How to avoid pollution in the baby's room?

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Nateo CONCEPT

Our advice for protecting baby from toxic substances

When we want to make more responsible choices that are better for baby's health, it's also the furniture that we need to focus on and the room's layout in general. More than toys and clothes, the convertible baby crib, the mattress, or even the paint in the baby's room must be well chosen. The goal? To protect your child from chemical emissions from furniture.

Femme avec bébé dans les bras et plante verte en décoration

What are volatile organic compounds?

Baby furniture, as well as paints used in the room, contain many products. Depending on the products chosen, substances can be released from them. These are called volatile organic compounds or VOCs. By buying a convertible baby crib from an unscrupulous brand, irritating or even carcinogenic compounds may be released.

We're talking about solvents, hydrocarbons, phthalates, synthetic fragrances, and others. As an infant is very often in their room and especially in their bed, they breathe these substances daily. This can have consequences on their health with allergies, asthma, etc. Infants and young children are particularly sensitive to air quality. In short, the air in the baby's room is polluted by volatile organic compounds.

A baby's room is also particularly exposed to this type of pollution, as everything is often new. The furniture and paints are then full of VOCs that will be released into the air of the room.

What should we pay attention to?

There are several things to pay attention to in order to limit pollution in the baby's room.

Solid wood

Let's take the example of a convertible baby crib again. This wooden baby crib can be made of solid wood. It is therefore important to consider its treatment to ensure it doesn't release toxic substances. Moreover, if we want to commit further to the environment, it is recommended to prioritize PEFC wood. This is wood from eco-managed French forests.

MDF

There's also the question of MDF. This is a material very commonly found in the manufacture of a convertible baby crib or a solid wood baby crib for certain parts. It consists of wood particles glued together. The problem often comes from the glue used, which will emit formaldehyde. A substance that is irritating, allergenic, and carcinogenic. It is therefore essential to opt for a convertible baby crib or any other furniture with a low formaldehyde content to limit risks in a wooden baby room

Chambre bébé complète CLOUD avec lit bébé commode et armoire
Lit bébé évolutif 3 en 1 Broom avec rangements pour linge de lit

Paint

More than the complete baby room, it's also the paint used on the walls that needs attention. Indeed, poorly chosen paint can also generate VOCs. Today, there are paints designed for children's rooms that limit emissions, whether it's for a coat of white or color. This is also true for wallpaper and the glue used; there are more responsible and healthier products than others.

The paint used on a convertible baby crib can also be responsible for air pollution. So we opt for a slatted baby crib with water-based paint that won't emit VOCs.

Textiles and foams

Finally, we must also pay attention to the materials, but especially to the treatments of textiles and foams that we will find in the baby's room. This mainly concerns mattresses and pillows which can be major generators of VOCs. Knowing that baby will spend many hours there each day, we therefore complete the convertible baby crib with a baby mattress that is as natural as possible

Practical advice for a healthy room

To find your way more easily and avoid mistakes, several tips can be applied to limit pollution in the baby's room.

Anticipate

Whether it's repainting the room or installing furniture and the mattress, we recommend anticipating. This way, the potential VOCs present in the chosen products will start to dissipate even before baby arrives. So we think about installing everything and opening the windows wide.

Choosing the right equipment

Of course, we pay attention to the quality of the chosen furniture. For example, we recommend opting for a convertible baby crib:

  • In FSC solid wood
  • Made in France
  • With water-based paint, therefore without VOCs
  • With a low formaldehyde content

Opting for an evolving and modular bed allows to accompany the child's growth and thus limit expenses to be able to invest in more responsible furniture. The MOON baby bed, for example, later becomes a 70x140cm child's bed.

As for the mattress that complements the chosen convertible baby crib, we opt for a natural material such as bamboo or organic cotton. We also ensure the presence of the Oeko-Tex label. We also avoid second-hand mattresses, as they may contain phthalates if they were manufactured before the ban on producing objects intended for babies that contain them.

If you have any doubts about a product, ask all your questions to its manufacturer or seller in order to make a conscious purchase.

Ventilate regularly

Babies spend many hours in their room. Whenever possible, we recommend airing out the room well (at least once a day for about fifteen minutes). This is also advice that can be applied to the rest of the house. VOCs can affect the convertible baby crib and other furniture, but also all the furniture in the house.