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Not knowing what you’re having when you’re pregnant is so exciting. As much as I love to wait to find out what baby is when I’m in the delivery room, it can be really hard to prepare for baby. It can be even harder to design a “nursery” space that might not even stay your little one’s nursery for long. As I am editing this blog two years later, I am actually sitting in this exact room, as it’s now my office and my daughter (it was a girl!) moved into a different room. I took a different approach this time around with designing this space, and I’m so excited to share!

A Nontoxic Nursery

This time around, as I designed our second gender neutral nursery, I focused LESS on the latest and greatest design trends and MORE on baby’s safety.

I researched VOCs in paint, toxins in baby furniture, chemicals in materials, and how to create a warm and loving space that was also safe for baby. It was overwhelming to say the least. But, I’m glad I did all of that research and now I can share it with you! Here’s how I created a beautiful space while keeping baby’s safety as a priority.

Nontoxic Paint

I’m not sure why I was so surprised to learn this… I mean, it’s paint. But, paint is toxic. It shouldn’t be a surprise that there are chemicals in paint (paint fumes are usually very smelly, too!). I learned that airing out a room isn’t really enough for dissipating those fumes and toxins- there’s more to it.

“Although the majority of VOCs leave the paint as the wall dries, not all of them do. In fact, paint can release VOCs into the air for years following the initial painting, putting your family at risk.” Read the full article about paint VOCs here.

Which paint did we choose? We went with a zero-VOC paint from Behr’s Premium Plus line at Home Depot. The shade is Cotton Knit in Interior Flat. Their full list of zero-VOC paints is listed here. “BEHR PREMIUM PLUS is UL GREENGUARD GOLD Certified for low chemical emissions. GREENGUARD Certified products are certified to GREENGUARD standards for low chemical emissions into indoor air during product usage.”

We also painted at least 6 months before baby would be sleeping in this room and aired it out every day for weeks after painting. The smell after painting was minimal and quickly dissipated.

Of note, this paint required more than 1 coat to fully cover the walls, but it dried beautifully!

Nontoxic Baby Furniture

This one ALSO took me by surprise: furniture can be toxic. Like, it’s a chair?! How is a chair toxic?? Luckily, with some research, I found a glider that reached my standards.

Not only is picking a comfy and quiet glider important (believe me, it 100% is), but I recommend looking into the materials that the glider is made out of, too. This Nami Electronic Glider from Babyletto is also Greenguard Gold Certified and has been tested for over 10,000 toxins.

You and baby will spend a lot of time in your glider- feeding, rocking, reading, and playing. So, it should be a safe space for you both! This glider is extra supportive on the seat and the back, and has buttons that easily elevate the footrest and recline the backrest, and you can charge your phone with the USB port (how WILD is that!).

Two Year Update: It is SO COMFY! We have spent a lot of time in this glider, nursing, contact napping, and more. It’s super supportive and I recommend fully!

See it in action here!

Nontoxic Crib and Crib Mattress

Where your little one is sleeping is also important in terms of safety. You bet that a teething baby will gnaw on the crib (I have the bite marks on this exact crib to prove it!) We chose Babyletto’s Pure Core Hybrid mattress that has one side for newborns (firmer) and one for toddlers (a little softer) and their Hudson 3-in-1 crib that can transition to a toddler bed and a daybed. So, we should be able to use this crib and mattress for many years! And yep, you guessed it- both are Greenguard Gold Certified. And to be honest, the crib is beautiful so it wasn’t a hard pick!

Nontoxic Changing Table/Dresser

No surprise here that this changing table and dresser combination is also Greenguard Gold Certified and part of Babyletto’s collection (I was already this committed, why not go all the way, right?!). I used the Hudson crib and changing table for my first one too (these exact pieces) and loved it, so when I moved my toddler into his new room, I bought him the same crib in white and kept these pieces in this nursery! It’s sleek and really roomy. Just pop some small baskets in the drawers to organize and you’ll be set! We store newborn staples in the top drawer (e.g., burp cloths, extra outfit, pacifier, teether, rattle, moisturizer, etc.) and keep extra diapers, wipes, and blankets in the other drawers.

Two Year Update: I took the changing pad off the top when she was about 12 months old and put the drawers in her closet! Been using this drawer set for 4 years now between two kids- love it!

The Shelves: We used two lightweight IKEA shelves to float over the changing table. These are mostly decorative, and I didn’t choose a mirror for here because the window is directly opposite this wall and depending on the time of day, I would be blinded by the sun!

The Leaves: Okay these decals are AWESOME! More than half of this wall has decals on it from 2 years ago when I did my son’s nursery. I decided the wall needed to be a bit fuller, so I ordered another pack and filled in last month. You can’t tell which decals are old and which are new and they stick to the wall so nicely! Cost effective and I recommend! This wall took 3 packs and it’s 10 feet wide with 8 foot ceilings.

Two Year Update: The leaves are still holding strong! 4 years now total. I am actually starting to remove them with a hairdryer because this room is now my office!

The Wall Bookshelves

These clear acryllic shelves are STUNNING. I love that they are clear, so the books are not obstructed from view, and for those parents concerned about baby trying to climb, they don’t have a ledge for baby to pull up on! I put them low on the wall to make sure that once baby can sit up and stand, that they are accessible. This wall by the door needed something small and flat against it since the room is small, so this is the perfect functional use of this space.

Sadly, these exact bookshelves are not made anymore, but I found a set on Amazon that are very similar and we have more options on our Organization Guide:

Best Books for Baby

As a speech-language pathologist, I take my book recommendations seriously! These are all of my favorite books for baby, and popping some in baby’s room will make it feel more homey and also serve a functional purpose!

Focus on Function

Overall, filling a room with love is the most important- not stuff. But looking into the materials and products that you and your little one are interacting with on a day-to-day basis is a good idea to help keep yourself informed and you and your baby safe!