Baby cribs and furniture can contain formaldehyde - a toxic chemical linked with allergies, asthma, and cancer - and can contaminate the air surrounding your baby. Babies and young children are particularly vulnerable to harm from formaldehyde.

To evaluate the potential dangers children face, Environment California Research & Policy Center purchased 21 products intended for use in a baby's nursery, hired a professional laboratory to test them and shared their results with Maryland PIRG Foundation. Six of the products produced high levels of formaldehyde vapor. In particular, several brands of cribs and changing tables emit formaldehyde at levels linked with increased risk of developing allergies or asthma.

See the following report: Toxic Baby Furniture: The Latest Case for Making Products Safe from the Start

To Minimize Your Baby's Exposure to Formaldehyde:

• Ask about the formaldehyde emissions of furniture and building products before you purchase and install them in your home.

• If such information is unavailable, avoid products with components made of raw medium density fiberboard or other types of composite wood.

• Ensure adequate ventilation within your home. Maintain moderate temperatures and humidity levels.

• Place pollution-absorbing plants - such as spider plants, Boston ferns, dwarf date palms, pot mums, or peace lilies - in your home.

See Healthy Child's Natural Wood Cribs

See Healthy Child's Natural Baby Furniture

Back to Protect Your Baby from Toxic Exposures Report