The Star Magazinereported this week that Matthew McConaughey is going green for his new baby boy. A friend of the actor told the magazine, “He’s preparing the cleanest, most eco-friendly baby nursery you can imagine,” the friend says. “Now that he’s going to be a dad, Matt is paying more attention to what’s around him. He wants his baby to have the best – and he can afford it.”
But just because you don’t get a movie star paycheck or have a multi-million dollar house in the Hills, doesn’t mean you can’t outfit your nursery like the stars. Going green in your nursery isn’t about blowing your baby’s college fund: It’s about making smart choices! As you’re outfitting your newborn’s nursery, consider the following for creating your own green nursery of the stars:
- Paint: Choose eco-friendly paints that are zero- or low-VOC. You can find fabulous colors in natural and milk-based paints.
- Crib:The most eco-friendly thing to do is get a hand-me-down from family & friends. If that’s not an option, look for cribs made from sustainably grown wood and free of toxic finishes, like the Radius Maple Cribby EcoBaby.
- Mattress: Conventional mattresses are full of chemicals and toxins that you do not want your newborn exposed to. Eco-friendly crib mattresses use natural rubber, organic cotton and pure wool to create a supportive, naturally fire-resistant sleeping area.
- Bedding: Choosing organic cotton or bamboo crib bedding doesn’t mean resigning yourself to blah colors anymore. There are plenty of hip, trendy designs out there that dress up your crib without funky dyes and chemicals.
- Toys: Fill your toy box with clean, non-toxic wood and organic fabric toys. Look for solid wood toys finished with a natural finish oil. Baby can happily cuddle, hug and chew on cloth stuffed animals, rattles and dolls made of organic cotton or wool.
- Cleaners: You’ve gone to a lot of work to create a safe, green haven for your baby, now don’t go ruining it all by using conventional toxic cleaners. Today’s variety of natural, non-toxic cleaners work better than ever and will leave your changing table sparkling, without the use of smelly chemicals.
