The joy that parents feel when they are expecting a new baby is indescribable, right? Similarly, there is a great desire to prepare everything in the best way for the little guest. Making the baby's room beautiful is one of the most important things. But in our enthusiasm for making this room beautiful, sometimes we forget to think about the impact that these things can have on the baby's health. Not everything that looks beautiful is good for the baby. So today, let's talk about how to make the baby's room beautiful, while also making it environmentally friendly and 100% safe for the little one.
Let's also think about safety while decorating the baby's room.
The first thing we do is paint the baby's room a new color and buy some new furniture. But we need to be a little careful when choosing these things.
Think twice when choosing paint.
It's great to have a new coat of paint in your room. But some paints can contain harmful chemicals . Simply put, these chemicals remain in the air even after the paint has dried and enter our bodies when we breathe them in. We call these `(Volatile Organic Compounds)` or `(VOCs)`.
When these enter the body, they can cause headaches , dizziness, and inflammation of the eyes, nose, and throat. In the long run, there is a possibility of damage to organs like the kidneys and liver. A small baby's body is very sensitive to these things.
Therefore, when choosing paint for your baby's room, try to choose paint that is labeled "Zero-VOC" or "Low-VOC." There are now safe options like these in good quality paints in Sri Lanka.
If your home is older (especially a few years old), it is likely that the paint used at that time contained lead. If you scrape off the old paint before applying new paint, this lead dust will accumulate in the air and be very harmful not only to the baby, but also to everyone in the house. If you have any doubts about this, it is wise to seek professional help.
Think about furniture and flooring too.
When choosing things like a baby's crib or a wardrobe, we often only look at beauty. But there are a few things to think about here too.
| Product type | Things to watch out for |
|---|---|
| Furniture | Avoid "Pressed-wood" products (Particle board), which are made by pressing wood powder. The types of glue used to glue these can contain harmful chemicals like `Formaldehyde` . It is best to choose products made from solid wood. Reduce plastic products as much as possible. |
| Used Cribs | Buying used items is good for the environment. But be very careful when buying a used crib. Old cribs may not meet today's safety standards. They are more likely to cause suffocation and strangulation. |
| Mattress | The mattress is very important because the baby spends most of the day in the crib. If possible, choose a mattress made of natural materials such as coconut fiber or cotton. If you buy a regular mattress, leave it in a well-ventilated place for a few days after bringing it home, and open it to let the chemical gases (gasses) in it escape. Then cover it with a `non-PVC` (Polyvinyl Chloride) type mattress cover. |
| Flooring | If possible, avoid carpeting the entire room. Carpets easily absorb dust, germs, and chemicals. Instead, a floor like wood or tile is better. If your baby needs a soft place to crawl, put a small rug made of natural fibers like cotton that can be washed. |
Let's also be a little careful about the clothes we wear for our babies.
A newborn baby's skin is very delicate, so we need to think about the clothes we wear.
- Choose natural fabrics: Whenever possible, choose clothes made from ``Organic Cotton``, which is grown without pesticides and chemical fertilizers. These are very gentle on your baby's skin.
- Used clothes: Buying used clothes from second-hand stores or from a relative is also a good option. Since those clothes have been washed several times, most of the chemicals in them have been removed.
- Nightwear: Baby's sleepwear should be tight and form-fitting. Avoid large, loose-fitting clothes.
Very important: Make sure to remove large blankets, pillows, quilts, and bumpers from the crib to make it more beautiful. These greatly increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). For the safety of the baby, the crib should only contain a mattress and a suitable sheet.
Let's also look at other things used in the room.
Not only clothes and belongings, but even the little things we use every day can affect our babies .
What is a substitute for baby wipes?
Many baby wipes in stores are made from chlorine-bleached cotton or wood pulp. These are not good for the environment, and they are not always gentle on baby's delicate skin.
The best and cheapest option is to use small cotton washcloths soaked in clean water . This is easy to do if you have a spray bottle filled with water and a few clean cloths nearby.
Toys and cleaners
- Toys : Reduce plastic toys as much as possible and choose wooden toys with non-toxic paint.
- Clean the room: Instead of using harsh chemical cleaners, use a natural cleaner that you can make at home.
Here's an easy way:
- 2 cups of water
- 3 tablespoons of liquid soap
- 20-30 drops of tea tree oil or lemon juice
Mix this well and store it in a spray bottle. You can use this to scent the room and clean the surfaces of items.
These things may seem small. But the safety and health benefits of these small changes for your baby are very big. If any problem arises regarding your baby's health, do not forget to consult your doctor immediately for advice .
Take-Home Message
- When painting your baby's room, choose paint that is labeled "Zero-VOC" or "Low-VOC."
- Choose furniture made from solid wood instead of wood chips. If you are buying a used crib, be very careful about its safety.
- If you buy a new mattress, leave it in a well-ventilated area for a few days to allow the chemical fumes to dissipate.
- To reduce the risk of SIDS, do not place anything inside your baby's crib, such as pillows, blankets, or bumpers.
- Choose natural fibers like cotton for clothing and rugs.
- Instead of harsh chemical cleaners, use natural products that you can make at home.
- If you have any concerns about your baby's health, always consult your doctor .
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