Toxic furniture??? Scared! What do I do?

[Funkycherry]

Due to have my first in 5 wks.

Put nursery furniture together this week and it smells REALLY bad. Sort is of varnish smell.
My other half now has a really sore throat and I have sinus pain which we think is due to the fumes.
We've had the windows wide open in the room for the last couple of days, but it doesn't seem to have helped.

Really scared I'll do my baby harm if I let her sleep in there. (We were going to sleep in there too for the first 6months then move back to our own room.)

The fumes should wear off by the time your baby's here; keep the room well-ventilated. Where did the furniture come from?

Brand new from Babies R US

I'm assuming it meets all the relevant safety standards and so on... but then I'm thinking of those sofas that burnt people because of the way the leather had been treated.

Your sense of smell is probably more sensitive at the moment because of your pregnancy, but the sore throat and sinus pain obviously aren't good. Keep the room as draughty as possible, five weeks is a good length of time to let the chemicals fade away.

Brand new from Babies R US

Oops double post.

Thanks.

We thought buying it from a big retailer it would be safe.

It probably - almost certainly - is, but there are so many chemicals involved in furniture manufacturing these days (and carpets!) that they take a while to fade away. It might be worth contacting your local environmental health officer if you're still worried about this. Better safe than sorry, and all that.

We dismantled it all after they agreed they'd heard of the problem before and have taken it back.

So the search for furniture starts again - due in 5wks!!

I am really worried about all the toxic chemicals used on baby furniture too. I've become really sensitive and I really don't want my baby breathing in fumes or chemicals etc..
A friend who has just had her 2nd baby and is really into an organic lifestyle has always used Organically Tanned Sheepskin Baby Rugs for her boys, and recommended them to me as being just wonderful, as they can last a lifetime.

Apparently, because they are organically tanned and biodynamic (demeter certified) they have no toxic residue from the tanning process, and are safe for new borns. I found some at www.toxicfreeboutique.com and it has just arrived. I can't believe how soft and cosy it is! I want one for myself now!
Hope this helps, I feel at ease now knowing what my baby is resting on is toxic free.

I'd go second-hand if I were you - local paper usually stuffed with baby things.