It’s easy to get caught up in buying brand new, chain store stuff right from the start, especially when the Baby Industry woos you with their surplus of oversized cribs, cozy rocking chairs and cute monkey-adorned blankets. However, this is not a very sustainable choice and, often, not very healthy for your child either.
A child’s developing body is more sensitive to environmental hazards than an adult’s, so it makes sense to pay more attention to what goes into your child’s bedroom – where they can spend up to one-half of their day. The materials and adhesives that go into furniture, flooring, bedding and décor often contain and emit VOCs (volatile organic compounds), a mixture of chemicals that can have adverse health effects. One common VOC, formaldehyde, is a known carcinogen. PBDEs (polybrominated diphenyl ethers) are endocrine-disrupting chemicals commonly used as flame retardants, and they tend to migrate from household products into house dust. Concentrations of such toxins can be up to ten times higher indoors.
The bedroom choices outlined here are ones that favor a lack of toxins, which is healthier for both you and the planet.
Click here to read my full article on ecoRI News.
Image via Wikimedia Commons
