Eco-friendly (or “green”) nurseries are a growing trend among concerned parents. Even if you don’t worry about living green most of the time, you may wish to use as many eco-friendly products in your nursery as you can. Because babies’ immune systems are still developing, they’re much more susceptible to toxins in the air than adults. Parents can create a healthy and safe environment by stocking their baby nurseries with natural, eco-friendly products.

Eco-Friendly Cribs and Green Baby Bedding

Babies spend most of their time in the crib for the first few months, so some parents may choose to purchase eco-friendly cribs. Although eco-friendly cribs are more expensive than traditional ones, they’re often made of recycled materials and don’t have any toxic paints, finishes or stains.

Once you’ve chosen a reliable earth-friendly crib, be prepared to spend a little extra on a crib mattress. Most mattresses in baby nurseries are made from petroleum-based materials like vinyl or polyurethane, and treated with chemicals to help repel stains and wetness. Instead, outfit eco-friendly cribs with mattresses made from any of the following:

• Natural rubber
• Organic cotton
• Wool padding.

Although an eco-friendly mattress costs more, it ensures that your baby isn’t sleeping on potentially harmful chemicals. Parents who must buy regular crib mattresses should allow them to air out for as long as possible before setting them up in baby nurseries. If you’re concerned, top the mattress with a wool pad and lay a protective cover made from untreated flannel on top of the pad to protect your baby from any chemicals in the mattress.

The next step is to choose green baby bedding. Earth-friendly bedding for baby nurseries is typically made from organic materials that aren’t grown with the use of any pesticides or insecticides. Green baby bedding is also often designed using only natural plant-based dyes, and manufactured using environmentally-friendly methods.

Decorating Green Baby Nurseries

Parents should be careful of the type of paint they use when painting nursery walls. Although all commercial paints are now lead-free, many paints still contain toxic fumes, called “volatile organic compounds,” (VOCs) that could harm you or your baby. If you’re concerned, ventilate the room well before painting and only use eco-friendly products with low VOC levels.

Wall-to-wall carpeting is notorious for harboring dust mites and other allergens, and may also contain VOCs. If possible, you may want to opt for more sustainable flooring options. These eco-friendly products include:

• Bamboo
• Cork
• Linoleum.

Parents who decide on sustainable flooring in baby nurseries can opt to add area rugs if they prefer softness under their feet while caring for their little ones.

Cleaning Green Nurseries

You’ll want to wash your green baby bedding and clothing with a gentle, natural baby detergent. Concerned parents can use eco-friendly products instead of harsh chemicals whenever cleaning baby nurseries. Many non-toxic cleaners are available at your local drugstore, or you can use homemade cleaners. Vinegar and baking soda are excellent natural cleaners, and they’re friendly to both the environment and your wallet.