The Nest

Non-toxic Nursery Tips

Posted Thursday, July 17, 2008 6:49 PM

The green style blog Ecofabulous reports that Nicole Kidman’s little Sunday Rose is sleeping in one of Q Collection Junior’s Solare cribs, and that Gwyneth Paltrow and Sheryl Crow’s offspring slumber in Q Collection too.  As I’ve mentioned before, if I had unlimited funds then I’d pretty much furnish every square foot of my home with Q Collection. It’s an American company with a resolute mission to produce only pieces that are safe for both people and the planet.  Think no VOCs, PFCs, PBDEs or other harmful chemicals or gasses, all sustainably-harvested raw materials, and no plastics or petrochemicals. The company even buys carbon offsets for some of its manufacturing.  

    Alas, at $1220 the Solare crib is too spendy for most of us non-celebs, but if you’re in baby mode you should know that you don’t have to spend that much to get a non-toxic crib. Check out Dax Stores, an online resource for non-toxic furniture that sells a selection of much more affordable cribs. The important things to look for: Solid wood (a safer choice than most composite woods, which usually contain toxic glues) and low- or no-VOC paints and finishes. Fill your crib with an organic mattress free of chemical flame retardants, and organic cotton bedding tinted only with non-toxic dyes—perhaps one of the sweet Elephant-print crib sheets from Q Collection Kids?  At $40 they’re an affordable eco-luxury, and my son sleeps on them so I can attest that they’re very high quality and much softer than the Gaiam ones I bought for my daughter.