Preparing for a new baby’s arrival can be both exciting and stressful. After all, while it’s fun to decorate a nursery and imagine the beautiful memories that will be made there, it’s important for a baby’s room to also be a safe and healthy place. Because of their underdeveloped immune systems and how much time they spend indoors, babies are highly susceptible to the ill effects of bad indoor air quality. That’s why it’s important to take steps to provide healthy air for your baby in one of the places where they spend the most time.
Before you set up your baby’s nursery, here are a few indoor air quality improvements to keep in mind.
1. Opt for Low Pile Carpeting Over Thick Pile Carpeting
Carpeting can host a number of allergens and other indoor air pollutants if not thoroughly cleaned on a regular basis, and let’s face it--with a new baby, you will not have time or energy to deep clean your own carpet. In fact, it’s better to avoid any carpeting in a nursery in favor of materials that don’t trap allergens as easily, such a wood, cork, or bamboo.
However, if you would like to have a rug or carpeting in the nursery, opt for a type that’s low pile. This will be much easier to vacuum thoroughly, especially when you’re short on time.
2. Avoid Paints with VOCs
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can be found in a number of household paints. Conventional paint can give off these harmful pollutants for months after being applied to a wall. This is known as off-gassing.
According to both the EPA and the American Lung Association, VOCs can cause a number of negative health effects, including throat, eye, and nose irritation, headaches, nausea, and damage to the liver, kidney, and central nervous system. Some VOCs are even known to cause cancer. When it comes to your home and especially your baby, opt for low VOC or zero-VOC paints.
3. Avoid Furniture Made of Composite Wood and Solid Softwoods
It’s not uncommon at all to see cribs made of solid softwoods (such as pine) or composite wood (also known as “pressed wood” or “engineered wood”), but the adhesive and resins used with these materials release VOCs. Instead, opt for natural, solid hardwood furniture for your baby’s room.
4. Invest in a Quality Electronic Air Filter
Even for those who clean their baby’s room on a strict schedule, an electronic air filter can still be a wise investment. Electronic air filters capture tiny particles that other air filters miss by adding a charge to those particles and then using an opposite charge to attract them. These filters require very little maintenance, even with daily use, and they remove up to 98% of airborne particles and contaminants.
Whether it’s an electronic air filter, humidifier, dehumidifier, or UV air sanitizer, Dial One Sonshine can help you select a fantastic indoor air quality solution to meet your family’s unique needs. Contact us online or call us today at (714) 252-7460 for a free installation estimate.
