5 “Green” tips for a Healthy Home and a Healthy Baby
“Green” is a modern day, catchall word for making the best, healthiest choices for your home and nursery. Deciphering the real meaning of “Green” can be daunting. The truth is, there are some basic, practical “Green” rules of thumb you can follow. Here are a 5 of them:
1. Stay away from harsh chemical fumes during and after your pregnancy - and keep your baby away from them too. House paints, for example, are something you may not think of, but they may contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), the toxic fumes that off-gas. Use low or no VOC paints and make sure your home and nursery are well-ventilated.
2. Choose a “Green” crib and nursery furniture. Young America has this category covered in three important ways. First, Young America cribs and nursery furniture are made in the USA, so our products have a much smaller carbon footprint than their imported counterparts. Second, our furniture is GREENGUARD certified to minimize indoor air pollution. Third, we offer furniture that’s Built To Grow for longevity and sustainability. Bottom line: Young America nursery furniture is a “Green” choice. It’s local, non-toxic, and will not end up in a landfill any time soon.
3. Allow a new crib mattress to air out (off-gas) before your baby sleeps on it. This important step will help release toxic fumes and prevent allergy symptoms ranging from puffy, red, and watery eyes to a runny nose, congestion, coughing, and asthma-like symptoms. Off-gassing can also cause skin irritations like rashes, itchiness, and hives. Choose bedding that has NOT been treated with polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). These chemical fire retardants accumulate in our bodies and have been shown to affect human health adversely.
Check out Healthy Child Healthy World’s “Make a Safe Bed” Checklist” for more helpful healthy bedding guidelines and tips.
4. Avoid wall-to-wall carpets. Carpets can harbor dust mites and allergens, and new synthetic carpets can off-gas VOCs. An area rug is a healthier, easy-to-clean choice. If you insist on wall-to-wall carpet, go with one made of natural fibers such as wool, cotton, hemp or jute. Look for natural rug underlays too.
5. Keep it clean. “Green” cleaners are safer for your nursery and whole house. Harsh chemical cleaners can irritate eyes and lungs, and companies are not required to list all ingredients on their cleaning products, so you don’t know exactly what’s in them. Make an effort to choose non-toxic, green cleaners or go ahead and make your own from items you probably already have around the house, including the old standby: white distilled vinegar.
sources: www.thedailygreen.com and www.everydayhealth.com
Kermit The Frog famously sang “It’s Not Easy Being Green”. Follow these “Green” guidelines and you may find it’s not so hard after all.
Source: youngamerica.com
Greenguard Certified Baby Cribs are Best for Infants and Young Children
All Young America furniture’s baby cribs are GREENGUARD Certified in effort to provide the safest environment for your baby and young child. Young America furniture baby cribs and other products that receive the GREENGUARD Children and SchoolsSM certified mark have been independently tested and meet the most rigorous chemical emissions standards in the world.
Read more about GREENGUARD Certification
View Young America Baby Cribs
Why GREENGUARD?
Children are more susceptible to pollutants than adults because they are growing and breathe in proportionately more air. This means indoor pollutants, such as certain chemicals, particles and allergens, can cause more severe health effects in children.
Facts You Should Know
- Children breathe in a greater volume of air than adults relative to their body size.
- Children’s organs and respiratory, immune and neurological systems are still developing.
- Children are much closer to the ground, and as a result, breathe in more of the heavier airborne chemicals than do adults.
- Infants and young children breathe through their mouths, more so than do adults, which increases their risk of pulmonary exposure to particulates and fibers, that would otherwise be filtered out in the nose.
- Children have a higher heart rate than adults, which allows substances that are absorbed into the blood to permeate tissues faster.
SOURCE: GREENGUARD Environmental Institute
A Young America furniture GREENGUARD certified baby crib is part of a healthy nursery for your child.
