What kind of wood to choose for the cot?
For all future parents who wish to offer healthy and nature-friendly sleep to their child from birth, here are some tips!
How to choose the wood for the cot?
MDF-type wood (ecological generation)
A large majority of furniture today is made of MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard). It is a composite panel of medium density wood fibers. The problem is precisely to know how these fibers are glued because this is where formaldehyde is often used (a volatile organic compound, irritating to the eyes, nose and throat, classified as a certain carcinogen for humans by the WHO since 2005).
There is now so-called "ecological" furniture because it is made with "ecological generation" MDF WITHOUT added formaldehyde, as at Rêves de libellule
Ecological MDF is a glued wood fiber panel, which offers very good technical qualities and allows to make (rounded) shapes that solid wood does not allow. This MDF panel has a formaldehyde emission comparable to that of natural wood, and can be used for the baby bed without risk!
Solid wood
Solid wood is certainly a much more natural product because it is less processed, so VOC problems are avoided (volatile organic compounds), although to be honest, you should know that wood naturally also contains formaldehyde in very small quantities. That said, technically it does not have the same properties at all and if you have fallen for a piece of furniture made of MDF it is very likely that we will not be able to make it for you in solid wood because it works and has a direction of fibers. to respect. Choosing solid wood also means choosing a certain design. However, you will probably have to make concessions because some pieces of furniture are technically difficult to make in solid wood, I am thinking of the bottom of drawers, the back of cupboards for example. Often the furniture therefore only has certain parts in solid wood (and that's enough to be able to write it in the description!).
Choose local wood, preferably PEFC certified
Why choose local wood for your child's bed?
For obvious reasons of respect for the planet, refuse exotic woods that have been polluting for a long time to come to you and which for the most part will result from the deforestation of primary forests and the extinction of animal and plant species.
Why PEFC certified?
PEFC is an international NGO whose ambition is to preserve forests, to guarantee respect for those who live there, work there and walk there, but also to perpetuate the forest resource to meet the wood needs of man today and for the future.
Choose a natural and ecological finish
Why?
VOCs can be released from paint, lacquer or varnish as well... not just from the structure bed. Added to this is the risk of your child putting the bars of his bed in his mouth and ingesting toxic materials, plastics...
It is therefore advisable to opt for a varnish of aqueous base, a natural vegetable resin, a natural oil, an ecological paint...
Apart from mum and dad's arms, the bedroom is the place where baby spends the most time. The first year of his life he sleeps on average between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. a day , and therefore spends a lot of time in bed.
It is therefore essential to be well informed about the materials used when doing your research!
