Setting up a nursery is one of those lovely pre-baby rituals: making the cot, washing impossibly tiny clothes and finding a home for everything.
But there’s one part of a brand new nursery that isn’t quite so charming: that strong “new” smell.
New mattresses, furniture, foam products, waterproof covers and even some textiles can release chemicals into the air after they’re unpacked. This is known as off-gassing.
It sounds alarming, but it doesn’t need to be. Understanding where that smell comes from and making a few sensible choices can help create a fresher, lower chemical nursery.
What exactly is off-gassing?
Off-gassing happens when materials release airborne chemicals known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
They can come from things such as foams, glues, paints, plastics, finishes and manufactured wood. You may notice them most when something is brand new and freshly unpacked.
And an interesting fact: you don’t necessarily have to smell a VOC for it to be present. Some have a noticeable odour; others don’t.
That’s why ventilation matters even when the “new” smell has disappeared.
Why think about it in a baby's room?
Babies spend an extraordinary amount of time sleeping often around 12–16 hours over a 24-hour period, depending on their age.
That means their immediate sleep environment deserves a little extra thought.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin recently studied emissions from cot mattresses and found that newer mattresses released considerably more VOCs than older ones. They also found that warming the mattress to mimic the heat of a sleeping baby increased emissions.
In other words, the place where a baby spends hours with their face close to a surface is worth considering not obsessing over, just considering.
Where can VOCs come from in a nursery?
It isn't only mattresses. Potential sources can include:
- polyurethane foam mattresses and change mats
- new painted or manufactured-wood furniture
- vinyl and plastic waterproof products
- adhesives and glues
- stain-resistant or water-resistant treatments
- some synthetic textiles and textile finishes
This doesn't mean every synthetic product is unsafe, or that every natural product is automatically safe. How something is manufactured and tested matters too.
That's where independent certification can be genuinely useful.
A simple rule: look beyond words like “natural”
“Natural”, “eco-friendly”, “green” and “non-toxic” can sound reassuring on packaging, but they don't always tell you very much about how a product was actually made.
Instead, look for recognised independent standards.
For textiles, GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) is one of the most comprehensive. It covers much more than whether the original cotton was organically grown. Certified processing must also meet restrictions on dyes, finishes and a wide range of potentially harmful chemicals.
OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 is another useful certification to recognise. It tests textile components for a long list of harmful substances.
You don't need to become a textile scientist. Looking for credible certification is simply an easier way to ask: Has someone independent actually checked this?
Five easy ways to reduce off-gassing
1. Open the windows
Good ventilation is one of the simplest things you can do. Unpack new nursery furniture and mattresses ahead of time where possible and allow plenty of fresh air to circulate.
2. Don't leave everything until the week before baby arrives
Setting up the nursery gradually gives new furniture, paint and other products time to air before your baby starts sleeping there.
3. Be selective about what's closest to baby's face
You don't need a perfectly “chemical-free” home. Start with the things your baby spends the most time touching, breathing beside or eventually putting in their mouth.
Mattresses, bedding, clothing and cuddly textiles are sensible places to prioritise.
4. Look for certification rather than clever marketing
For textiles, look for standards such as GOTS and OEKO-TEX®, rather than relying solely on claims such as “natural” or “eco”.
At Maud N Lil, this thinking is part of why we choose certified organic cotton materials for our comforters and soft toys, along with OEKO-TEX® certified dyeing processes and plant-based filling. It isn't about making a nursery perfect. It's about being thoughtful about the materials babies spend so much time cuddling.
5. Keep the nursery simple
A newborn doesn't need a room full of new things.
Buying fewer, well-made products can mean fewer newly manufactured materials in the room and usually creates a calmer nursery too.
The takeaway
Learning about off-gassing can make setting up a nursery sound much more complicated than it needs to be.
It really comes down to a few practical habits: ventilate new things, give them time to air, choose carefully around your baby's sleep space, and look for meaningful independent certifications.
You don't have to create a perfectly “toxin-free” bubble around your baby.
A little knowledge and a few thoughtful choices goes a long way.