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SEMINARS

One to Grow On: Avoiding Toxins in Common Childhood Products

Not quite ready to live a completely green, non-toxic lifestyle but ready to make a few meaningful changes when it comes to your child? There are two areas of your child’s environment that are both critical to child development and easy to make safe and less toxic. The first, your child’s play environment and the second, what goes into your child’s mouth (often the two are one and the same!). So, what can a parent do to reduce exposure while still allowing their child to enjoy the wonders of childhood?

• When buying toys, pay attention to materials and quality. Just because the label reads “non-toxic” it doesn’t mean you can rest easy since this term is not regulated by the government. Instead, consider what the product is made of and where it was made. Europe has long banned Bisphenol-As (BPA) and Pthalates, two of the big offenders, from being used in childhood products. The United States is also now making an effort to carry toys and feeding products without these chemicals.
  
  Consider getting toys made from wood, cloth, or hard plastics. Make sure they are either paint-free or painted by companies who take care to use non-lead based paints. Lead and cadmium are two toxic metals that are present in surface paints of some plastic and even wooden toys. Lead is easily absorbed by children. Check out websites such as www.oompa.com and www.moolka.com for some great toy options with detailed information on where and what the toys are made from. For information on the safety of a popular toy, you can always log onto www.healthytoys.org for ratings on levels of lead, pthalates, and other unnecessary chemicals that can be harmful to your child.
• Do not use heirloom toys that were made before the United States imposed regulations on lead in paints and choking hazards in toys. Prior to 1979, there was no ban on toys containing small parts for children under the age of three. About 75% of all toy recalls are from choking hazards!
• Skip the sandbox at the playground. Sadly, apart from the unmentionably gross objects and animals that may find their way into NYC park sandboxes, artificial sand often contains asbestos and silica, both known carcinogens. So parents have a bit of a dilemma when it comes to sandboxes, considering that children love to play in the sand and that sand is also a wonderful tool for teachable fun and sensory play. Finding natural sand is your best bet for safety.
• Switch your bottles and sippy cups to brands that are BPA free. Bisphenol-A is another hormone-disrupting chemical that should be avoided and worn polycarbonate feeding bottles leach this chemical into liquids. You can find BPA free bottles and other feeding accessories online and at big chain stores like Buy Buy Baby and Babies R’Us.

Don’t throw in the towel, thinking that it’s too late because your child has already been exposed to harmful toxins. This will only make you feel frustrated and anxious. Instead, remember that as with most things, it requires a perfect storm of timing, duration, and amount of exposure in order to have a negative impact on child outcomes. Be proactive and make changes going forward!