Warning: Chemicals in Baby’s New Nursery
Nesting syndrome supposedly hit most pregnant women in their last trimester. *ahem* It didn’t hit me. My poor husband and mother-in-law were left cleaning the house when I went into labor. It wasn’t that dirty. Honest!
While you’re doing up the baby’s new nursery, keep the following from the Telegraph in mind:
- Paints and varnishes give off volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which have been associated with birth defects.
- Water-based paints are less hazardous than solvent-based ones, but even they might contain metal-based pigments.
- Sanding down the paintwork in an older house might expose you to a high dose of lead, too.
- Insecticides will have been used on most new carpets and curtain fabrics
- Wallpaper pastes usually contain fungicides
- Medium-density fibreboard (MDF) contains formaldehyde, which has been linked with lung disease.
- Untreated timber and new furniture have often been sprayed to prevent mould growth and insect damage.
Babies are at even greater risk because of their low body weight and while one item at a time may not be hazardous, a new nursery containing all new furniture, walls, etc. could cumulatively deliver a heavy dose of chemicals.
What to do?
- Keep the nursery well-ventilated
- Use water-based paints or natural, low-odour paints
- Bare floorboards or natural floor coverings
- Use latex backing for floor coverings to avoid dust mites and other small particles
- Regularly vacuum with a fine filter
Were you this careful when planning your child’s new room?
Tags: babies, baby, chemicals, children, kids, nursery, safety, toxinsRelated Stories
POSTED IN: News and Links about Children's Things
2 opinions for Warning: Chemicals in Baby’s New Nursery
Deb L
Apr 13, 2006 at 8:23 am
I am really glad for warmer weather because I can open up my house and air it out really well most days. The people selling the house replaced all the upstairs carpet, and repainted the upstairs as well. With gas hot water heat, we don’t have the air blowing around to help cure things out and all that, and I think the outgassing products are part of my ongoing “allergies/colds” this spring.
Insecticides in carpets, ew! I think on the next truly warm/hot day, I’ll have to borrow a steam cleaner and make that a first-thing-in-morning project. I don’t need my toddler & pre-schooler crawling around in that brew of chemicals!
Some day we’d like to remove the carpets, re-finish or replace the flooring, and just have some hallway runners and area rugs on hardwood floors.
Lei
Apr 14, 2006 at 7:56 am
Deb: You don’t even want to see the state our rented house is in. :(
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