Spring is the high season for babies, so a lot of parents are starting to prepare the baby's room now. We usually remember the regular stuff, like covering electrical outlets and installing safety gates around the house. But here are a few extra points to keep in mind.
Windows
Windows are a bigger job than just a fresh coat of paint. If you live in a noisy neighbourhood, in the middle of the city or if there's construction happening on your street, noise reduction is worth looking into.
Most new parents want to cut down the noise in nursery rooms so baby -- and parents -- can sleep more soundly. Different glass packages, such as thicker glass and triple glazing, can make windows more soundproof.
Another concern is safety. You can get internal mini blinds -- windows with blinds built into them -- so they won't get dusty. Because they're cordless -- they work on magnets -- there's no choking hazard. There are also doors that have built-in mini blinds.
Paint
More homeowners are pushing for no-VOC or VOC-free paint. VOC stands for volatile organic compound. But we have to be careful about these kinds of labels because sometimes it's just clever marketing.
Just because a paint has no VOCs, that doesn't necessarily make it safe. Some homeowners even think because the label indicates there are no VOCs, they can paint with kids in the room, or with the windows closed, or without wearing safety gear. Not the case.
And even if the label on the paint indicates it's VOC-free, the pigment added to the paint can contain VOCs. Usually the darker the pigment, the more VOCs there are, so lighter colours -- especially white -- are safer. If you're set on getting a no-VOC paint, make sure any pigment added is also VOC-free.
Also, keep in mind that no-VOC paints are fairly new, so their quality, including durability, isn't at the same level as regular or even low-VOC paint. However, since we are talking about baby rooms, durability might not be a big issue, as parents will likely want to change the room colour in a few years.
Bottom line: When it comes to paint, use your common sense. I don't care if the label indicates no VOC, low VOC or 100 per cent VOC-free, follow the same precautions you would with any other paint product:
Properly ventilate the room, keeping the windows open (if there are any) and using fans. Seal the area from the rest of the house, wear a disposable respirator if you are painting the room yourself, and let the paint dry for at least a week before moving the baby in. The longer you wait, the lower the VOCs will be.
Indoor air
Everyone worries about the air outside, but the air inside your home can be two to five times more polluted -- sometimes even 100 times more polluted!
Babies and small children are especially vulnerable to indoor pollutants such as dust, mould and bacteria.
In addition to a regular furnace filter -- which you should be changing every month during winter -- I recommend installing a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter. This is a separate unit that's installed next to your furnace. It can capture more particles than the average furnace air filter, and it's washable in most cases. So every month you wash it, clean it and put it back in.
You can get a separate air purifier to plug into your baby's room. But stay away from ionizing air purifiers. Parents like them because they're silent, but some models emit ozone, a lung irritant. Besides, most babies like some background noise, so the sound of the purifier's fan can actually help them sleep.
When it comes to safety, there are no short cuts, and when it comes to our kids, we can never be too careful. Make your baby's room right by making it safe.
-- Postmedia Network Inc. 2013
Catch Mike Holmes on Holmes Makes It Right, Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on HGTV. For more information, visit hgtv.ca. For more information on home renovations, visit makeitright.ca.
