We’d all love our children to be safe and sound. Here are some eco ideas to protect your little ones.
Words Holly Brooker
Nothing can really prepare you for the life-changing, momentous event of having a baby, but everyone will tell you preparation is essential. I am in the final countdown of my first pregnancy and my mind boggles as I try to imagine a new life entering our world. Because I love merging an urban lifestyle with functional sustainability, I have considered a number of areas to make sure our new little person has the best start to life and grows up green.
Eco bedrooms - Renovating your kid’s room is a fun and special time for new parents-to-be. When you’re setting up your nursery or kid’s room, there are tons of ways to make sure it is non-toxic, safe and sustainable, while still maintaining pipsqueak chic.
Paint the town red - If the kid’s room needs a freshen-up, research the best eco materials to suit your needs before jumping in, to make sure you start off on the right track. And remember kids grow rapidly and their needs will be changing.
Use low-VOC or VOC-free paint in your kid’s bedroom to ensure the room is safe for your child, and allow sufficient time for the room to air before the baby arrives.
There are plenty of safe paint options available now, but if wallpaper is more your style, there are unfortunately very limited ranges of eco options in New Zealand. However, you may find some online if you are happy to import from elsewhere.
Wall stickers can be a healthier alternative and are easy to change as your baby grows up.
Hit the floor - Carpets offer much-needed warmth in winter, but they can become a sanctuary for a nasty array of dust mites and allergens, dirt and bacteria. Opt for a carpet-free room, instead using reclaimed timber flooring, bamboo or VOC-free linoleum. Adding a cosy and stylish rug will give warmth and colour and is much easier to keep clean. If you can’t go carpet-free, then choose natural fibres, such as wool, cotton or even hemp. Ensure adhesives and underlay don’t contain petrochemicals or VOCs.
Solid stuff - When you’re hunting for new furniture such as bassinets, cots and beds, drawers, change tables and bookshelves, add an eco touch by choosing furniture made from certified sustainable wood or reclaimed materials. Many kids will gnaw furniture, so it’s wise to buy furniture with low-VOC (volatile organic compounds – think bad stuff) or VOC-free paints and coatings, vegetable-based sealants and glues. Re-think plastic furniture in a child’s room, as plastic is made using a combination of crude oil and chemicals, which can be linked to health problems. Pay less while helping the environment by scouring second-hand stores or online trading stores for furniture, and simply eco-vate them.
The sleeping princess - Babies and children sleep a lot. Most conventional mattresses are made with chemical and synthetic products, such as highly flammable polyurethane foam, and doused with flame-resistant chemicals, which can be absorbed through the skin and inhaled as we sleep. To ensure the bed is made from all-natural fibres and free from unhelpful chemicals, invest in an organic cotton, latex or naturally flame-resistant wool mattress. Invest in long-lasting, eco-safe bamboo or organic cotton sheets and organic cotton or merino wool blankets. To further reduce skin irritation, buy earth-kind laundry powders which do not contain bleach or whiteners, enzymes or phosphates, as these irritants can remain in sheets and blankets after washing and can be absorbed into the body. Consider eco principles when you’re accessorising.
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