Nursery Decor: Make it Stylish and Safe

You have so many choices when it comes to nursery decor - the color of the walls, the pattern of the bedding.

However, deciding whether to make the baby room pink, blue or Toile is only one of the factors to consider in your decorating plans.

You also want to consider what materials you will use, because your baby will be doing far more than looking at the walls - she may be tasting them too. Here are some nursery decor tips to help you make it a haven safe for all of her senses.

Nursery Bedding

I purchased three different bedding patterns before deciding to keep one. I wanted the bedding to be for a girl, but not too girly, and for a baby, but not too babyish.

If I had to do it over again, I would make the fabric and its fibers a higher priority.

Not only does baby bedding have a high visual impact on the nursery decor, it also touches your baby's skin 12 to 16 hours a day (if you're lucky).

• Choose cotton bedding over bedding made with other synthetic fabrics. As a natural fiber, cotton is warmer and allows baby's skin to breathe. It also reduces the chance of your baby overheating or dehydrating at night.

• You can eliminate the pesticides that come with cotton linens by choosing organic cotton sheets and bedding.
  
  
• You may also want to invest in an organic mattress and/or mattress pad cover to reduce exposure to chemicals, dirt, moisture, bacteria and toxic finishes. If you are co-sleeping, make the same assessments of your bedding.

• Unless you don't mind taking luxurious, lacy pillows and ultra-thick bumpers in and out of the crib every night, you may want to skip them. Left in the crib they can be a suffocation hazard to the baby.

• Another alternative is to use the accessories to add color in other areas of the room. For example, I couldn't resist the quilt that matched my baby's sheet set, so I hung it on a quilt rack on her wall. It's your (baby's) space, so be creative.

Baby Room Furniture

• Avoid furniture made from synthetic materials such as press board and plastic containers because they give off formaldehyde gas.

• Natural wood furniture is a less toxic alternative for baby cribs, dressers and changing tables. In addition to the raw materials, find out what the finish is made with.

• If you are inheriting baby room furniture, make sure it is sturdy. Kim Rider, interior designer and author of Organic Baby: Simple Steps for Healthy Living, suggests applying a few coats of non-toxic water based wood finish to seal it.

  If you've already purchased your furniture, this is a good way to combat the toxins without worrying about returns and picking out another style of furniture.

Painting

• Paint your baby's room as far in advance of the birth as possible. Choose low or no-VOC paint. However, read the labels carefully (or contact the manufacturer), because some companies add other chemicals to minimize paint odor.

• Look for The Green Seal to ensure that paint is environmentally-friendly.

• Purer paint alternatives are made from earth pigments, tree and plant oils, beeswax, citrus-peel thinners or a milk derivative called casein.

• Rider says you can now find food-based aromatherapy paint, with fragrances like fresh lemon or vanilla are on the market. That sounded so yummy that I did an online search for some.

  A brand called Anna Sova, boasts of paints made with 99% food ingredients that smells like vanilla milkshakes.

  Fragrances last for 6 months to one year, but keep in mind that your baby could be allergic to essential oils and fragrances. So you may want to try this when your baby is older than three months.

Flooring

• Synthetic carpets can emit formaldehyde gas for years and can contain more than 120 noxious chemicals. The longer the room can air out before the baby comes home, the better.

• If you are able to change your flooring, opt for Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified wood floors and make sure the installation and finishing processes involve minimal chemicals.

• Untreated natural fiber carpets and carpet pads in wool, hemp, jute, sisal and coir are also good alternatives.

• Don't forget to check for organic plant based dyes and non-toxic installation methods. Consider buying a large, natural fiber area rug for the baby room if new floors isn't an option.

Green Nursery Decor at Your Own Pace

Start with what will come in closest contact with your baby, like the baby bedding, and replace the other elements gradually.

Green plants have been found to absorb a significant quantity of toxic chemicals. Try spider plants, devils ivy, nephthytis if you don't already have a favorite type.

Organic Nursery Articles:

The Benefits of Organic Baby Bedding
This article explains why organic bedding is the best bedding and features some tips on using your bedding to enhance your nursery design.

Organic Crib Mattress
An organic crib mattress may be one of the bigger investments in your nursery design. Here are some tips to help you get the best quality mattress.

Cost Saving Tips for Organic Nursery Bedding
You can incorporate organic nursery bedding at your own pace. Here are some tips to get you started...

Choosing Non-Toxic Nursery Furniture
After reading this article you'll know more about choosing chemical-free, sustainable furniture for your baby's nursery.

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