Dangers of VOCs

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are chemicals emitted by liquids or solids that are regularly found in the home. Common sources of VOCs at home include building materials like paint, varnish, adhesives, and vinyl floors. These substances typically have an off gassing period of approximately a year.

Even after VOC off gassing stops, the air can continue to be tainted with slow releasing semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs) that can affect your baby’s nervous system and cause brain development problems. You can have your home tested for VOCs, like formaldehyde or purchase a VOC test kit to determine VOC levels and implement remediation procedures.

Dangers of Lead

Lead is a heavy metal that poses a real danger to babies and children when ingested or inhaled. Lead poisoning is a known cause of major health issues in developing bodies including irreversible brain damage as well as retarding mental and physical development.

Lead based paints are common, particularly in older homes. Paints that have chipped or cracked must be removed. Not only do the paint chips pose a hazard if ingested by the baby, but the lead dust can settle on walls, floors, beds and toys. A common source of this dust comes from painted windows. When these windows are opened and closed, the friction in the sills grind the paint into dust which can be blown in by the wind. Even though the paint can be covered with a sealant, the preferred method is lead-based paint removal performed by a certified professional.

Importance of Air Quality

Although not often thought of when preparing for a baby, the air quality in your home is extremely important for healthy development of your child. Considering their small size and little body weight, the concentration of harmful pollutants is much higher, yet their developing immune system is much weaker. A baby’s brain and nervous system are more prone to the damaging effects of lead and VOCs.

Considering all of the air-borne contaminants that could pose a threat to your children, ventilation is of the utmost importance. Ideally the baby’s room should have clean fresh air flowing in as well as venting out to optimize indoor air quality. Attempt to reduce pollutants such as chemicals, mold and allergens as much as possible.

Non-toxic Walls

Paints on walls should be checked for safety. Lead and VOCs are common threats to be aware of. If painting is part of your baby preparation, be sure that the paints that you select are either no- or low-VOC latex or natural choices. If walls are covered with wallpaper, they should be checked for chemicals like SVOCs.

Safe Floors to Crawl On

Considering how much time babies spend on the floor and how close in proximity they are from it, it’s a good idea to ensure the safety of your flooring. Protect against lead dust and SVOCs that could be emitted from carpets, rugs, adhesives and foam carpet padding. Flooring made of synthetic materials could emit harmful chemicals from the dyes, pesticides or sealants.

Maintaining a Healthy Baby Environment

Once your home is safe for the baby’s arrival, maintenance and proper cleaning come into play. To prevent pesticides tracked into the home from accumulating, cleanliness of the floors must be regularly monitored.

Due to the fibrous nature of carpets and rugs, dust mites, lead dust, pesticides, and pathogens could accumulate if not cleaned thoroughly and frequently. Bear in mind that carpets tend to trap pollutants and release them when disturbed by walking, crawling and playing. This release is generally low level which also happens to be where your baby is breathing. Getting your carpets cleaned regularly can help to minimize this condition. When you chose a company that utilizes eco friendly products, you will eliminate the threat of carpet cleaning chemical off gassing after the service.

Be wary of synthetic air fresheners because many of them actually add toxins into the air. Ventilate and keep moisture at bay to reduce the chances of mold. As you clean to protect your baby from harm, make sure that you aren’t adding any new hazards to your home. Store bought or homemade natural cleaners allow you to reduce the dangers to your baby instead of adding to them.