We must choose baby furniture wisely. The potential pitfalls when it comes to cribs and more means shopping carefully is at the top of most of our bloggers’ lists. “Natural furniture, made of certified sustainable wood and painted with non-toxic paints is the safest choice,” says Terri of EcoCrazyMom.com. Cindy of OnePartSunshine.com explains, “Pressed wood products such as particle board, plywood and fiberboard (or MDF) typically contain VOCs as well as formaldehyde in the glues and adhesives used to bond the particles together.”

Though hard wood is more expensive, Terri notes it’s usually durable, making it a solid investment. Sara of Treehugging with Kids adds, “Buy any furniture early, unpack it from the boxes and allow it to air out for several months, to off-gas any potential contaminants.”
 
This goes for laundry as well as the nursery, says Terri of EcoCrazyMom.com. “Common household cleaners are one of the worst culprits for toxins being introduced in the home!” To avoid these, you can DIY natural products out of things like vinegar and baking soda (bonus: these save money, too, she says).

indy of OnePartSunshine.com reminds her readers not to rely on a manufacturer’s claim that something is so-called natural or green. “Inspect the ingredients yourself and check the product’s safety with a resource like EWG’s Guide to Healthy Cleaning,” she says.