Chemical Smell Coming from New Crib

Updated on November 30, 2010
T.K. asks from San Francisco, CA
7 answers

Hi Moms, We just unboxed our son's crib and it's emitting this strong chemical smell that's literally made me dizzy and lightheaded, so much so that I had to leave the room and not continue putting it together. It's the Child Craft Falls Village Stationary Crib. Is this normal for most cribs? It's supposedly made of solid wood but if it made me, an adult, feel sick I can't imagine putting our baby in it, kwim?

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So What Happened?

Thanks, everyone, for the advice! It actually turned out to be the styrofoam type packing from the box that was emitting those toxic fumes! Once it was removed and the room aired out, the crib itself was odorless, thankfully!

More Answers

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B.R.

answers from Sacramento on

Could the smell possibly be coming from the packing rather than the crib itself? I would try letting all the parts sit out for several days, then see if the crib still has that smell.

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M.C.

answers from Washington DC on

i let my crib air out in a sunny room for a few days before i tried to put it together. Polishing it with pledge or lysol might help.

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D.F.

answers from New York on

My sons crib smelled strong when I first took it out when he was an infant, and was told it was lacker.* The stuff they put on the wood to make it shine. It went away after a couple of hours and everyone turned out fine.

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L.L.

answers from Topeka on

Don't allow baby to sleep in it this way...Disasemble it take it out to air outside for 2 weeks same with the mattress...It is the laquer wood finish my hubby makes cabintes & although he allows them to dry out & stay in the garage for weeks the smell is still strong but goes away after a long while if you can't disasembel open the windows in the room shut the door & turn on the ceiling fan or other fan to ventilate the fumes outside I know what your thinking trust me it works even though now we have the furnace on do it anyway you'll be thankful that you did...

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B.B.

answers from Dallas on

Did you also put a mattress on, at the same time? Mattresses can have some of the worst chemicals, in them. There is likely a fire retardant chemical, on the crib also. Even if it's made from solid wood, it could still have a host of chemicals. Put it outside and let if off-gas, as much as possible. Even then...I wouldn't put my baby in the crib. BUT, that is just me. I tend to be very concerned with chemicals.

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K.M.

answers from San Francisco on

If there is no literature guaranteeing it is safe for a baby, then dont use it. Call the manufacturer and tell them all of this and ask for a written statement that it is safe for your child, and if they can't do that for you, then take it back. That's what I would do.

Also, some laquers are toxic to children. My sons both chewed on their cribs. I never would have let them if I didn't know all the elements were safe to their delicate little systems.

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A.P.

answers from Los Angeles on

Its probably the paint/finish, imagine its been boxed and has traveled through temp changes. Open up some windows and let the room air out after its assembled, close the door behind you, I'm sure its cold in SF!

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