While your home should be your safe haven, the EPA estimates that concentrations of pollutants can be 2 to 5 times higher inside than outdoors. The source? Building materials, cleaning supplies, cooking appliances, and more. Unfortunately, poor air quality affects little ones the most, since their lungs are still developing.
Naturally, you’ll want to protect your baby by improving the air quality in your nursery. Choosing eco-friendly and non-toxic baby furniture is an important first step, but we’ll discuss a variety of simple ways you can improve the air quality in your nursery below.
How to Improve Air Quality in Your Nursery
1. Choose Non-Toxic Furniture and Decor
Most furniture and decor are made using toxic chemicals, which then release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air. If you’ve ever purchased a new piece of furniture or added a fresh layer of paint to a room and noticed a “new” or chemical scent, you’re actually smelling the VOCs as they release into the air via a process known as off-gassing. Even after the scent goes away, the product will continue to release chemicals into your environment.
That’s why it’s so important to choose non-toxic furniture. All Natart, Nest, and Tulip collections are Greenguard GOLD Certified. To get that certification, our products are made of low-VOC materials. All our products, including our Matty changer, meet and exceed the strictest standards and are made of non-toxic materials.
2. Create a Chemical-Free Sleeping Environment
Babies spend a lot of time sleeping – up to 17 hours for newborns! That said, it’s critical to ensure that your baby’s crib is a chemical-free zone to keep air quality optimal.
You can start by choosing an organic crib mattress, which is free of harsh chemicals. It’s also best to choose hypoallergenic fabrics for crib sheets, which are resistant to dust mites and pollen that can also contribute to poor air quality.
3. Clean the Air Consistently
Air purifiers can filter the air and remove pollutants that do get into your nursery. Not all filters are created equal – a HEPA filter is best as it can remove 99.9% of particles, including chemical compounds, dust, allergens, and bacteria.
A natural environment can also help. Plants provide some air filtration. Meanwhile, artificial lighting can increase CO2 in the air, so maximizing natural light as much as possible is key.
4. Select Non-Toxic Cleaning and Care Products
Traditional cleaning products and even baby care products include harmful chemicals, which end up in your air when you use the product. In fact, one study found that 45 different chemicals are common in indoor dust in the US. Choose non-toxic cleaning and baby care products to avoid adding these chemicals to the air in your home.
5. Opt for Low-VOC Paints and Finishes
Just like with your baby furniture, the paints and finishes you use in your nursery can emit VOCs. To protect the air quality in your nursery, choose non-toxic paint brands. If you have wood surfaces you’d like to finish, opt for a safe alternative like walnut oil or safflower oil.
6. Keep It Clean
Once you put the above steps into place, you’ll need to do some maintenance to keep your air quality optimal. Be sure to:
- Dust regularly, as dust can carry pollutants
- Open windows to encourage air circulation
- Change the filter on your air purifier and HVAC system
- Clean humidifiers often as mold can accumulate quickly
Ultimately, improving the air quality in your nursery comes down to research. By searching for the best Greenguard GOLD Certified baby furniture, non-toxic paints, green cleaning supplies, and air filters now, you can protect your baby’s developing lungs. With a little maintenance, you and your baby can enjoy clean air for years to come, so you can focus on creating memories and enjoying life with your little one.