5 Baby Nursery Ideas That Are Eco Friendly

Read any book about pregnancy and preparing for your baby, and you will inevitably find a chapter about your baby�s nursery, the items you will need, and how to decorate it. For many expectant parents, creating a nursery for their babies is a very exciting process. If being kind to the earth is a priority for you, your research into baby nurseries and furniture might start with looking into organic cotton crib mattresses, furniture made out of durable wood, and environment-friendly paints.

Purchasing organic and durable products that do not contain any toxins takes into account both the needs of the baby you are about to welcome, and the earth. That said there are other choices you can make that can do far more to minimize your carbon footprint, which are often extremely expensive as well. If you are hoping to create a green room to last, here are our tips to help you on your way.

1.Do you really need a nursery? One book I read said that making sure everything was perfect in the nursery was of paramount importance because newborns spend such a large amount of time there ��up to 17 hours daily! If you are planning on co-sleeping with your baby in the same room, you might not have a need to prepare a dedicated nursery at all. My babies did not spend any time at all in their nursery as newborns (though they love their own room now they are older!). They napped in arms or in their mei tai carriers, and slept in the bed with mom and dad. Will yours?

2.For parents who decide that they do want a nursery, seeing if they can use furniture they already own is a very green choice. If you do lack items like a crib, thrift stores, craig�s list, or friends and relatives with older kids are all great places to look for nursery furniture. Reusing and recycling is even more green than buying organic products new, and it could save you a lot of money.

3.When you are pregnant you might be preparing for a newborn, but babies grow extremely quickly. Think ahead! Will any furniture you are acquiring now still be suitable for a two year-old, a five year-old, or a ten year-old? Will they still like the wallpaper you choose now in a few years? The more neutral the room, the less chance that you will have to totally redecorate it when your child develops his or her own tastes. Creating a room that is just as pleasant for an older child as it is for a baby is an earth-friendly move.

4.If your baby will be sleeping in a crib, a high-quality organic crib mattress is one thing you might want to splash out on. It is important to keep your baby�s sleeping space toxin-free.

5.Are you a pregnant DIY decorator? We compliment you! Decorating is not an easy job when you are fighting pregnancy signs and symptoms like back pain and pregnancy nausea, and gravity might just do strange things to you when you have a huge baby bump too! Take care not to use any toxic materials and check the ingredients of any paints and glues you are working with.

Author: Tania Tod writes for Trying-To-Conceive.com, a blog dedicated to pregnancy and birth now with a free and personalized Ovulation Calendar.

This post has been syndicated by Nathan Brown targeted recruiter for Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage�s green building careers.