eco living - nursery
Glossy magazines are filled with features on gorgeous nursery
makeovers. The makeovers look great but are often done just
before the new baby is due.
The expectant parents paint the room,
arrange new furniture and a bassinette,
perhaps lay new carpet or the
polish the floorboards. The babies clothes are
washed and put away. With the best
intentions, the room is ready for the new baby but the
environment is not as baby friendly as you would like to think.
Eco friendly tips to providing a safe
environment for your baby:
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Painting the nursery:
Shall we go for blue, pink or neutral? It's important to
spend as much time deciding the type of paint you'll
use, as you do agonising over the colour.
Conventional paints contain petrochemical derivatives
which give off potentially dangerous fumes. These need
to be a consideration for both mother-to-be, dad and
unborn baby. Wherever possible use eco paints or low
odour paints.
Instead of polishing floorboards, investigate the use of
eco-oils.
Plant based paints:
Natural paints are a non toxic alternative to conventional
paint. They are plant based and made from renewable raw materials and can be
recycled after use or disposed of with low impact on the environment.
Plant based paints are microporous which means they are
waterproof but shouldn't flake or blister.
They often have a higher coverage rate than conventional
paints, so are not necessarily more expensive.
- Milk paint (also known as Casein) is
made from distemper bound with a milk by-product and
pigment. This makes the paint washable and
longer-lasting than distemper. It is often sold in
powder form which you mix with water and can use on any
porous indoor or outdoor surface.
- Distemper is made from chalk with
linseed oil as a binder. It is easily marked and
therefore not ideal for children's bedrooms.
Other eco paints:
- Limewash is suitable for porous surfaces.
- Mineral paint is more durable than limewash
and made from waterglass (potassium silicate) combined with
inorganic colour pigments.
- Environmental choice label paints are water
based and contain minimal amounts of solvent (propylene-glycol)
which is regarded as being one of the least toxic paint solvents
available.
- Oils, waxes and
shellac are all natural clear finishes.
Fumes:
Regardless of the paint used, it’s wise to have all of your
windows and doors open while you’re painting to allow good
ventilation. It’s also a good idea to avoid sleeping in newly
painted rooms until all traces of the smell have gone and for
mothers-to-be or couples trying to conceive to avoid paint fumes
altogether.
Instead of using chemical strippers to remove old
paint, it might be worth trying this new
system
which uses infrared heat to break the bond between the
wood and the paint.
Contractors:
Finding a suitable contractor can be difficult, particularly out
of the main centres. The Building Biology and Ecology Institute of NZ have
developed the
Eco Products and Services List that gives many contact details around the
country.
New carpet and bedding:
According to this article, these items are often likely to release toxic
chemicals for up to one year after they are manufactured. (
http://www.naturalparenting.com.au)
For this reason, it's best to avoid synthetic mattresses and laying new
carpet just before baby is born.
For natural bedding, visit our
web store.
Smoke alarms & sprinklers:
It is very important to install smoke alarms in your home.
The NZ
Fire Service also recommends sprinklers in new homes or retro-fitting (if
your ceiling space allows).
There are two types of smoke alarms, ionisation (which detects burnt
particles in the air) and photoelectric (which “sees” smoke). Which type is
best? (http://www.fire.org.nz).
Ionisation smoke alarms used the be the most affordable option and
are found in most homes. They do contain radioactive material. They are reported
to be quite safe but of course must be disposed of with care (returned to the
supplier or the State Health Dept according to the back). One wonders how many
get disposed of properly?
Photoelectric brands are also now commonly available in DIY stores.
There is also a new photoelectric brand available online (imported from Sweden)
which is easily fitted (hung from your light fittings). This is not only safe
but looks stylish and can also be taken to the bach or when moving house etc (www.marin.co.nz).
A recent article in NZ Consumer recommends that you install both
types in your home.
Electromagnetic fields:
What are electromagnetic fields?
Read more about these and reducing the amount of exposure in your
nursery from night lights and baby monitors on our
electromagnetic field page.
References:
1. http://www.naturalparenting.com.au
2. Building Biology and Ecology Institute of NZ,
Eco Products and Services List.
3. Cooter, Simon & Jane. 2003. Eco Kiwi. Random House. New Zealand.
4. Tanqeray, Rebecca. 2000. Eco Chic organic living. New Holland
Publishers. Australia.
5. Phillips, Dan. 2000. Good Housekeping, The EcoFriendly Home.
HarperCollins. London.
6. Stewart, Robin. Chemical Free Home.
1998. Black Inc. Melbourne, Australia.
Further Reading:
The Green Guide