nontoxic baby cribs

Have you look into cribs made by Pacific Rim? www.whitelotus.net/pac.crib They are a bit pricey but made out of solid Pacific Coast Maple with mortise and tenon joints. The finish is hand-rubbed, oil based and non-toxic. Best of all, it changes into a Youth Bed, and then a Day Bed, with the kit so that you can get a lifetime of use out of it.

At www.whitelotus.net/children you can find natural and organic handmade mattreses for toddlers, newborns/cribs and the rest of the family.

I am not sure where you are located but you can find dealers all over the country for these products. I hope this helps. White Lotus also has some specials on mattresses not listed on the site, so you may want to call and see if we have something that you can afford.

Let me know if I can help further.

Marlon Pando

President

www.whitelotus.net

Phone: 732-843-4990

Fax:732-828-4159

Just wanted to mention that when I spoke with Pali, I was told that there crib in non-toxic but if you purchase there dressers the bottom part of draw is made with MDF Particle Board. Also their new line in the end of January will be JPMA certified.

Their customer service number is: 1-877-725-4772

Hello,

I found your post about Da Vinci cribs while performing a similar search to yours online. I was wondering if anyone knows if these cribs use toxic glues? I am looking to buy a Da Vinci crib or an Amish crib and want to be sure the Da Vinci is 100% non toxic. Any help would be much appreciated- thanks!

I had to comment on this as I am losing my mind (why is this so hard!) trying to find a "chemical free" crib/toddler furniture. I have done A LOT of research on this and contacted various "safe" furniture makers myself only to be disappointed to learn that although they say their cribs/toddler furniture are safe with non-toxic finishes and certified by safety organizations, they are STILL allowed to contain formaldehyde (an ingredient used to make glue in the wood dry faster--even in solid woods) and stains/paints can have up to 200 gms/liter of VOC's (off-gassing) yet still qualify for the "Low VOC" label and be deemed "safe and non-toxic."

This is disturbing since I have read on various environmental sites that children, whose bodies are so much more susceptible to chemicals then adults, and people with chemical sensitivities should NOT be exposed to VOCs that are greater then 25 gms/liter which is big difference from the 200 gms allowed. Then, when you try to contact these companies to ask specifically what their "low voc" stain level is, no one can give you an answer and most of the customer service reps don't even know what VOC means.

Going back to the DaVinci question, it makes me wonder about their line because I did not see anything in their literature saying that they use water-based glues (formaldehyde-free) or chemical-free finishes so I'm assuming they do, especially when there is such a push towards "green" products. From what I've seen, if the companies do use water-based glues and stains, they are very clear about it and don't just say their products comply with the Juvenile Product Manufacturer's Association. Also, DaVinci is a relatively inexpensive line carried by Babies-R-Us, not the most "green" store.

Another thing to consider regarding the EPA's allowable VOC levels (which is what organizations like the Juvenile Product Manufacturer's Association goes by) in furniture is that the total chemical "load" can end up being exponentially larger if you have more then one new piece of furniture in the room or if you have recently put down new floors, carpet or painted the room itself. And also consider that the off-gassing from formaldehyde and chemical finishes remains present for much longer then you can actually smell it--some say for years.

Sadly, I also had one furniture-making company tell me in it's defense that all furniture contains some levels of formaldehyde and this simply isn't true. There are a few companies that use formaldehyde-free glues (which are water-based), Vermont Tubbs (vermonttubbs.com) being one of them. However, as far as I can tell so far, only one company (Pacific Rim) uses chemical-free stains emitting no VOC's. I like the looks of the Vermont Tubbs line of furniture the best but am still waiting to hear back from them about how low their "low level" voc stains really are. They did tell me that they are working to make their line completely green in the future and are currently experimenting with chemical-free stains.

Bottom line, there aren't many options to choose from if you are truly looking for a chemical free crib or toddler furniture. I would love to hear from anyone else that has found another line of children's furniture that is formaldehyde-free with chemical-free stains. The cribs/furniture that I mentioned is a bit modern for my taste and I would love to know of some other options.

On a final note, it's bizarre to me that our government allows these chemicals to be used at all in any type of furniture when there ARE alternatives, especially when we are talking about children with developing bodies. Seems like it should be a crime when they really don't know for sure what even small levels of these substances can do to kids.

Gail

Gail,

Excellent points! I feel your frustration, I am a green building consultant and pregnant with our first child. I know all of the lingo and questions to ask and still do not get straight answers. Don't give up! The only one that I have found is Q Collection Junior, they are perfect in every way; truly non-toxic finishes, FSC wood used to build, made in the US, except for the price, about $1100 for a crib and $900 for a dresser, but they could ask more.

As for convertibles, I have been told that all manufactures who make convertible cribs have shipped operations to China as it is expensive to tool these cribs and this is a way to stay price competitive. Once it goes overseas all bets are off on finding toxicity information.

Overall convertible cribs is the best sustainable choice as you purchase less over the years as the children grow, but if we cannot find a safe product then I will not buy it.

Keep up the good fight!

Tiny Birds Organics sells Pacific Rim solid maple cribs UNFINISHED. Note their comments about the Pacific Rim finish.

Debra :-)

I am also researching cribs and baby dressers/changing tables (anyone have leads there?) and just heard back from DaVinci/Million Dollar Baby -- see below. MDF is NOT good (formaldehyde) and "wood stain" is pretty nondescript.

They did say the cribs are solid, but not the dressers or changing tables...

"Thank you for your interest in our Million Dollar Baby furniture. All of our cribs are made out of solid wood. The back boards, bottom drawers from the dressers/changing tables are made of MDF wood. We use a wood stain on all of our pieces.

We can’t quote you a price on the furniture you will need to contact the stores for a price.

Again thank you,

Million Dollar Baby"

-Jill

Hi,

Wow, it's like you took the words out of my mouth exactly. It has been a fight and I feel like I am going crazy, too. but, I know I am not. It's trying to get answers! This is so hard! What's wrong with full disclosure these days. I have contacted all the same, as you. My responses have been the same, as well. I don't know what to do or what to buy. I was hoping for a convertible, but over-sees forget the assurance! I will accept a 100% hardwood crib unfinished, or even a convertible unfinished, and I will do it myself!!! I am tired with this fight, it has consumed me. Fortunately, for us we can afford to purchase a better quality. but, cannot find the true organic crib...

Please has anyone conquered the market and found a true non toxic crib,please!

Thanks,

Robin 2/13/08

I bought a Cosco metal crib for my daughter when she was a baby, and then a Cosco metal toddler bed frame for her when she outgrew the crib. Both products had a white baked-on enamel finish which I found to have no odor. The styles were attractive.

hi,

i've been looking for green baby products for a while, including cribs, and the pickings are slim, especially if you don't want to spend a fortune. my grandad has offered to buy us a crib, but wants something on a budget, so pacific rim is out. but, i did find the following:

the da vinci jenny lind crib can be purchased in unfinished wood, which means you don't get any of the toxics from the paint. who knows about the glues, but it's better than nothing.

also, the angel line web site has an option for ordering cribs unfinished. another possibility. again, i know nothing about the glues.

another thing to think about is ikea. they claim that they don't use fire retardants in their products. not sure what their paints are like.

that's it. good luck out there. y

Hi,

I had the same issue when i was pregnant. I did my search and finally i chose "Sahara crib" made by Argington (http://dld123.com/debraslist/list.php?topic=Babies%20and%20Kids#L01038). I liked it because their products are eco-friendly and made from non toxic materials.

I carry Pacific Rim Woodworking Cribs and offer them both finished and unfinished. I think it is really important to give your children as natural and organic a bedroom as possible,thus I do not inflate my prices ($680. - includes shipping!). I want to add that I personally sleep on a Pacific Rim Woodworking bed and love it! It has survived being taken a part and put back together over 5 times and is in "new" condition. It is beautiful ( the maple wood is gorgeous) and it is healthy! I have a finished bed and am sensitive and never smelled a thing when it was delivered. I also love this company , they truly "create" not manufacture beautiful pieces. It is a small company and each one is made with care. I was told by the office manager that every piece that goes out is in perfect condition. I really appreciate a company that cares and takes pride in their work. You can check out their company online and read about their commitment to the environment too.

For new parents I can not recommend any other crib. It is a great investment and you can purchase a conversion kit to extend the life of your crib. You really should be able to get 6 years out of this crib with the conversion kit. My recommendation is to invest in an organic mattress and Pacific Rim Woodworking Crib and get a good 6 years out of it and feel great that your baby is sleeping in a healthy environment! (I am a mother of a five year old).

Metal cribs appear to be a good alternative to wood cribs (no glue, etc.) However, does anyone know if there are any issues with the finish used on a metal crib?

Based on our own research, the Q Collection cribs are the most non-toxic on the market.

I have been on the quest for inexpensive formaldehyde-free, non toxic baby furniture for a while now. I was going to buy Million Dollar baby furniture but the only crib i find attractive is the Prestige crib which goes for about $600...out of my budget. However, I wanted to share with you other parents out there an email that I sent to Million Dollar Baby and their response back....

"Dear Tiffany Wilkerson.

We are very happy to inform you that Million Dollar Baby products have little to no formaldehyde emissions. Our products have met strict Japanese and European standards on formaldehyde emissions. The United States has yet to establish a federal standard. All of our furniture is made of solid pine wood. All of our cribs and changers are formaldehyde free. Our dressers do have some MDF boards, so it would have very little formaldehyde, but again all of our furniture has met strict Japanese and European standards. All of our furniture has a non-toxic finish.

If you have any other questions or concerns please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Again thank you,

Million Dollar Baby

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Tiffany Wilkerson [mailto:tiffany@tiffanywilkerson.com]

Sent: Monday, December 29, 2008 9:01 PM

To: Tiffany Wilkerson

Subject: formaldehyde?

I am looking into buying nursery furniture and I was wondering if you could tell me if all of your products are formaldehyde-free and if they all have non-toxic finishes?

Thank you,

Tiffany Wilkerson"

I emailed many many more companies and so far have only heard back from three. One of the other two I received an email from, Simmons Baby Furniture...emailed me back this...

"There is no Formaldehyde in any of our furniture

Thank you,

Cindy

Customer Service Rep

Simmons Juvenile Furniture

Tel: 1-800-218-2741

Tel: 1-920-779-4004

Fax: 1-920-779-4216

`Have a Safe and Happy Holiday'

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Tiffany Wilkerson [mailto:tiffany@tiffanywilkerson.com]

Sent: Tuesday, December 30, 2008 8:57 AM

To: Cindy Griffin

Subject: RE: formaldehyde?

Are the other items….changing tables, chest of drawers, etc. also formaldehyde-free?

The only company that I have found that advertises that they are formaldehyde free is DaVinci. Other mom’s that I have spoke to, as well as myself are just under the assumption that since it is not advertised then it must contain it.

Tiffany

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Cindy Griffin [mailto:cgriffin@sjfdec.com]

Sent: Tuesday, December 30, 2008 8:41 AM

To: tiffany@tiffanywilkerson.com

Subject: RE: formaldehyde?

All of our cribs are formaldehyde-free and non toxic

Thank you,

Cindy

Customer Service Rep

Simmons Juvenile Furniture

Tel: 1-800-218-2741

Tel: 1-920-779-4004

Fax: 1-920-779-4216

`Have a Safe and Happy Holiday'

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Tiffany Wilkerson [mailto:tiffany@tiffanywilkerson.com]

Sent: Monday, December 29, 2008 11:01 PM

To: Tiffany Wilkerson

Subject: formaldehyde?

I am looking into buying nursery furniture and I was wondering if you could tell me if all of your products are formaldehyde-free and if they all have non-toxic finishes?

Thank you,

Tiffany Wilkerson"

The last company I received a response from gave me this information....

"All of our baby furniture is in compliance with all ASTM and JPMA standards and all of our finishes are non-toxic.

Sincerely,

Angela G. Mize

Customer Service

Bassettbaby Division

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Tiffany Wilkerson [mailto:tiffany@tiffanywilkerson.com]

Sent: Tuesday, December 30, 2008 12:01 AM

To: Tiffany Wilkerson

Subject: formaldehyde?

I am looking into buying nursery furniture and I was wondering if you could tell me if all of your products are formaldehyde-free and if they all have non-toxic finishes?

Thank you,

Tiffany Wilkerson"

The last company obviously avoided the formaldehyde part of the email.

I just wanted to share with any one else looking out there what I have found out.

Hope those emails were of some assistance.

~Tiffany

http://www.geniusjones.com/product-exec/product_id/5787


Has anyone looked bamboo crib on the above website?

Thanks.

Amber

I bought a beautiful babyappleseed crib about 3 weeks ago, but have been unable to use it because of a very strong odor. I bought this crib because of its beautiful design, wood contruction and non toxic finish. I thought I bought the perfect 'healthy' crib and now I find myself having to return it because it smells. After reading about what they do to baby furniture I am frightened by this crib that is sitting in my room waiting to be picked up by the store I bought it from. I was wondering if anyone else has had this odor complaint with a baby appleseed crib?

Regarding the bamboo crib, it looks to be made almost entirely of fiberboard. There seems to be little difference (except for the $1395 price tag) between this and all the other cribs on the mass market, made of "solid wood and wood components," which are, in reality, made almost entirely of MDF (particleboard or fiberboard, cleverly made to look like real wood) with only a piece or two of real wood, its sustainability unknown.

People tend to believe that, when a product is made of bamboo, that equates with natural & healthy. Granted, bamboo is a sustainable wood but, in this case, I have to wonder if this manufacture is trying to greenwash the product just a bit, as it appears to be made almost entirely of MDF, just like all the the mass market cribs, with, perhaps, a piece or two of bamboo. While this may be sustainable, it may not be the best choice, health-wise. They say it is made of, "bamboo, and 100% recycled formaldehyde-free medium density fiberboard with zero to low VOC finishes." I am automatically irked, since virtually all fiberboard is recycled! What a silly claim! Further, they give zero specifics here or elsewhere on their site about the actual ingredients. Are we to believe, simply on their word, that this has zero to low VOC finishes?

There are a lot of companies out there making claims about their products being non-toxic, organic, fair trade, sustainable, etc. And, lacking full disclosure about their products and their ingredients, how can one tell? Although the site claims that their MDF is formaldehyde free, the fact that they do not give specifics on the glues and paints used is a red flag in my book. Just because they *say* its non-toxic, it ain't necessarily so. Another red flag is their lack of mention of the country of origin.

As a maker of organic baby products, I've done a lot of research online, and -- in my experience -- if a company does not state the country of origin, more often that not, the product was manufactured in China, or is made of components from China, which means that accountability goes out the window. We cannot know what materials were used, nor the purity/integrity of those materials. As a rule of thumb, the best method for determining the integrity of a product is to research the materials and components, calling the company or manufacturer for clarity, if needed. From there, you will likely have to do your own research to determine if these materials are, indeed, non-toxic. You cannot rely on the manufacturer's claims of non-toxicity!

From a manufacturer's standpoint, I know from experience that it takes a lot of research to determine which products are truly safe, non-toxic, organic, sustainable, fair trade, etc. From there, it is an uphill battle to locate said materials to make products that are truly organic or non-toxic. And if you're looking for non-China components, the battle is exponentially more difficult, if not impossible in many cases! Once you're accomplished these monumental efforts, it's the sort of thing you really want to toot your horn about! So I nearly always see a red flag when a company that makes claims regarding organics, non-toxicity, sustainable, etc. does not bother to divulge specifics. I see a green flag when a company is responsible enough to describe the ingredients, their methods, their philosophy, and the country/countries of origin.

In a nutshell, ask questions! It's tedious work, researching products, but I feel that, in the long run, we are not only helping ourselves find the best product, but we are helping other consumers, down the road, by letting manufacturers know that we want full disclosure about the products we buy -- especially so when buying products for babies and children!

As of this week, I can report on our own convoluted search for a safe, non-toxic crib. This post is long, but should be helpful to crib shoppers. First off, let me say that buying a non-toxic crib is an expensive endeavor, which our extended family made possible by pooling money. Second off, let me say that our search would have been simpler, had we started 12 weeks, instead of 4 weeks, before we needed the crib. This way, we could have ordered a Pacific Rim crib ($650 and up), which is the only crib we could find that met all of our requirements: a safely designed crib, made in the U.S.A. from solid wood, sustainably-harvested, and with a relatively non-toxic finish and zero MDF components. Pacific Rim cribs take approx. 8 to 10 weeks to be shipped after ordering, however, which was simply too long a wait for us.

After much research, we settled on one of the Amish "European" Solid Wood Cribs (the same model goes my other names, all priced at $450 and up). The order-to-shipping time of 2 to 4 weeks, tops, sounded great. We called and were told my several companies that the wood was sustainably harvested in the U.S.A. by the same Amish people who make the cribs. The finish is said to be tung oil and/or beeswax. Everything was just ducky, til we noticed the corner posts on the crib.

The US Consumer Products Safety Commission warns that a corner post of over 1/16 inch (which is just a bit thicker than a CD) poses a strangulation hazard. Looking at the photos of this crib, it was plain that the corner posts exceeded this dimension.

Back to the drawing board. How about Da Vinci Crib / Million Dollar Baby Crib? Nice looking designs, and are said to be solid wood, MDF-free, and finished with certified non-toxic finishes and paints. However, they're made in China. After the massive toy recalls in the past year, I'm not yet ready to trust any wood finish that is manufactured or applied in China. Bear in mind that lead is not the only hazard found in wood finish products.

We were about to give up and return to the idea of finding an older used crib, hoping it had already spent off its heavier formaldehyde/VOC off-gassing. But then I ran across info about Baby's Dream cribs. I called the company in Georgia, who told me that their cribs are indeed solid wood (no MDF!) from wood collected in Chile (that's Chile, not China). They are then assembled at their plant in Georgia, USA. Since they don't offer that the wood is sustainably harvested, it's a good bet that this is not a priority for them. By this time, I'm ashamed to admit, I was ready to negate my conscience and selfishly take whatever we could get.

I will cut to the chase. We bought a Baby's Dream Infinity Crib (choosing this model because it was one of the few in the store that did not have -- somewhere on the upper part of the crib -- a design feature that looked like a potential hazard to us -- gaps, corner posts or other protrusions over 1/16", etc., that, in our minds, could conceivably pose a hanging/strangulation risk). Anyway, since you cannot order Baby's Dream cribs over the internet, we had to drive 1 hour to the store, then ended up having the crib delievered at a cost of $125, because my daughter and I simply could not lift the thing onto the luggage rack, and store declined to assist, for legal reasons.

The next day, the crib was delivered via pick-up truck. A short time later, after it was all nicely assembled, we noticed a sticker on the crib bottom: Made in Chile.

The moral of this story is really simple: While shopping for a non-toxic crib, just do the best you can -- weighing the pros and cons of all options with what you can afford to buy. But, please, above all, buy a SAFELY DESIGNED crib. This should be the number 1 priority. Study closely the corners and top rails for built-in hazards. Picture your child, as a toddler, in the crib in various activities. I cannnot tell you how many cribs we saw that were just absolutely beautiful, but had protrusions, flourishes, gaps and crevices that quite frankly, in our minds, posed risk of injury and/or at least some choking/hanging hazards.

As for "Made in Chile" sticker, we're at a loss for words. I suppose that, in the end, we got the lesser of a few evils.

I just want to thank all of you so much for this extremely valuable information. We've had a crib and several pieces of furniture in our nursery that smell so bad and causes headaches, throat swelling, dizziness, etc. that we haven't been able to use our baby's room since she was born in December. It's taken us this long to get the merchant to let us return the furniture. We almost just threw it away but had spent a few thousand dollars on it so we persisted with the merchant til they agreed to give us our money back. I have been researching endlessly until I came across this website and now am secure about buying a Pacific Rim crib. Prior to buying our baby's furniture, I was totally clueless about chemicals in furniture. It was only when it was delivered and it smelled so horrible that we realized something was very wrong. It's absolutely unbelievable that our government leaves it up to consumers to protect themselves against something this dangerous.

Laura, Are you happy with your Baby's Dream Infinity crib? Did you purchase other pieces of the same collection and, if so, are you happy with it? Also, does any of it have an unpleasant odor? Thank you so much! SLK

Yes, we are very happy with the Baby's Dream Infinity crib! It is solid, sturdy and beautiful. We did not purchase any of the other pieces in this collection. As for odors, when we removed the crib from the box, it smelled like new furniture used to in the good old days -- like newly sawn wood, with only a very slight hint of the finish, which was not at all a strong chemical smell. This smell quickly dissipated, so that even when we put our noses right to the crib, it was barely detectable.

This was quite a departure from the very, very first crib -- a "solid wood" (NOT) Storkcraft -- that we bought and quickly returned. The Storkcraft, made mostly of MDF, had reeked so badly of chemical fumes that we took it outside to air for the day. It still stunk at day's end, as did our hands, which smelled like chemicals, despite many, many hand-washings. Ugh! So it was the Storkcraft that started us on the journed to find a truly solid-wood crib with zero MDF or MDP.

A few more words on the Baby's Dream Infinity Crib. We orignally wanted the stationary side, rather than a drop-gate, but were unhappy with the overhanging "ledges" at the front corner edges of the stationary version, which looked like potential hanging hazards for a baby, so we went with the drop gate, which did not have these protrusions. Also, once the crib was assembled, we noticed that the piano hinge used on the drop gate can be stressed/torqued (possibly to the point of pulling the hinge screws from the wood) if you lean on the crib edge when its in the dropped-position, so we've decided to be careful about that, so as not to put pressure on the hinge. Lastly, the assembly directions were not as detailed as we would have liked, particularly on the mattress brackets. Pay special attention when assembling these.

Amazingly enough, we've still not been able to use the crib, as our search for a non-toxic mattress has been just as convoluted and time consuming as our search for the crib! I'll spare you readers the minute details, except to say that we found the approx. $300 mail-order EcoBaby innerspring organic cotton/wool 260 elliptical coil mattress to be way too soft, due mostly (if not entirely) to the upper layer of padding, which compresses (in our opinion) too much, almost like a pillow top, so that the baby's face could be submerged in a compresssed area of fluff. This was true on both sides of the mattress. I've not heard this criticism elsewhere, so we may be alone in this opinion. I must add, tho, that the folks at EcoBaby have excellent customer service. We have decided, instead, on the $225 Amish version of an innerspring organic wool/cotton mattress, called the Simply Affordable organic crib mattress, which is said to be extremely firm. It takes approx. 4 weeks from ordering to shipping, so we are waiting. Hopefully, it will be nice and firm, so that our 4 month-old can soon spend her first night in the crib, meaning a truly good night's sleep for the whole family!

Hello all, this page has been very helpful for me, I am in search of a non-toxic crib for my first baby ( due in 4 weeks ),and it hasn't been easy. From what I have read here, the Pacific Rim Maple wood crib seems to be the safest, and I looked at couple of websites, and they are about $ 700. I haven't found any reviews on this crib, I know there are two styles, The arts & crafts, and radius. Does anyone own one of these?, please tell me if you like it? I live in San Francisco, and would love to see one of these before purchasing on line, but I don't think there is a store that carries this, so it will take anywhere from 6-10 weeks for delivery, and I am hoping to get mine faster. I am not sure where my baby will sleep while I am waiting for that non-toxic crib.

Thanks

I just wanted to let people know that the current lead time for Pacific Rim Woodworking cribs is 10-12 weeks. This is how long it takes to make so add one more week for shipping.

I have noticed many online stores advertising that it ships in as little as 6-8 weeks and want people to know that unless a store stocks the cribs it will take 10-12 weeks. The lead times are always based on what is happening with Pacific Rim Woodworking. I spoke to their manager last week and was informed of the new lead time.

Also, I want to say that in an earlier post we had the crib listed as $690 and our price has gone up due to an increase from PRW. We do offer a discount for checks.

In regards to DaVinci / Million Dollar Baby Furniture...

Their cribs are relatively green. Sustainable woods. No plywood. They'll send you the lead / cadmium / heavy metals tests done on the finishes upon request.

HOWEVER: their customer service reps do not know what VOCs are which makes me think it's probable that the crib finishes have some VOCs in them.

AND A BIG HOWEVER ABOUT THE REST OF THEIR FURNITURE...

The dressers, changers, armoires, etc. all have some sort of MDF fiberboard in them. I purchased ours several months ago, and the furniture still reeks. Every time my baby goes into the nursery, he sneezes. I E-mailed DaVinci / Million Dollar Baby about the MDF. They purchase the MDF in bulk and have no idea whether or not it contains formaldehyde. Whatever it contains, it is STRONG.

I will be selling our new baby furniture on Craig's List and purchasing Vermont Tubbs, Oeuf, or Pacific Rim. Initially, I was put-off by the price. I wish I had just sucked it up to begin with, because now I've got to sell the furniture I have!

BTW, has anyone checked out the "Honey" colored furniture on Land Of Nod (Crate & Barrel's kids' site)? It claims to be solid pine construction. Is that true? No fiberboard? No plywood?

I have read several comments about Jenny lynn Cribs and that they are non-toxic. I wonder about that. We purchased a white Jenny Lynn crib two weeks ago and it has been gasing off to the point that we have headaches and are dizzy. It was returned to the store today. We can still smell the fumes in the baby room. We also found out that it is made of particle board which holds VOC's. It does concern me that our government allows companies to sell products that are harming our children. No wonder sids, autusm and other health issues are becoming so widespread. Our government is not protecting our children.

Hello,

I purchased a Pacific Rim crib a few weeks ago and wasn't happy with it. For $700, I expected heavier wood and hidden hardware. It did not smell however and I believe it's non-toxic, but I was not impressed by the looks of it at all. On the drop gate, there is a plastic sign that says "PUSH". It's also a very small crib.

Hello everyone, I too am on a quest for the best solution possible. I'd love to find an unfinished wooden jenny lind-style crib that i can paint to my specifications, but so far have not had any luck.

I wanted to let you know that I DID find a good price on the one unfinished crib that Angelline makes - it is model Della III 3-in-one-convertable on this website: www.myangelfurniture.com/products/cribs.html it is nice but not my style. I spoke with Robert from Angelline on the phone - he said this is currently the only model they offer unfinished due to lack of sales on other models they previously offered. it is $295 + $60 shipping +$10 for some other charge I can't remember. His model number was different than what it says online - he said to order model number 9640, select it online in black, and then write a separate email saying you'd actually like it "unfinished". He said to pick black because its not common and will stand out on your order form. I'd call too just to make sure you are understood. 1-800-889-8158 If anyone does know of an unfinished Jenny Lind style bed, please respond!

Hello,

I am trying to find a non-toxic, eco-friendly round crib for my baby. I am not sure if anyone here has heard of the MFG Angel Line. This is their claim: This Round Crib with canopy is the most royal luxurious designers crib that really lives up to its name. Mattress Included; Solid hardwood construction, non-toxic finish; Made of a Solid Ramin Hardwood, non-toxic finish: You can utilize all four walls in a room, 360 degrees of optical stimulation for the child, 360 degrees of observation from the parent’s point-of-view; More room – 45 inches in diameter, compared to 27 inches wide in a standard rectangular crib. This round crib is available in white, cherry, natural and oak.

They also say it is much safer then the standard crib, because it has no hard edges.

I am fine with a regular crib but my Husband really like this design and it is important to him.

I would really appreciate any info or leads.

Hi - have learned so much from everything posted here - thank you! I have printed everything out to carry with us on our search for a safe crib for our new grandbaby to be! However, we are now in a dilemma - our daughter is now 6 months pregnant, and both her sisters in law used something called a "Co-Sleeper" for their babies and have highly recommended it (in lieu of a cradle, or even, at this point, a crib, for a tiny baby!!). Apparently, it has a side (or sides) that can be let down which then allows mom to easily get baby over to nurse, and easily put baby back -without getting completely out of bed (3 sides of it remain up and sturdy). The CoSleeper is then essentially a sideways extension of the bedroom adult mattress. Both of my daughters in law had used regular cribs (and I am SURE NOT non-toxic!)and both felt that the child who had slept in the CoSleeper for a couple of months did not develop some "wanting to sleep with parents" issues that their siblings did develop.

I don't have any idea about this CoSleeper and am not even sure I am spelling it correctly, nor do I know anything about the manufacturer(s) of this item. Neither daughter in law can remember "brand" names, and stores they bought furniture at were, frankly, often "low cost" stores due to their limited finances at the time! If anyone has heard of this, or knows of a website for this type of product, would you please write in and give comments, and advice about any that might be "safe"/nontoxic?

Thanks so much, Les from Hawaii

Lots of good info here...

I take it there is no bottom line for affordable (<- is this even realistic?) wood cribs? Anyone have any info on JPMA and/or Consumer Reports crib specs, both for chemical emmissions and physical design guidelines (i.e. "bar" spacing, general crib geometry, etc.) At this point I'm considering commissioning a cabinet maker or wood furniture maker to custom make a crib.

Not to be offensive, but I'm not looking for "I heard this" or "I read that" but a link or a document that either of these (or another org I'm not familiar with?) has published. We have seriously considered a child craft from Costco or target, but I read the lawsuits in California and after reading the results of much of the research on this site (great work everyone) I am not convinced their "solid wood" and "non toxic baby safe finish" is actually safe enough for my kid. So that being said, I have a few quick questions:

- are there significant risks from the metal cribs mentioned above? the wife doesn't like their appearance (not important to me) but if we need something in the interim (during mfg and shipping) we can give away or sell...

- anyone have any info/criticisms on the child craft lines? they are after all JPMA certified!

- anyone have any major criticisms of the JPMA's certifications? my impression was it is the best regulatory body of baby furniture pieces

One could drive themselves crazy and have their kid sleep on the floor after reading a lot of this! assuming my laminate flooring doesn't have toxic levels of formaldehyde seeping out of it. That being said, it sounds like a good (<-? better than nothing) solution is to take some preventive measures from whatever crib you purchase. I found the following article regarding cribs and chemical emissions etc...

healthychild.org/blog/comments/carcinogenic_cribs_and_changing_tables/

There is some interesting info re:CA regulating formaldehyde emissions, but not till next year. Not much help right now... Ironically I found the most valuable info at the bottom. I plan to employ them as I seriously doubt we will find a guaranteed formaldehyde free non toxic solution. here they are...

"# Seal bare urea-formaldehyde wood products with multiples layers of water resistant sealants. Research indicates that sealing bare urea-formaldehyde wood products can reduce formaldehyde emissions for months to years after application. Seal all unfinished edges of finished furniture. Of course, the sealants themselves may release other VOCs, so check labels carefully. Use a no or low VOC sealant.

# Ventilate. Since babies spend 90% of their time indoors, make sure to keep the home well ventilated. Opening windows and using fans to move and circulate the air will lower formaldehyde levels inside.

# Go green (literally). Some plants have shown an ability to remove pollutants from the air based upon a study by NASA to maintain air quality in confined spaces. Plants shown to remove formaldehyde are those with large leaf surface areas, including Azalea Aloe Vera, Bamboo Palm, Boston ferns, Corn Plant, Chinese evergreen, Chrysanthemum, Date Palm, Dieffenbachia, Golden Pothos, Mini-Schefflera, Peace lily, Peperomia, Mother-in-law's tongue, Philodendron (Heart-leaf, Lacy tree, or Elephant ear), Poinsettia, Snake Plant, and Spider Plant. But, I would consider avoiding those plaints considered poisonous to infants. Also, indoor plants can be problematic. Mold can grow in potted soils and release spores into the air. Houseplants add moisture, thereby fostering the growth of mold and dust mites. No study confirms that houseplants remove significant quantities of pollutants in the home environment, but they may help remove some."

I'm looking forward to reading more comments and good luck to everyone in their searches!!!

Mike

Wow! So much information to take in. Thank you to all for your posts and time. Our baby isn't due for quite awhile (May), but I knew that searching for toxins-free nursery furniture was going to be a battle, so we've begun the search early.

Honestly, now I am a little confused. Overall, it seems that the Pacific Rim line is the one to go with. We were between Pac Rim and DaVinci, and now I'm definitely leaning towards Pac Rim. However, do they have a changing table? I've seen their dressers. It would be nice to be able to buy a set. We're all about a formaldehyde-free room, but at this point, it looks like the only thing that will be in the room is a crib and a dresser. I guess that's OK... ?

DaxStores.com seems to have the best prices, by the way, on Pacific Rim furniture, for those of you still searching based on price.

Thanks again for all the good info!

Like most of you, my family has been on a long search for safe baby furniture. So far, the only line we have found that meets our standards and openly discloses details about the manufacturing of their products is Ecotots. Although they do not make cribs, they do offer beautiful pieces for children 2 years or older.

Their items are sourced and made in the USA (that means Fair Trade)! They use formaldehyde free Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) Certified SmartWood, soy based adhesives and a non toxic, UV cured, water based stain for color that is free of lead. All their products ship flat and assemble quickly without tools or hardware. No screws, bolts, nuts or glue mean a smaller, greener footprint. Everything comes with a lifetime construction guarantee.

We currently carry their items in our store and are scouting out other sources for formaldehyde free baby furniture. We hope to have baby cribs very soon.

Everyone's thoughts and suggestions are wonderful. This seems to be the most comprehensive place for information on nontoxic cribs. I'd like to return to Natalie's comment about the Argington Sahara Crib, which sounds ideal and a little cheaper than the Pacific Rim cribs. Does anyone know where Argington furniture is made? Hopefully not in China?

Still, I'm leaning towards a Baby's Dream crib and then buying a good quality organic mattress, which together will be about the same price as a Pacific Rim or Argington crib. I don't think we can afford a $600+ crib and a $300+ mattress. Any thoughts on crib versus mattress toxicity?

Thanks.

We had purchased a Pacific Rim crib previously and weren't happy with it- pretty bare bones for $800. I have since found Romina furniture, which offers a bee's wax finish. It is absolutely wonderful. It doesn't smell and has no VOC's. It is fairly expensive though, but after doing a very exhausting search of safe (no VOCs) baby furniture on the market and finding very little to selection, to say the least, I was willing to spend the money and I'm very happy that we went with this brand. It is very well made, very high quality furniture. We purchased it at Lone Star Baby in Frisco, TX.

Emily

We went through this very frustrating process too. Why should it be so hard to find all wood baby furniture? And why should salespeople look at us as if we have 6 heads when we ask for something that does not emit formalehyde?

We would up buying a Pacific Rim crib. (No feedback on that as the baby has not arrived yet.) This weekend we discovered a European brand called Romina, which markets itself as formaldehyde free and particle board free. It is pricy, but quality seems higher than everything else we saw. We bought the dresser - had we found this first we would have just bought the crib too. (We found it at USA Baby in Cherry Hill, NJ where the people were amazing - blew away the unhelpful staff at Crib & Teen City and Babies R Us.) Hope this helps some of you.

I was just an the BabyCenter website and came across an advertisement for the DaVinci Crib.... It states as follows......

# JPMA Certified

# Solid pine construction

# Four mattress heights

# Stationary crib side for easy access

# Converts to a toddler bed with the addition of partial guard rail (included) or a daybed without

# Crib sides become headboard and footboard for full-size bed

# Eases the transition from crib to bed

# Some assembly required

# Mattress and bedding not included

# Formaldehyde-free

# Non-toxic finish

# Made with wood from sustainable forests

# 54 1/2"L x 34 1/2"W x 42"H

Not sure if this clarifies any of the questions asked above but should I assume on the description that this crib is a safe and non-toxic? Or should I assume that its less toxic than some cribs but that there's cribs out there that are more non-toxic?

Debra your advice and not to mention the readers advice is greatly appreciated!

Thank You.

Hello All,

I've been researching a few of the non-toxic cribs that have been mentioned on this blog. At the moment I am in between the Million Dollar Baby/Davinci crib or the Romina crib. But it seems as if MDB can only be ordered through catalog or on-line which is not an option I am interested in. And if neither of those work out it looks as if I am going to have to wave the white flag and be defeated because there are no other options other than mail order which I mentioned above I am not interested in. I want to see what I'm buying.

I know that there is the JPMA certification and the CPSC which with either one of them I can not get any answers on what exactly these companies certify. Although I did find a boutique which mentions that their products are certified and follow the standards of a bill that will be passed in California in 2011 for all baby cribs although when I asked the lady at the boutique what the 2011 standards were, she was not able to tell me.

I did reach someone at the JPMA and was given two numbers to the labs that they use.

BV- ask for Howard 1-716-505-3300---> I have not been able to reach him.

Intertech- 1847-871-1042-----> They were not able to answer much but diected me to look up the AFTM Standard (16 CFR) (which has answered nothing for me)

Unfortunately when speaking with someone at Intertech I have to admit i'm not very capable of asking the right questions and am a bit passive so i'm sure if someone called with more authority with the right questions to ask they would get better and more answers (at least i'm trying... still new at this... :-)

But what I'm curious about is when these manufacturers claim they are non-toxic is that all we have to go on? Are we just supposed to take there word for it? Or is there someone regulating these items?

Thanks for any info.

I too am leaning towards the Baby's Dream Infinity crib, with an organic mattress. After reading all of your wonderful comments, it seems this would be the most affordable for us. Other than not being from sustainable wood (which is a bit nagging on the conscience), it seems to be completely toxin-free, and that was at the very top of my priority list. Happy shopping all!

Question and Answer from MDB: (Hope This Helps)

Hello,

I had a few questions about your million dollar baby baby furniture line.

In your frequently asked questions section under are your cribs safe questionaire it has been stated as follows:

All juvenile products are required by federal law to abide by the rules of the CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) in order for them to be sold to consumers. All of our cribs are manufactured to comply with the federal guidelines and standards set forth by the CPSC, as well as the ASTM (American Society of Testing Materials). Furthermore, we work with JPMA (Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association), the umbrella organization to which most manufacturers of infant and toddler products belong, to ensure that our products have passed their rigorous tests and meet the standards for certification. Our cribs are made solid pine wood and in some cases Sepetir wood. We use non-toxic finishes and paints to finish all our products.

Although you state that the crib uses non-toxic finishes...... should I assume that this statment is for all your products or just your cribs? Also is your product formaldehyde free? Does it outgass any VOCs? (Volatile Orgnic Compounds) Do you use any particle boarding in any of the furniture pieces?

Your timely response to these questions are greatly appreciated, I am in the market to purchase a crib and am trying to gather all information so that I am able to make an informed decision.

Thanks Ethel K.

Dear Ethel K.,

Thank you for your interest in Million Dollar Baby furniture. We are very happy to inform you that Million Dollar Baby products have little to no formaldehyde emissions. Our products have met strict Japanese and European standards on formaldehyde emissions. The United States has yet to establish a federal standard. All of our cribs and changers are formaldehyde free. Our dressers do have some MDF boards, so it would have very little formaldehyde, but again all of our furniture has met strict Japanese and European standards.

We use the same non-toxic finish on all of our pieces. We don’t have just a special finish just for the cribs and another finish for the other pieces.

As for the VOC, we are not required by law to test the furniture for this and we have not done any testing on our furniture.

If you have any other questions or concerns please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Again thank you,

Million Dollar Baby

Hi, Tiffany here again.

My husband and I ended up buying a "Pali Crib. We decided that we were going to dig deep in our pockets and dish out the additional money for this line of furniture. But before we did so, we found a set used on Craigslist in Nashville. My family drove 3 hours there and three hours back on Sunday to pick up this furniture because we were getting a great deal. I just wanted to share with you all what "Pali" says about their nursery line...

Pali's Commitment to a Greener Environment:

Pali uses non toxic, lead-free water-based paints, only water-based glues, recycled cardboard for their packaging and techniques that minimize solvent emissions and surpass American standards. They also recycle all materials that cannot be reused. Therefore, Pali�s commitment to a greener environment is a commitment to each and every one of their customers and the well-being of future generations.

This Crib is approved for use in the United States.

Thanks Ethel. I thought they were already JPMA certified? They were listed on JPMA's website. Maybe jPMA was putting them on their website in advance?

That really irks me about the bottom dresser drawer. I bought the dresser, hutch, armoire, and crib. At least I bought it all second hand....and it has had time to off gas.

I just checked my pali dresser and I do not see and MDF anywhere on it. Maybe it was just a certain one that had it.

Hello everybody .. my wife and I are expecting our first baby, and we are looking for a baby crib built as natural and non-toxic as possible... we have read your blog and saw that some of you talked about the European crib manufactured by the Amish in Ohio. We are most interested in the Americana crib buit by them as well. Has anybody purchased the Americana crib, and do you have any feedback on it? wwww.greenspacecompany.com/index.php/baby/28-americana

Hi LES,

I read your post regarding the co-sleeper. However, there are many different brands on the market and it would be difficult to know which one you were referring to. There is one called "Arms Reach Co-sleeper" and it says: The patented Arm's Reach Co-Sleeper® Bassinet frame is made of powder coated steel tubing. The liner and fitted sheet are made of a soft, machine washable 35% cotton/65% polyester fabric. I am not sure what "powder coated steel" is, but I do know that the polyester fabric is not good. Here is a website for you to check out www.armsreach.com/shop-3/

They have organic sheets and mattresses and it says that their sleigh co-sleepers are made from solid wood, but you would probably want to call/email them and ask if there is any particle board on the bed, like where the mattress lays.

I was never big on the co-sleepers because I was always concerned that my comforter might fall into the baby\'s bed from the side while I slept. I used a cradle because it was bigger than a bassinet and would last longer.

If they really want a co-sleeper, try doing a google search of keywords like "eco friendly co-sleeper" "natural co-sleeper" or "organic co-sleeper". That will give you a good place to start! Hope I helped.

Tiffany Wilkerson

Kentucky

Hi LES,

I read your post regarding the co-sleeper. However, there are many different brands on the market and it would be difficult to know which one you were referring to. There is one called "Arms Reach Co-sleeper" and it says: The patented Arm's Reach Co-Sleeper® Bassinet frame is made of powder coated steel tubing. The liner and fitted sheet are made of a soft, machine washable 35% cotton/65% polyester fabric. I am not sure what "powder coated steel" is, but I do know that the polyester fabric is not good.

Here is a website for you to check out www.armsreach.com/shop-3/

They have organic sheets and mattresses and it says that their sleigh co-sleepers are made from solid wood, but you would probably want to call/email them and ask if there is any particle board on the bed, like where the mattress lays.

I was never big on the co-sleepers because I was always concerned that my comforter might fall into the baby's bed from the side while I slept. I used a cradle because it was bigger than a bassinet and would last longer.

If they really want a co-sleeper, try doing a google search of keywords like "eco friendly co-sleeper" "natural co-sleeper" or "organic co-sleeper". That will give you a good place to start! Hope I helped.

Tiffany Wilkerson

Kentucky

I am curious about what people know about buying used furniture on the thoery that this furniture has already outgassed? It is my understanding that most chemicals, with tthe exception of urethane and vinyl finish out gassing after 3-5 years. We have located a solid wood crib and changing table (no MDF, particle board etc.) that were never recalled for safety problems and are about 5 years old. Is it reasonable to assume that the glues and finishes have finished out gassing?

MUNIRE also makes non toxic cribs:

From: info@munirefurniture.com

Subject: RE: SPAM-LOW: Formaldehyde?

Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 11:51:47 -0500

Good morning,

Our cribs are made in Indonesia and are made of solid mahogany wood.

We make the paints and stains wit no toxins or lead in them.

We also are JPMA certified and we pass all safety standards when we test our lines before coming over to the USA.

------------------------------------------------------

Also, are metal cribs non-toxic? how about the paint? I bought a non-toxic Pali crib and I'm thinking about buying some organic bedding and perhaps an organic mattress. However, my baby will be in daycare pretty soon. They have metal cribs, how can I make sure they are non-toxic? Also, I don't think their mattresses are non-toxic, would a wool or cotton cover or pad lower the toxicity if any? Though they may not allow me to bring anything in there but, I can give it a try...

THANKS!

Hi all,

I recently received a newsletter mentioning the Q Collection Junior furniture, but it is COMPLETELY out of our price range (at $1000+), so I've really found all your posts helpful.

Here's my question: do any of you have thoughts on building your own crib? My husband was a carpenter in his former life, and has mentioned it. On the plus side, we would definitely know what materials (woods, glues, finishes) went into the crib, but on the negative side, I'm very nervous about the safety standards. Is there a site out there that offers crib-building plans in line with current safety standards?

Also, to answer some of your Consumer Reports questions, I'm a subscriber (I told you I was safety-focused!), and they STRONGLY discourage the use of drop side cribs. They recommend stationary cribs only. Their top recommended cribs are the DaVinci Emily 4791 and Ikea Leksvik. They rated most of the stationary cribs tested (including the Baby's Dream Serenity) as excellent. They also don't recommend the use of bassinets, cosleepers or cradles since there are no safety standards set for them by the federal government. Unfortunately, I can't see where they've considered toxicity in their ratings. They seem to be safety only.

Thanks!

MS

First I want to thank everyone for all their hard work and effort to share what they have learned. I am going to be a first time grandma in June and have been “haunting” this blog and doing research since December. Both my daughter and her husband are students and unemployed and living on the margin. I am working to help how I can to make sure the crib and mattress and some of the basic items that will be getting the most use are as safe as possible. I have narrowed down the crib to either the DaVinci Emily (natural finish) or the Alpha. What I have learned:

There are three primary ways chemicals get into cribs and the worst (it seems – see link good description www.greencradle.com/baby-organic-green-nursery-p/pr-1639-artisan-maple-crib.htm) is composite wood and its cousins.

- to reduce this look for solid wood cribs that have slats all the way around. It seems those cribs with a “ head board/foot board” that is “solid” have that part of the crib made out of the “bad’ non-solid wood/composite wood; ALSO I believe the under frame that supports the crib is also made out of this so look for one that has a metal spring support for the mattress instead of a “solid” “wood” base. (the alpha and Emily both meet these criteria). ALSO avoid the “under drawer” which is usually made out of the composite stuff. As an aside, I did consider a Pali and was looking on craigslist, yet their information looks contradictory. They say solid wood and then say the mdf they use will meet the California standards. They say lead free but are vague on the others. Words are everything in this business.

-as to stains/chemicals in the finishing agents of products. If you look at the first of these posts – Deb says she talked to DAX about DaVinci and I talked to them as well. They have annual independent testing of the products and there is none of what they call the big 8 – including lead, antimony, arsenic/barium/ chromium; mercury/lead / cadmium. (thus, the alpha and Emily meet this criteria) This is the only company I have seen do this. So I have to trust at some point that is true – but as other posters have pointed out, if they do this, why is it not advertised more?

-the last way poisons get into the cribs is the use of formaldehyde in glue to put the crib pieces together. Pali says it uses only water based glues (and there is a soy based alternative in available). Da Vinci is silent on it but there is a new California restriction on formaldehyde. So I am trying to find out if the cribs I am considering meet that standard outside of California purchases. I called a Babies r US in California and they did not seem to know about it. I also intend to call CSN baby. The California testing and report is www.baby411.typepad.com/babybargains/files/Toxic-Baby-Furniture.pdf

So, I am still making some calls around – asking if they can sell the same product line I wish to buy in California and in Canada – babies r us and csn baby. Amazon already replied they do not have that information other than what is posted in the description. I am asking if they can guarantee that the product I am buying was built after February, 2009 because the new fda rules and California rules go into effect then as well. So I have done the due diligence possible with little rules or information access and crazy labeling. I feel we have significantly reduced the risks in the choices we narrowed down and am crossing my fingers and will eventually have to move on.

As an aside – we will not be buying any other baby furniture because dressers/changing tables/shelves are all made with the composite wood stuff. While we figure out what to do, I have been trying to find a changing pad that is safe. I thought I had one narrowed down – the LA Baby contour. One site said it was made out of polyester. Then another site said polyester/vinyl and also said there was a piece of particle board in the base – and all of a sudden we are back to the formaldehyde issue. I am likely going to bite the bullet and spend the extra money to get one from Naturepedic.