Selecting Green Decorations for Your Baby’s Room
Congratulations, you are about to welcome a new family member into your life and into your heart! However, this precious little one is going to require a lot of care, and not just in the way of feeding, changing, and the like. Babies are fragile in many ways and require a great deal of care and affection if they are to grow healthy and strong. Much of this begins with the designing of a safe, happy home environment – and most especially, a baby-friendly nursery. Planning the nursery can be a lot of fun, but there is one thing that you should consider other than color and theme, and many parents fail to remember it in this exciting time. You need to think about what you’re actually putting in your baby’s room. You have the choice of what materials are used in the design of the room and what potential health effects those materials could have on your child.
Today there is a great deal of concern revolving around the use of non-organic materials in any aspect of life, but this concern is obviously amplified when one is intending to use those materials for a baby. Organic room décor is not only easily accessible, it is also thought to be much safer for your little one. It hasn’t been exposed to the hundreds or thousands of chemicals that other fabrics are. Many of those chemicals are known to hold potential harm to mankind, yet manufacturers continue to use them despite the fact that the fabric can trap many of the toxins and continually expose the buyer to them. So, if you would rather be safe than sorry, consider designing an adorable and eco-friendly baby nursery.
The Crib The crib is often thought of as the most important element of a baby’s bedroom. However, cribs themselves can often be made of plywood that is manufactured using dangerous formaldehyde, and the mattresses are often chemically treated for water resistance. Instead, you can purchase organic cribs with natural wool mattresses or organic cotton mattresses. These cribs are typically constructed of bamboo, so they offer a natural water resistance and are as sturdy as any hardwood crib. Even bedding can be purchased without the added toxins. Organic materials come in a wide variety of colors and patterns today, which were made with the use of natural, organic dyes, so you don’t have to be limited from a design perspective. You can buy everything from crib skirts and sheets to comforters and window treatments in all natural, organic cotton, bamboo, or wool. They offer the soft feeling that you want for your baby without the dangerous chemicals.
Rugs and Carpets Whether you opt for a wall-to-wall carpet or hardwood with the occasional throw rug, you can make the room safer by selecting a bamboo fiber option. Not only do these come chemical free, there are also bio-degradable in many instances. Again, color choices and patterns do not have to be limited just because you are opting for the safe route. Bamboo flooring is also a wonderful alternative to many hardwoods or hardwood alternatives. It offers a natural water resistant surface. These hard surfaces also prevent the buildup of household allergens.
Picking the Paint Even the color that you use on the wall – from eggshell to eggplant — can give off toxins that were accumulated during the manufacturing process. Many of the colors are made from toxic dyes and chemicals. Chemical-free and low-fume paints can help create the safe environment that you are striving for. Furthermore, these natural paints are often created with the use of plant-based dyes, which come in a very wide variety of colors. So if pastel pink is still the goal or turtle green is a must-have, you can likely find it in a safer paint.
Conscious Cleaning Now that you have the room designed, be sure to maintain it in the same safe manner. Many of the cleaners and air fresheners sold on the market today are filled with chemicals that are potentially harmful. Some of those chemicals have been tied to illnesses such as cancer and serious lung conditions in high doses. Remember that your new tiny love has a much lower tolerance to such things, so opt for the all natural cleaners and air fresheners. There are several varieties on the market today that can be used for everything from cleaning the toilet to scrubbing the stove. Floor cleaners, dusting spray, and even candles can be purchased without fear of putting toxins in the air or water. Check the package to ensure that the ingredients are truly all natural ingredients because many labels lie.
When everything is said and done, you can have the gorgeous nursery that you always dreamed of in time for the big day and you will able to rest a little easier knowing that your newest family member is sleeping in a blanket of safety.