Are Vinyl Wall Decals Safe for Nurseries? Here’s A Parent’s Guide to Better Options

Why Vinyl Wall Stickers Are Not Safe for Your Baby’s Room

When decorating your baby’s room, it’s natural to focus on colour, theme, and style - but what about the materials themselves? What about the surfaces your child touches daily, or the air they breathe every day?
Many wall decals on the market are still made from vinyl (PVC), a plastic that studies have linked to serious health and environmental concerns, especially for young children.

1. Why Do So Many Companies Still Use Vinyl?

Vinyl is cheap, flexible, and easy to print on—making it a go-to for mass production. But behind its convenience lies a material known as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), often referred to as one of “the most toxic plastics”. It’s commonly used in wall stickers without clear disclosure of the chemicals it may release into your home.

2. The Hidden Risks of Vinyl in Nursery

PVC releases harmful substances throughout its lifecycle—from production to disposal—and often contains chemicals like phthalates, which are known to disrupt your baby’s hormones, affecting brain development, metabolism, future fertility, and even increasing the risk of hormone-related illnesses such as breast cancer. (Not exactly ideal materials for the nursery — or any room!)

Studies also have linked PVC wall coverings to:

• Worsening of eczema and asthma in children
• Emission of VOCs (volatile organic compounds), which can cause sleep disruption, respiratory irritation, and long-term health risks

Babies spend most of their time indoors, breathing faster than adults. That means even low levels of these hazardous chemicals can have a much greater impact on them than on adults, making vinyl anything but nursery-friendly.

Beyond the health concerns, most PVC products- especially soft, flexible ones - are rarely recycled due to safety, cost, and processing challenges. This contributes significantly to long-term plastic pollution.

3. A Safer, Smarter Alternative

So, what should we choose?  Skip cheap plastics and go for PVC-free, Vinyl-free, phthalate-free options.

At Maminka, we believe your baby’s space should be as safe as it is beautiful.

That’s why we use 100% rice paper for the surface of our wall stickers—giving them a natural, breathable texture and plastic-free contact. They’re printed with non-toxic, water-based pigment inks and the adhesive contains no formaldehyde or phthalates.

🌱 A Thoughtful Choice for Little Ones

Choosing PVC-free, low-VOC, and chemical-safe materials isn’t just a trend—it’s a meaningful investment in your child’s health and wellbeing.

With Maminka wall stickers, you don’t have to compromise between design and safety.

Check out our blog “The 3 Alarming Chemicals Hiding in Your Baby’s Room” to learn more about creating a safer, healthier nursery.

Sources

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