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Redecorating Your Nursery: Making Baby’s
Room Safe
Expecting a treasured arrival
to join your family? Planning to makeover a room to greet this
newcomer? Read this article to make sure your nursery will be
safe for the precious little one who will be living there.
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If the home was built before
1978, the walls are likely to contain lead paint. To keep baby
safe, this paint must be completely removed and the walls sanded.
Expectant mothers, however, should not be doing this work. Anything
that is accidentally inhaled by a pregnant woman affects the
unborn child as well. In fact, if you are expecting, you should
not even be in the home while the paint removal is occurring.
Likewise, the mother-to-be should
avoid painting the new room and allow family or friends to complete
this task instead. If the mother is exposed to the paint fumes,
the baby will be as well. Timing is also very important; ensure
this work is finished at least a month or two before baby’s
arrival. This allows the paint to dry completely, which helps
eliminate the toxins from the fumes.
Another consideration in redecorating
is flooring. Newly purchased carpet, especially those that have
been treated with stain-resistant materials, should never be
added to the nursery. |
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The chemicals with which the
carpets are treated are toxic; they can cause breathing difficulties
and other health problems to the newborn. It is much safer to
keep older carpet in the nursery for a time; the fumes from these
carpets have had time to disperse.
If the carpet is a disaster,
and you must change the flooring, consider using materials such
as natural linoleum, or pre-treated hardwood flooring. One consideration
when using hardwood flooring is that water-based stains and finishes
are much safer than those that are oil-based. This is because
those that are designed with oil bases are more toxic. Ask the
supplier; use only the safest materials in this precious child’s
room!
If there are windows in the nursery,
beware of curtains that are made of flame-retardant materials.
Most of these materials contain a chemical called PBDE, which
has unfortunately been associated with thyroid disorders as well
as developmental delays in laboratory animals. Protect your baby
by avoiding any fabrics or clothing containing these harmful
chemicals!
Nursery furnishings can also
be dangerous to the baby unless the expectant parents take care
to avoid this hazard. First, older cribs are not safe. Many cribs
have been recalled in recent years, and knowing which ones are
considered harmful can sometimes be tough even for experts. Purchase
your crib new, or look for a relatively new used crib that conforms
to safety standards.
Furthermore, use mattresses,
blankets, and other linens made of natural rather than synthetic
fabrics. Synthetic materials may contain PBDE. Alternatively,
they may have been designed to contain phthalates or formaldehyde,
which can damage various body systems, including the liver, the
brain, the respiratory system, or the kidneys. Start caring for
baby now, even before he or she arrives! |
