How to make your baby nursery more Eco-Friendly
It’s always exciting when you know you are about to get a baby. The cuddles, coos, and crazy funny things they do are a thing to look forward to. As you prepare their nursery, you want to go with something that’s not just aesthetically pleasing, but a design that will protect your little one from harm.
Obviously, they will have their little hands and mouth on everything in the room as they learn and discover the world around them. Besides making sure they aren't knocked down by furniture as they play, making the nursery eco-friendly is advantageous.
Think about it. When you reduce plastic use, your little one isn't likely to get into contact with BPA products, which, as you may well know, is harmful to their health. That's not all. It's a step closer to ensuring we are doing right by our environment and mother earth.
So, what are some of the things to change as you design an eco-friendly baby nursery?
Tips for designing an eco-friendly baby nursery
1. Use natural materials when buying nursery furniture
Research by Washington Toxics Coalition and the Safer States reveal that at least 85% of popular baby products found in the nursery contain harmful chemicals. Think of nursing pillows, bassinet, and mattress pads, changing pads, and even sleeping jammies.
Luckily, the country has passed over 70 laws to safeguard kids from unsafe products. But, you can go a step further by ensuring you use items made from natural material.
Natural materials tend to create a textured and rich look to your little one’s room, which is far more engaging than more artificial products such as laminate. Your babies' room will look warmer and inviting and bring in the natural beauty we see outside.
That's not all. Research shows that interacting with nature helps in your child's growth, enhancing cognitive development, and even reducing ADHD symptoms. While your little one won’t have the same experience as being outside, interacting with natural products in their room will have the same effect.
Natural products to include are:
- Wooden crib and other furniture
- Fresh plants
- Wicker hammocks
- Seagrass toy baskets
- Bamboo products
- Other things you love from outside such as a branch or stone
2. Avoid harsh chemicals while cleaning
Keeping your little one's room clean and bacteria-free is obviously a top priority. But, most cleaning products found in the market contain chemicals that are harmful to your child. While they are great at killing bacteria and cleaning surfaces, your little one is likely to get into contact with some of them.
How does this happen?
Without knowing it, cleaning products leave residues on the surface that may come into contact with your baby’s skin, clothes, and toys. Like a natural reflex, babies tend to put everything they see in their mouths, which means you risk them ingesting some of these chemicals.
So, what’s the solution?
Besides ensuring your little munchkin doesn’t get into contact with cleaning products, you can opt for more eco-friendly cleaning detergents. This includes hypoallergenic soaps, which usually don't contain any abrasive or rough fragrances. Instead, they have mild, soft ingredients that are friendly to your little one.
Unlike before, ecofriendly cleaning products are available in many varieties to effectively compete with their counterparts. Because tech is so advanced today, you are guaranteed that eco-friendly products will have the same cleaning power, but without the harmful components.
3. Rethink your walls
Walls aren’t so much about the material used to make them, but the pain you choose. We get it. You want your little one’s room to look cool, cozy, personalized, and inviting. Paint is a big part of it since you can choose different colors and all.
But, there are thee little letters you should always watch out for when buying paint. That is, VOC or Volatile Organic Compounds. This is basically what separates normal paint from ecofriendly pain. First, the after smell is lower in zero VOC paints. Also, it's best to go for paints that don't need a primer to reduce the number of chemicals and fumes in the nursery.
Water-based paints are usually the best, so ask about these when shopping for paint.
4. Don’t forget your floors
Carpets so comfy to step on, right? Besides, in case a baby falls as they play, they have some cushioning. This is all true, but let's not forget that carpets may come with some disadvantages. For instance, they tend to trap allergens, so don't be surprised if your little one keeps sneezing or gets allergies whenever they play on the carpet. Also, they contain harmful chemicals, especially when they are new.
The best option is to keep your hardwood floors, but if we are honest, floors may not always be ideal. To create that alluring design you have in mind, go for an organic, non-toxic rag instead. You could also opt for baby play mats and play yards. Your little one can play on it whenever they need to explore and learn, and, in turn, the rag provides a soft, safe place for their delicate self. Obviously, this keeps your baby's nursery eco-friendly.
5. Think about lighting
Lighting has a way of bringing the design together. But, like everything else in your eco-friendly baby nursery, use energy saving light fixtures. LED lights are easy to find, install, and they are usually cheaper than their counterparts, saving you some dollars in utility bills. LED lights turn around 70% of their energy into light, saving energy. This means a 6 watts bulb will produce the same amount of light a 40 watts incandescent bulb produces.
You can use lighting to enhance whichever design theme you have for your baby's nursery. Whether you want a classic, luxury, or modern, or neutral theme, lighting will make it pop.
If you love DIY projects, you can always repurpose some of the items you have at home, which is another way of designing an eco-friendly baby nursery. However, if you simply need new items, shop at eco-friendly physical or online stores like Baby and Me Nursery. Whichever your choice, eco-friendly spaces are definitely the way to go.