In week two of my “green” nursery challenge, I purchased the “Rolls Royce” of organic mattresses. Now I needed a crib and bedding worthy of it. The crib needed to be baby-safe, eco-friendly, and fit for the prince of the nursery. Plus, it must meet Federal Safety regulations, be free of lead and phthalates (substances added to plastics to increase their flexibility, transparency, durability, and longevity), have a non-toxic finish, and be made of sustainable or recyclable materials.
As if that wasn’t a tall enough order, a crib designed to “grow” with the stages of the baby’s development made the best fiscal and environmental sense. I wanted a design where the mattress could be raised for easy access to my baby (Stage 1); lowered when he was able to sit unassisted (Stage 2); and, eventually, converted into a toddler bed (Stage 3)—with guardrails.
Since I robbed the piggy bank purchasing an organic mattress, I needed to be fiscally responsible this week. But first, I got mired in crib envy:
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- The Organic Mattress: My “Green” Nursery Challenge
The Organic Mattress: My “Green” Nursery Challenge
“You will never sleep again!” is something that people love to say to expecting parents. But, I decided my baby (and therefore my husband and I) would sleep happily, comfortably, and safely. On what, was the question.
My first nursery purchase was the ever-practical crib mattress. After reading a mattress article in The New York Times about harmful flame-retardant chemicals like PBDE’s (which have been found in breast milk), I knew that I wanted an organic mattress; one that was VOC-free and used natural flame retardants like cotton, wool, and natural latex.
At one national mattress retailer, their “organic” crib mattress had only 20% organic material—soy—the rest was memory foam with potentially toxic VOCs! Perhaps the way to go was the smaller, mom-and-pop shops. Of the indie sellers I located, none were within driving distance from our Jersey digs. I certainly wanted to test the mattresses in person (isn’t that half the fun?). And, if I didn’t pick a comfy mattress, I felt certain that our future soccer player would complain about it…at 4 a.m.!
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My “Green” Nursery Challenge
With a budget of $2,000, determination and a dream, I took the first steps to creating the ultimate ‘green’ nursery!
Photo: Jessica Provenz
In the third trimester of my pregnancy, I never ate pickles or missed sushi. Sure, my stomach honked the horn by itself, and my toes were a vague memory, but this was not my primary concern. I was fixated on one thing: the nursery! I could no longer focus on world events, books, or even mindless television. In those final weeks of pregnancy, preparations for our baby boy’s arrival became urgent and all consuming. The nursery would be safe, healthy and, of course, adorable. It would be bright, airy and unique for our little boy.
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