Tips to create a sustainable children's room

Welcoming a new baby into your home is an exciting affair. But before you start decorating the nursery, read our eco-guide to an environmentally friendly baby room.

One of the most enjoyable parts of having a baby is decorating the baby's room. Before you get started, it's important to think about what you want.

And by that we do not only mean the type of décor, bedding or toys - although this is important. We think it is more important to think about what these products are made of and whether they are safe for the environment of your new baby.

So it is good to know that, especially in this day and age and with a little help, it is very easy to create an environmentally friendly space for your baby.

The sustainable nursery stylist has already designed countless green children's rooms with a variety of aesthetics, but to get you started there are 5 key areas you can focus on first:

Sleep time There are two components

to consider – an alternative to a crib or crib and bedding. Look for furniture and mattresses with Greenguard certification (products that have been tested on more than 10,000 VOCs and certified with low emissions for healthy indoor air quality). This ensures that the materials are safer for your baby. We love the super comfortable and breathable Pebble mattress from Nook. Infants can also start in a quality basin such as the Moba Moses Basket, which allows for full air ventilation and has hypoallergenic properties. Also, finding eco-beds is much easier these days – organic, untreated cotton is best – this also applies to hydrophyll cloths and we love Halo for their Organic Sleep Sack Swaddles and Wearable blankets.

If

you decide to feed your newborn with a bottle, choosing baby-safe bottles is a major priority. Avoid plastic made from BPA and PVC (fortunately, most food products no longer contain them) and consider using glass bottles like natursutten's. Don't forget to use your pacifiers in an environmentally friendly way, because Bibs pacifier is our number 1 choice.

Diaper time

The Babywoods wall changing table is designed to be completely natural and durable. So this is a good choice. What we put on the changing table and what we wipe them with should not be overlooked either. Washable diapers are a green choice, but we know this doesn't always work for all families. At the very least, make sure you have diapers that are chlorine-free and wipes that are odor- and chemical-free.

If you choose to use diaper balm, buy one that contains certified organic ingredients and is free of artificial fragrances, parabens, and phthalates. Think of Dr Hauschka Cosmetics. However, remember to always test a new skincare product on a small piece of your baby's skin. For example, on the inside of the wrist. To make sure he doesn't have any allergies or sensitivities.

There's a whole list of ingredients we don't want in our babies' skincare and that's why we decided to keep it simple. Avoid products that have a huge list of ingredients with abbreviations such as 'SLS' or 'SLES'. We also can't live without coconut oil, coconut oil, coconut oil, coconut oil as an all-round natural baby lotion.

Playing time

Babies are naturally curious, so they do a lot of research with their hands and mouths. That being said, all their toys should be free of toxins, biologically harmful chemicals and dyes. Look for toys that are also free of BPA, phthalates, lead and PVC. Our top picks for babies' first toys include our rattles.

Decoration

Lighting: Choose energy-efficient lighting such as LEDs or CFLs. Goodnight Light has a playful range of lamps that do not emit heat and has an LED lifespan of 50,000 hours.

Flooring: When choosing a floor covering for your baby or toddler's room, try to avoid wall-to-wall carpeting, as this can often give off fumes and dust mites and allergens. If possible, choose a floor covering made of sustainable materials such as bamboo or cork. If you're planning to lay a new wooden floor, make sure you ventilate your baby's room well and "gas-free" before he or she moves in.

Walls: If you're going to paint the walls of the nursery, research eco-friendly paint options. Remember that exposure to highly toxic paint fumes can lead to all sorts of problems such as cognitive, behavioral, and developmental problems. Ultra-low VOC or zero VOC paint are the best options for safer walls. And here too, you should always take plenty of time to ventilate the room, well before you air the room.