Blog
Crib Notes
Natalie Cadranel
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
During the first months of life, your baby will likely spend most of her time in a crib — newborns sleep an average of 16 to 17 hours a day. Given this, it's essential that our baby’s first bed should be not only comfortable but safe from dangerous chemicals.
Crib Notes
During the first months of life, your baby will likely spend most of her time in a crib — newborns sleep an average of 16 to 17 hours a day. Given this, it's essential that our baby’s first bed should be not only comfortable but safe from dangerous chemicals.
The Hazards of Cribs
Like any piece of furniture, a crib can hazardous if made with toxic materials. Your baby’s crib or changing table might be made of pressed wood or particleboard. These engineered wood products and their finishes contain formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Formaldehyde is ranked as a probable human carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). VOCs "offgas" easily from particleboard and the fumes can cause headaches and other symptoms.
Lead paint, which wasn’t banned until 1978, may be present on antique or even hand-me-down cribs, sometimes hiding beneath a newer layer. Babies may mouth or chew on the crib — and the lead paint! Exposure to lead may result in lowered IQ, learning disabilities, impaired hearing, and reduced attention spans, as well as other behavior problems.
A Safe Crib
To keep your infant safe in her very first bed, purchase a solid hardwood crib. And be sure it is made with non-toxic finishes,,such as low-VOC and water-based stains and sealants, or finished with tung oil and beeswax. Though tung oil and other natural oils give off fumes when applied, they are quite safe once dry. Make sure you don’t buy oil-based finishes, as they offgass toxic fumes. Pregnant women should not apply the finishes to the crib.
Of course, look for a crib with a certification seal showing that it meets national safety standards.
Posted by Jennifer Moscatello on 12/19/2010 at 11:29 PM
Can you recommend some reasonably priced cribs that are made of solid hardwood and finished with non toxic finishes? I’m particularly interested in cribs that are more traditionally styled, as many that I’ve seen are quite modern. Thank you!
Posted by Milo on 05/10/2010 at 02:18 PM
I’ve been having a difficult time searching for a crib that is made with solid hardwood and contains no MDF (Medium Density Fiberwood) and preferably, no plywood because of the types of glues that are used to hold together the woodboard. Can you recommend companies that produce solid hardwood cribs that don’t cost a fortune?
Posted by dining set on 09/11/2009 at 12:39 AM
Many baby cribs have recalled by the government because of hazardous substances and its safety. Before you purchase any furniture for your baby, check it!
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