How to Design a Green Nursery before Baby Arrives

Having a new baby is one of the most exciting and nerve-wracking adventures anyone can experience. Add in all the hormones and it’s enough to make mom⎼and dad⎼need a task to focus on. Good thing there are so many decisions that need to be made before baby’s arrival!

When planning your baby’s nursery, making eco-friendly choices is a great decision. At Modernize, we understand just how important this process is, and we want to help you on your way to becoming a well-prepared green parent before baby arrives.

Mattress and Bedding

Almost as soon as anyone finds out they’re expecting, they start planning their nursery, and why wouldn’t they? Baby textiles are so whimsical that it’s easy to get carried away and forget about any hidden health risks. But did you know that most standard inorganic crib bedding has traces of pesticides and formaldehyde, both of which have been linked to asthma, learning disabilities, and cancer? With newborns sleeping upwards of 18 hours a day, it is incredibly important to invest in an organic mattress and sheets so that these harmful chemicals don’t come in contact with your baby’s skin on a daily basis.

Blankets, bumper pads, and stuffed animals inside the crib can be a serious suffocation hazard. Make your life easier by just avoiding all three for now. Organic sleep sacks or swaddling blankets will keep baby warm and safe as they sleep.

Crib

Similarly, a nontoxic, solid wood crib is a wise decision to make. Most traditional cribs use MDF or particle board—both of which contain high amounts of formaldehyde in their construction. These same cribs almost always include stains, paints, and glues that have volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which continue to release harmful chemicals like benzene, toluene, and isocyanates into the air long after your baby has even outgrown his/her crib. By opting for a solid wood crib that is made with sustainability in mind, you are choosing a product that is good for baby, as well as the planet!

Nursery Decorations

Those nasty VOCs permeate so many products, but they’re especially prevalent in wall paint. Thankfully, zero-VOC paint is no longer difficult to find, with virtually all major paint brands having at least one option. If sustainability and 100 percent natural ingredients are your preference, then plant- or milk-based paints like these from Green Planet Paints are a great choice.

If you are planning on making some changes before you introduce your baby to his or her new home, it is a good decision not to have Mom around all the dust and chemicals that will be released into the air. Scheduling a babymoon in conjunction with any improvements solves this issue and gives you both wonderful memories before your family gets a little bigger.

By making these eco-friendly decisions for your little one’s nursery now, you are well on your way to being a thoughtful and loving green parent already!

Read more from Bryn on her website

Get started on your baby nursery with these authentic equipment from FunKidz and KidznPlay.