Safe Indoor Air for Children

According to the American Lung Association, lung disease and breathing problems are the number one cause of death in infants less than a year old. Think about it: young children have small airways that can shut down when inflamed; they breathe more times per minute than adults, meaning they also breathe in more toxins; and they're closer to the ground, where heavy chemicals and particles tend to congregate. All this means that when building and furnishing living areas for children, extra attention should be paid to keeping out biological and chemical pollutants.

“Children are extremely vulnerable, so we need to do our very best with the air quality we provide them,” says Bernadette V. Upton, owner of EcoDecor in North Palm Beach, FL, which specializes in environmentally friendly and healthful interior designs.

Healthy Wall and Floor Treatments

The best approach to creating a healthy indoor environment is to minimize the things in a baby's room than can contaminate the air. Use paints, finishes, and adhesives that are low in volatile organic compounds (VOC's), which can cause eye and breathing problems, headaches, nausea, dizziness, and cancer. After you paint the walls, air out the room before adding carpets and bedding that might absorb harmful emissions.

If you're stenciling or painting a mural, make sure the paints are low-VOC. When using a wall covering, stay away from vinyl, which is associated with the chemical dioxin. Paper wall coverings are good, but just make sure the adhesive is low VOC and that there is no mold-producing moisture underneath. Try to avoid wood paneling, which may contain formaldehyde, a common VOC. If you use it, allow the paneling to air thoroughly to release the highest concentrations of VOC's before installation and seal it with a low-VOC product to prevent further off-gassing.

When selecting flooring, steer clear of synthetic wall-to-wall carpets, which can emit VOC's and gather hard-to-clean dust mites and mold. Tile, wood, and linoleum are healthful choices; you can soften them with washable wool or cotton area rugs. If you opt for wall-to-wall-carpet, choose one with a low pile made of wool, nylon, or polyester and check for the Carpet Rug Institute's indoor air quality label. Have the carpet rolled out and off-gassed before installation, then air out the room for several days once it is down.

Healthy Furnishings

Unfortunately, many cribs, dressers, changing tables, and other furnishings for children are made of pressed-wood products containing formaldehyde. The best choice for kids' furniture is solid wood with a low-VOC finish. To make sure it's safe, ask the vendor for the item's material safety data sheet listing the components. If your budget limits you to pressed-wood products, you can contain the VOC's by sealing any exposed edges. The same goes for the shelves in your baby's closet, which are likely to be made of particleboard.