labels carefully. Choose accredited products that are certified by relevant and trustworthy organizations.
While there is no way you can 100 percent protect your little one from chemicals and toxins in today’s time, you can try your best.
Small things add up and go a long way.
Given above are only a few tips to keep in mind while exploring and researching for creating your baby’s nursery.
The goal is to create a space that is safe, comfortable and nurturing for the baby.
So go ahead, let your creativity take over and make your baby’s nursery a magical and cozy place.
