Eco-Friendly Nursery Basics

Eco-friendly cribs are available through Pacific Rim Woodworking, Abundant Earth (888-513-2784), and EcoChoices. For used baby furniture, check out Urban Baby or Craig's List.

Natural mattresses can be purchased from Nirvana Safe Haven (800-968-9355), Abundant Earth (888-513-2784), and EcoChoices (702-543-7003). Organic mattress pads and sheets are sold by Lifekind Products. (800-284-4983).

Big-splurge rockers are available through Gary Weeks & Company, (888-334-0307).

Purchase Susan Snover rugs at Custom Handweaving. To recycle carpets, see Carpet America Recovery Effort's website (800-882-8846, ext. 2110).

Other sources for natural fiber area rugs are Natural Home (707-824-0914), EarthWeave Carpet Mills (706-278-8200), and Jeanne Heifetz Rugs.

Buy true linoleum at Planetary Solutions, (303-442-6228), Eco House, Portland, Oregon (503-222-3881), and Environmental Home Center (800-281-9785), which also sells cork floor tiles, as do EcoChoices and ECO of New York (718-292-0626).

Paints

For a list of the least-toxic paints, see The Green Guide's paint product report. If you have old paint that is peeling and your home was built before 1978, you'll want to test paint chips for lead. Contact an EPA-certified lab near you through the National Lead Information Center at 800-424-LEAD or visit the EPA's website for more information. If lead is found, hire a certified lead-removal specialist. Never attempt to remove lead paint yourself.

This is a story from The Green Guide.