With baby on the way, at some point that urge to nest and the fun of officially having permission to shamelessly shop and decorate the nursery kick in. There’s a ton of baby goodies on the market these days, and if you are like I was when caught up in the excitement of having my first child, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the endless display of cute, comforting-looking “necessities” that beckon a mom-to-be.

What I found was that there really are only a few things a new baby needs, and most of them are supplied by the healthy, warm, cradling body of Mama. When preparing for your new arrival, far more important than all of the baby merchandise is taking care of yourself and creating a healthy room and home that will support your baby’s well-being.

Here are some suggestions from Seventh Generation for preparing for your baby’s homecoming.

1. Start preparing your baby’s room ASAP.
If you’re planning to paint, buy new furniture or lay down new carpet, doing so earlier in the pregnancy will give those items ample time to release any dangerous vapors and fumes, so that your baby will not be inhaling them. These fumes aren’t good for any of us, especially mama-to-be, so make sure someone else does the painting and make sure you’re home is well-ventilated so as not to harm yourself or baby inutero. (Better yet, search for products and materials that are free of volatile organic compounds, VOCs.)

2. Use green cleaning supplies.
Keep the air and surfaces in your home clean by using cleaners made with non-toxic ingredients. Seventh Generation’s products are safe, and many low-cost effective cleaning products can be made at home, as well.

3. Dust with a damp cloth.
Traditional dusters generally stir dust and the toxins settled within it back into the air. Using a damp cloth to dust allows you to truly remove this air pollutant.

4. Purchase and request toys made of natural fibers and wood.
If you didn’t notice this before you had children, you will quickly come to see that the overwhelming majority of children’s toys are made of plastic. Unfortunately, soft plastics can leach out a group of hormone-disrupting chemicals known as phthalates, while hard plastics may expose your child to another hormone-disrupting chemical called Bisphenol-A. Likewise, toys made of non-organic fabrics can carry a high pesticide load, in addition to containing chemicals from the commercial dyes used. Babies and toddlers put just about everything in their mouths. Make sure they are harmless.

5. Sleep well naturally.
Choose organic, natural fibers for your baby’s mattress, bedding, clothing and other items in order to reduce exposure to chemicals, fire retardants and other unhealthy compounds.

Visit Seventh Generationfor their complete list of suggestions for welcoming a new baby into your home.