Creating a heavenly space for your newest addition to the family should be one part simple and pretty and two parts healthy! So many parents are overly obsessed with having the cutest, perfect, and beautiful nursery imaginable, but the truth is that they should be more concerned about the health and safety of the nursery. With the multitude of recalls, most of which have happened in the last six months, creating a "green" space for your baby should be a top priority, for health and environmental reasons. As you may or may not have heard yet, it is being said that as our children have been exposed to these environmental pollutants (i.e. the toxic toys & GM foods), many children are experiencing many health issues such as autism and asthma, which have been attributed to the high levels of environmental pollutants in the air, water and foods. As "green" is a good color to start with, because it can work for boy or girl, and it makes it an easy hue to work with for a simple,natural theme, it is a good start. Being an eco-parent is really about consuming less, and remembering what you consume to be good for the earth, and healthy for you and your families bodies first and foremost.

Since newborns and babies are especially susceptible to toxins and chemicals, creating a healthy eco-friendly nursery should be top priority! Unfortunately since it has proven true to decorate "eco-friendly" is actually more expensive then their toxic alternatives, I will point out as the 'eco-mama' that if we actually consume and use less products, and of course, shop wisely, you will most likely spend less! Starting on this note, lets decorate!

Since babies sleep like bears during winter hibernation, up to 17 hours a day, the space with which they are sleeping should be the most important! The largest and most toxic product in ones bedroom would be the mattress itself. Most conventional mattresses are made of petroleum-based polyester (PBE), nylon and polyurethane (PU) foam that, and more often when new, give off harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) associated with upper respiratory problems. And just like the cleaning products, the manufacturers refuse to disclose the materials used in making their mattresses these days, claiming the ‘trade secret’ card as well. After some shopping, shopping, digging, and literally surfing every internet eco-site out there, I found some good choices! A great website to visit is mamasbaby.com, which feature custom futons in Organic cotton and Organic hemp for only $55, and they have a white lotus crib mattress for $300. Another great site is greennest.com, which also has an organic cotton/wool blend mattress for $378, as well as Organic sheets and bedding and solid maple cribs, finished with an non-toxic oil rub.

 

Eco-mama super budget tips:

Buying a clean, used mattress that is old enough to have out gassed most of the toxic fumes is a viable option, as long as the mattress has never been fumigated. Look in the want ads for used mattresses, or put an ad in yourself. Inspect the mattress carefully before buying it. Avoid commercially sold used mattresses as they have probably been treated with pesticides and disinfectants.

You can seal in some of the fumes emitted from mattresses by making a barrier cloth encasement. Barrier cloth is a very tightly woven cotton, and is available from Janice’s (1-800-Janices; janices.com). Janice’s will make made-to-order mattress covers for a good price.

Most newborns are brought into this world with an astonishing average of 200 chemicals in their bloodstream, and since most products have the highest toxicity when they are brand new, parents bringing their beautiful bumpkins home to a brand new room full of products (probably plastic based) is a very unhealthy and potentially harmful atmosphere. My first suggestion to parents who want their baby to have the most beautiful, top of the line nursery, filled to brim with all sorts of toys and stuff, is to stop and remember that it is more important for the room to be healthy, and less is healthier!

Clean air in your nursery is also a very important aspect of a green nursery! When painting your nursery, remember to use low or non-VOC paint to paint the walls (see my article "Healthy Painting Anyone..") as conventional paints contain high levels of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC's) which are carbon-containing chemical compounds that will linger into your nursery's air and eventually into your baby's bodies in the form of pollutants. An indoor air purifier is also another good idea. Forego the mounds of teething toys, and stuffed animals, and use that money for a nice clean air purifier, which will be the best way to make sure your baby is breathing in the most healthy, cleanest air possible. And you can even get a hip and cute one at austinair.com, which feature these blue or pink models made specifically for babies rooms, for around $300.

Flooring and Carpeting are also extremely important when designing the baby room. If you feel you must keep carpet in your nursery, rather than replace with a hard sustainable product, there are a few eco options out there that I suggest. My favorite is the ‘recycled fiber’ carpets, which are made from recovered plastic soda bottles! Yes, those bottles are actually being put to good use! These carpets come in a wide arrange of vibrant colors, are stain resistant, and respond extremely well to Carpet Shampoos (such as the GreenChoice brand). By purchasing these carpets you will be reducing the large amount of waste from these plastic bottles that go directly into our land fills each year!

Plant fiber and wool carpets are another good option as they are biodegradable, safe and have a nice appearance, as well as affordable:

 Sisal carpets are the most durable, and therefore good for high-traffic/kid zone areas. But they also tend to be somewhat scratchy, so they aren‘t so good for a new baby area. Middle to higher price range.

 Jute , made from plant fibers, is soft and perfect for a babies room, but is also less durable than most. Good for low- and medium-traffic rooms. Middle to higher price range.

Seagrass is another kid zone carpet that repels stains the best. And there is a benefit as well, it also tends to be the cheapest, and because of the highly textured weaves and darker colors help hide stains well. It’s durable and casual looking, and isn’t scratchy like sisal. Lower price range.

Paper is really soft and smooth, with a clean, modern appearance. It is very durable but with a higher price range.

Go to Seattle based company environmentalhomecenter.com for more information and pricing!

Since carpet usually harbors  dust, dander and pollen, amongst other 'things', I think wood flooring is a better option.  I especially love bamboo or cork flooring, and you can find them for reasonable prices at places like Home Depot or Lowes.  Add a nice, simple, eco-friendly, budget friendly hemp rug from rawganique.com the equation, and you have a winning nursery platform!

As I have mentioned before, please avoid plastic.  Plastic bottles and toys are just a bad idea.  Instead of using plastic bottles (as they leech carcinogens into the water/milk) look in to the Klean kanteen and sigg bottles which are plastic and toxic free!  As for toys, you can find many fun Organic wooden toys and stuffed animals for your baby's collection, my favorite sites toys are plan toys, and nova naturals.

A last note....stop cleaning, or at least using toxic cleaning products.  So many mamas to be and new mamas are feverishly cleaning their babies area with horrible toxic cleaners.  Instead hire an eco-friendly home cleaning service or clean your home with home made infusions made from pure vinegar and water highlighted with essential oils.  Just take 2 Tablespoons of Vinegar mixed with a gallon of water and then add a few drops of your favorite essential oil, and voilà, you have a natural all purpose cleaner that will be safe for your baby!

When your friends and family ask what you need for your new baby's arrival, tell them that you are investing in the health of your baby and are using only eco-friendly, sustainable products for the nursery and baby products.  Explain to them that since it is more expensive to purchase products made from sustainable and health materials that you would rather they contribute to that cost rather than buy extra un-needed toys/stuff!  If it is a grandma, maybe suggest that she help pay for the eco-cleaning service after the baby is born!

Remember that your baby is only a baby for a short time, so don't get over your head with purchasing new toys and clothes as your baby will probably never use.  A great site called Maggies Organics sells cuter than ever certified Organic baby body suites with matching hats at a good price, and happygreenbee that also sells planet friendly outfits at a reasonable price.  Just buy a couple of these and suggest these sites to friends, as you will only need about 5 different outfits for your newborn before they out grow them.