The Baby Nursery – Designing Without Chemicals

Ah, the smell of formaldehyde in the morning! New paint, new baby furniture and new carpeting fill your baby nursery. You can imagine your future little one peacefully sleeping in this room, plastic mobile singing lullabies above his head, foam mattress gently supporting him underneath, and a pressed wood crib holding him secure. Then you have to step out of the room and go to bed yourself, because of a headache or the onset of fatigue. Must be all the work going into building and filling the nursery. Or it could be all the chemicals given off in the new room.

That new paint or freshly laid carpet smell is actually toxic. The fumes are part of a wide range of chemicals known as volatile organic compounds, commonly called VOCs. These chemicals, present in products such as building materials and furniture, slowly enter the air in a process known as outgassing. As the product ages, outgassing decreases, though temperature and humidity affects the rate. Other products, such as carpets, collect VOCs and re-release them into the air.

Formaldehyde is one such VOC. You will probably remember the smell as embalming fluid in your high school biology class. Produced in many variations since the mid-19th century, this chemical is used in everything from preservatives to glue in wood products to grocery bags. It is also a potential carcinogen, and in higher concentrations the outgassing can cause headaches, respiratory problems and nerve damage.

Infants are highly susceptible to VOCs because they breathe more rapidly than adults to compensate for their smaller lungs. Consequently, they breathe in more air. With their nervous and respiratory systems not yet fully developed, babies cannot filter out airborne toxins as well as adults. Infants spend over 90 percent of their time indoors, and according to the Environmental Protection Agency,  indoor air pollution  is two to five times higher than air pollutants outdoors. So what can you do about it?

Breaking the Chemical Dependency

Fortunately, with a little planning, you can reduce the chemicals in your house. If a little bundle of joy will soon be joining your family, you can take steps to make the nursery more healthy and natural. The first step is learning the sources of indoor pollutants, and the second is searching for alternatives.

New Carpets

Carpets are one of the worst culprits in harboring chemicals. Off gassing is highest in the first few months after installation, and release trace amounts of VOCs up to five years later. Adhesives in the carpet or rug backing, chemicals in stain-resistant and moth-resistant threads, and the glue binding the material to the floor are all major sources. Carpet fibres attract dust mites and constantly absorb and release cleansing agents, dust particles, microscopic molds and pesticides.  Infants spend a lot of time on the floor, and easily come into contact with any and all of these pollutants. The result could be asthma, allergies or worse.

The best alternative is to rip out the old carpet and replace your floor with hardwood, tile or cork. None of these materials collect dust, and they can be easily cleaned. Washable area rugs are great for attractive coverings where desired.

Another alternative is to invest in carpets made of natural fibers, such as organic cotton, hemp or wool. Look for fibers with vegetable dyes or no dyes at all. And tack the carpet to the floor, rather than using glue. Water-based adhesives and special glues with low VOCs are also available.

Paint and Wallpaper

In the not so distant past, a big concern was lead-based paint. Though banned in 1978, homes built before then probably have this type of paint in the house. Lead dust is highly toxic, and if you're pregnant it can seriously harm your unborn child. Lead poisoning released from old, peeling paint or sanding walls are still major health hazards for children. If you live in an older home, hire a specialist who can analyze your walls for lead paint and can offer safe solutions.

Stay away from oil-based paints, as they contain over fifty percent petrochemicals. Water-based latex paint is safer, at 5 to 15% chemicals, though they still emit solvents after being applied. Also, be careful of paints that are mildew-resistant: they are resistant because they contain fungicides such as arsenic, disulphide, ammonium compounds or formaldehyde (there's that f work again!) Of course, if you live in a high humidity area, you will need this type of paint to avoid mould problems.

Up until a few years ago, solvents had to be included in latex paint so it performed well on walls and didn't solidify in the can. Not so anymore. New manufacturing techniques allow paints with minimal or zero VOC emissions. Ask for solvent-free or odor-free paints, and study the labels.

Wallpaper can be just as dangerous as paint. Most wallpaper today is actually vinyl, which emits VOCs during installation, especially in the adhesive backing. Not only is vinyl hazardous to an infant's health, it releases deadly toxins during the manufacturing process and after it is disposed of in landfills. If that wasn't bad enough, vinyl isn't porous, meaning that it traps moisture underneath the surface. This can lead to dangerous mould growth in humid climates.

There are healthier alternatives in specialty shops or online, such as porous wallpaper made out of fabric, organic cotton or other natural materials, all with harmless glue backings and vegetable-based dyes and inks.

Cribs and mattresses

The focal point of baby's nursery is the crib. When looking for a crib, head toward those made of solid wood with non-toxic finishes. Steer clear of particleboard, laminated wood or synthetic veneers, which all use formaldehyde in the manufacturing process. If you do go with nursery furniture that is not hardwood, ask if the surface has been coated with a water-based, non-toxic sealant to minimize outgassing. For extra safety, leave the assembled crib in the garage or in a well-ventilated room for a few weeks.

Today, nearly all crib mattresses are composed of a soup of chemical plastics, such as a coating of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) over polyurethane foam. Additional compounds are added as fire retardants. Many of these chemicals, associated with asthma, hyperactivity and cancer, easily leech into the air and into baby's lungs. If your only option is a standard mattress, air it out for a few weeks in a well-ventilated room. Simply smelling the mattress will give you a good indication of the level of outgassing.

Organic baby Mattresses made of natural materials such as cotton, wool and rubber are widely available as alternatives, though they do cost more. Cotton and wool are naturally fire-resistant materials, and firm coils are used as support in place of polyurethane foam filling.

A Healthy Home for Your Baby

Now baby can live and grow in a room with minimal chemicals in the air. Of course, make sure you do not smoke in the house, and if you have carpets, vacuum often. Ventilate your house and the nursery where possible to keep the air as fresh as possible. You can never completely shield your infant from toxic chemicals, but you can make a difference in the air quality in your home. Give your baby a fresh start in life, and introduce them to a world a little cleaner and more natural than before.

About the Author: Chris is the editor of Good-night-baby  Find tips, information and resources on baby cribs bedding and baby nursery themes.