Children are more susceptible to toxins in the air than adults are -- they take in more air, water, and food per pound of body weight than adults. They also have more permeable skin, are closer to pollutants on the floor when learning to crawl, and tend to put more potentially dangerous things in their mouths.
When preparing your newborn child's bedroom, picking out colors and registering for gifts, keep in mind these precautions that ensure a safe, comforting environment. Don't give up on your double hung windows--replace them!
VOCs
There are several things to keep in mind when painting a bedroom, laying wallpaper, or installing flooring. Chief concerns are volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, which is what you smell in a freshly painted room. VOCs are toxic chemicals emitted from paints, varnishes, pesticides, or adhesives. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), VOCs have been linked to health effects like mild headaches; nausea; irritation in the eyes, nose, or throat; dizziness; damage to the liver, kidneys, or central nervous system; or even certain cancers.
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When painting your baby's bedroom, or applying wallpaper, only use low- or no-VOC paints or adhesives. Vinyl wallpaper may give off gas for some time after it's applied, so you should either apply your baby's wallpaper well in advance and combine it with excellent ventilation, or seek wall coverings made of natural materials.
Look for natural or organic materials, vegetable-based dyes, and plenty of fresh air flowing through a child's bedroom. Your whole family will sleep more soundly as a result.
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