Crib Notes

uring 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 be 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 offgas 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.