Mothers and fathers take pride in bringing their little one home to a cozy, beautiful and safe nursery.  With baby’s first experiences outside the womb, we understand that babies are very delicate and extra sensitive to their new surroundings.  So we try our best to take every precaution to guard our precious little one from harmful agents.  Being outside, there is not much one can control.  You can’t control how the air smells, or the car that drives down the road, or the individual close by who is sick.  Sure, you make every attempt to keep your baby away from hazards, but you take the risk every time baby is outdoors.  What you can control is keeping your baby’s nursery safe, sanitary and totally free from harmful toxins.

Cleaning

Keeping your nursery clean is essential to providing a safe environment for your baby.  Make sure you regularly clean the carpets using a vacuum cleaner that has a HEPA filter.  This filter will help get rid of the majority of dangerous pathogens, allergies, dust particles, pet dander and more.  According to a 2002 U.S. Geological Survey, 80% of cleaning solutions leave behind a residue which may include antibiotics, synthetic hormones, insecticides, etc.  That is a poor exchange for germ-free surfaces!  These chemical substances can be very harmful if ingested or inhaled and can affect the development of your baby’s immune system.  Go to the store and get yourself some non-toxic cleaning products.  They are just as effective and smell considerably better.  You can also try home remedy cleaning solutions which are significantly cheaper and free of toxic residue.

Crib Bedding

Your crib bedding is the last thing your little one sees before bedtime and the first thing your newborn sees when he/she wakes up.  You newborn will spend about 2/3rds of the time sleeping in the crib, so selecting safe baby crib sets and taking appropriate care of it ought to be one of your top priorities.  Mattresses made up of wool or latex can cause allergic reactions, so try buying an organic mattress or allow a regular baby mattress to air out for at least one month prior to bringing baby home.  Purchasing organic baby bedding and clothing are also an ideal alternative.  Organic baby bedding is free from chemical finishing agents that are utilized to preserve the fabric.  Choose baby bedding which is 100% certified organic cotton so it is soft, comfy and breathable.  Make sure to wash all items using fragrance-free detergent and no fabric softener.

Painting

Painting your nursery walls is a wonderful way to create a nice ambiance for your nursery.  Make sure not to paint while your pregnant and also use paint that has no or low volatile organic compounds (VOCs).  This goes the same for sealers and finishers for furniture.  Buying unfinished furniture is even better, but realistically, buying new furniture is not always feasible.  Again, give your nursery several months to air out before bringing baby home.  An air purifier with HEPA filter is also useful in getting rid of allergens, dust particles, asthma inducers, chemicals, biological contaminants and so on. 

Take proactive measures to ensure your baby’s nursery is safe and free from toxins.  I would suggest preparing and sanitizing your nursery several months before baby is due to guarantee all possible contaminants are eliminated.  You may not be able to control outside variables from imposing harmful agents, but you can certainly control turning your nursery into a safe sanctuary for your baby.  Taking eco-friendly precautions is not only safer for your precious little one, but mother nature will thank you for it.