Eco Pregnancy and Baby

While launching a remodeling project before your baby’s arrival may seem like a good idea, it requires a lot of different building materials–glues, paints and chemical solvents. “Suddenly your house turns into a construction site with contamination levels that can be problematic,” says Ted Schettler, M.D., M.P.H., science director of the Science and Environmental Health [...]

When you’re pregnant or caring for a newborn, you need all the sleep you can get. Thinking about toxic chemicals in your bed linens won’t keep you up nights-if you go organic. To minimize toxins: “Sheets shouldn’t be permanent-press or made with nylon or synthetic materials,” say Deirdre Dolan and Alexandra Zissu, co-authors of The [...]

Does it matter which paint you use when you’re pregnant? The truth is you shouldn’t be painting at all. But even if you have someone else do the painting, the less toxic the product is, the better. “Oil-based paints pose a theoretical risk of exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) while the paint is drying,” [...]

New carpet can emit harmful chemicals from carpet fibers, backing material and adhesives, dyes and fire retardants. If you’re buying new carpeting, ask the installer to air out the rolls for 24 hours before installation. Open the windows for ventilation and, if possible, stay out of the room until the air clears (48 to 72 [...]

On of the greenest choices in furniture is recycling furniture from somewhere else — your grandmother or that cute little antique store downtown. That way you’ll help reduce the environmental load in landfills and your bank account. Be careful, though, because family heirlooms, such as antique rocking chairs or cribs, won’t meet current safety standards [...]

Organic crib mattresses, chemical free baby sheets and bedding, are they worth all the fuss? Buying a crib mattress is one of the biggest decisions couples make when they begin planning a baby nursery. If you’re going green in general, no doubt you’re particularly interested in making the place where your new baby will sleep [...]