By Diana McKeon Charkalis, Lifestyle Editor

When Laura Forbes Carlin was pregnant, she bought a crib mattress covered in vinyl. She immediately stashed it in a closet until it was time to assemble the nursery.

She was taken aback when she opened the door a few weeks later and discovered an unpleasant, chemical smell emanating from the object on which her newborn would soon rest his head.

"If something smells toxic, chances are it's not good for your baby to breathe," says Carlin, who ultimately opted for more organic options in her baby's room and also went on to write "The Peaceful Nursery: Preparing a Home for Your Baby with Feng Shui" (Delta; $15).

In the book, she and co-author Alison Forbes, who is also her sister, discuss not only design and decorating tips in accordance with feng shui, but also more eco-friendly, healthier options for babies' rooms.

Although the Los Angeles authors say it's best to plan ahead before a baby is born, they say it's possible to take simple steps, even afterward, to make a baby's (and new mom's) space a healthier place to be and to breathe.

"One of the first things people think about is how the room should look. But it's silly to have a beautiful room that doesn't support your health," says Alison Forbes. "We don't want to overwhelm people. Everybody needs to find a balance that's right for them.

Here's a "timeline" look at ways to create a more healthy nursery:

Before conception

Planning to have a baby? This is a great time to think about floors and walls in the room where the infant may sleep. The authors suggest identifying any materials that could contain toxins, such as synthetic carpets, pressed wood and ó in houses built before 1978 ó lead-based paint.

If possible, opt for wood floors over wall-to-wall carpet. "(Carpet) can emit chemicals and also trap dust and dust mites," Carlin says.

When painting walls, the safest options are low-VOC (volatile organic compound) or no-VOC paint, which contain fewer toxins. Or, try milk-based paints, which are well-tolerated by people with chemical sensitivities. Companies including Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams now offer these low-chemical lines. During pregnancy If you're pregnant and haven't painted the room yet, don't do it yourself, the authors advise. They suggest hiring or convincing someone else to do the job at least a month in advance of the birth. Keep the windows open for ventilation as much as possible.

When it comes to outfitting the room, they acknowledge that going green can come with a higher price tag.

"The healthy alternatives can get quite expensive," says Carlin. "One great thing to invest in, if you can't afford it all, is organic bedding."

This could include a wool mattress and organic sheets and bumpers. A more affordable second choice would be all-cotton linen that isn't pretreated. "It shouldn't say permanent press, wrinkle-free or stain-repellent," Forbes says.

If you plan to buy, or have already bought, a traditional vinyl-covered crib mattress, place it in a well-ventilated area for as long as possible before use to air it out, they suggest.

When it comes to furniture, solid wood is the best option ó particle board and plywood contain chemicals and glue that can give off fumes. The authors say one great option is to go to an unfinished furniture store and purchase items that you can then paint yourself with low-VOC or no-VOC paints.

Baby's here

Baby's already in the crib? Here are some simple, low-maintenance suggestions to make your abode healthier overall. First, try a "shoeless home," suggest the authors. "That way you're not tracking pesticides inside," says Carlin. Second, use a vacuum with a HEPA filter, which can remove 99.97 percent of airborne pollutants. And last, opt for all-natural cleaning products. "These can be really easy to make. It all boils down to a combination of vinegar, water and soap," says Forbes, who adds, "But new moms may find it easier to just buy these products at places like Trader Joe's and Whole Foods."

Here are some of her health and safety tips: Use only eco-friendly paints such as Benjamin Moore's Eco Spec, Sherwin Williams' HealthSpec or ICI Dulux Paints Lifemaster 2000.

Avoid vinyl wallpaper, which can trap moisture and help mold grow. The plasticizers in the vinyl emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Her choice of paper for the nursery was Venetian Carnival, a hand-printed wallpaper from Scalamandrefeaturing a playful motif of monkeys, goats and masked men and women.

Furnish the room with recycled solid wood furniture and repaint it. Avoid the "disposable" stuff made with particleboard that emits VOCs. Cornices should also be made of solid wood.

Be careful when selecting a mattress. Some may contain vinyl. She recommends a mattress from E.J. Schrader Mattress Co. that is rubber foam lined and insulated with naturally flame-retardant wool.

Use natural fabrics. She covered the loveseat in 100 percent cotton and says it's a good idea to use washable, removable slipcovers.

Look for sofas and loveseats that are eight-way hand-tied. This ensures quality construction and means the frame is wood. Particle board cannot support the weight of eight-way-hand-tied construction.

Replace closet doors with louvered versions that allow air to circulate and prevent moisture and mold from accumulating.

Forget wall-to-wall carpeting that emit VOCs from the fabric treatments. Wood floors are best. If you use area rugs, make sure they are 100 percent cotton with no synthetic dyes.

Do not use an air machine with an ionizer or ozone. Upton recommends the IQAir machine with HEPA filter.

Put nothing above the crib that could fall into it. No shelves. No pieces of art.

Do not place the crib near a window. The baby could stand up and fall out.

Look for cordless blinds such as Hunter Douglas' LiteRise.

Local resources

Children's Health Environmental Coalition An L.A.-based national nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the public, specifically parents and caregivers, about environmental toxins that affect children's health. Web site offers information and a safer-products store.

(310) 820-2030.
www.checnet.org.

Living Green Culver City store offers eco-friendly alternatives to standard building materials and interior furnishings.

(310) 838-8442.
www.livingreen.com.

H3 Environmental Corp. Valley Village-based company offers "naturally healthy beds and bedding" as well as other products.

(818) 766-1787
www.H3environmental.com.