When it comes to looking after baby, we often think about what he eats and how well he sleeps, but not much about his environment. Here is some advice on how to furnish baby's bedroom while protecting him from different types of pollution. These recommendations are set out in a guide entitled Bienvenue bébé (Welcome Baby) published by the French Environment and Energy Management Agency (Ademe).
Limiting indoor pollution in baby's bedroom
First of all, to limit indoor pollution, it's important not to use candles, incense or scented household products in baby's bedroom, and above all to air the bedroom every day, even when it's cold. Airing your baby's bedroom for 10 minutes is enough to renew the air.
It's advisable to prepare the bedroom layout and decoration before baby is born, so that the paints and solvents in the furniture have time to evaporate. Ideally, the bedroom should be finished in the sixth month of pregnancy and aired every day before baby's arrival.this will give the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) time to evaporate. Choose paints and furniture with an A+ label for pollutants.
Organic products for baby's bathing, dressing and sleeping
When it comes to washing baby, it's advisable to use the bare minimum in terms of hygiene products, mainly water or products with an organic label. Limit the use of lotions and milks that are often irritating to sensitive skin.
When it comes to baby's clothing, it's advisable to choose natural materials such as organic cotton, linen or wool, which are healthier and much less allergenic than synthetic materials. It's important to check that textiles are not chemically treated, as "babies' skin is more fragile and more permeable to chemical substances".
This also applies to mattresses and bed linen, with which baby will be in contact for more than 12 hours a day during the first few months: mattresses, fitted sheets, sleeping bags and Swaddles must be made from natural materials and guaranteed not to contain any chemical treatments.
For toys and soft toys, it's advisable to choose a range made from organic, washable cotton, and as the child grows, to give preference to wooden toys. Plastic toys, especially scented toys, should be avoided as they emit harmful volatile organic compounds.
New look
Clean baby's bedroom with organic cleaning products
When it comes to washing and cleaning the house, using natural and organic products ensures a healthier environment. It seems that children living in homes where bleach is used a lot are more likely to develop respiratory infections.
Make your own natural cleaning solution by mixing 1 litre of water, 1 tablespoon of white vinegar, 2 tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda, add 4 drops of Tea Tree essential oil, 3 drops of lemon essential oil and 3 drops of rosemary essential oil.
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