Preparing for baby is much like preparing for spring. We work hard leading up to spring's arrival to prepare our yard for the birth of new growth. Throughout the 9 months leading up to the birth of baby, parents work nonstop to ready their home for this, the sweetest of arrivals. Most soon-to-be moms and dads are focused on getting the essentials: crib, changing table, car seat, stroller, diapers and clothes. Often, the air quality of indoor environments is overlooked. This fundamental and often critical aspect of home readiness should be viewed as important when preparing for baby.The facts leave no doubt as to why special attention needs to be paid to Indoor Air Quality (IAQ). Per the Environmental Protection Agency, we spend 90% of our time indoors with 65% of that time being spent at home. Moreover our indoor air contains higher concentrations of hazardous pollutants than the outdoor air, sometimes as much as 25% more polluted and occasionally more than 100 times as much. With this, it is easy to understand why indoor air pollution is listed as one of the top five public health risks.
As an interior designer, I approach this task with expectant parents by looking first at their overall home health. We begin by taking a close look at their Building Envelope and Systems. Through this lens, we are looking at the physical shell of the home and the mechanical systems as related to climate control, making sure all are functioning efficiently and effectively. From there, we move on to Material Selection. Anything and everything that’s brought into the home environment is scrutinized based on function and overall health impact. The final phase is putting together a Systems and Material Maintenance Plan for future home health.
The need to create a warm and welcoming and, most importantly, healthy home for baby is clear. Considering Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) as part of the readiness process ensures that your home becomes the optimal backdrop for thriving growth.
For more information on this topic, I have found the most accessible and reliable resources focusing on Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) housed on the EPA’s web site at www.epa.gov. A great starter’s guide is located on the site at www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/careforyourair.html. For more information visit http://www.pregnancy.org/article/toxic-indoor-air-pollution-in-your-babys-nursery and http://www.greenguard.org/uploads/images/GGCertification_Nursery_Checklist.pdf.
