We all know about the obvious hazards in a home that need to be baby-proofed; outlets, extension cords and cupboard doors must be secured to deter a curious toddler. But have you thought about other hazards that seem harmless like letting you baby play with your car keys while you wait in line at the grocery store? Surely baby shampoo is safe. Or is it? Keep reading for some tips that may surprise even the most savvy baby-proofing pro.
Car Keys
You’ve finally filled your grocery cart with a week’s worth of food, waited in line, and just as you start packing your bags, the baby starts to fuss. Frantically digging though your purse, you hear a jingle that arouses baby’s attention. “What harm can this do?” you ask yourself as you hand the key ring to your little one. The keys are a hit! Baby inspects, shakes and tastes the new shiny objects.
Unfortunately you’ve just exposed your baby to a serious poison; lead. Keys that require cutting (like your house or mailbox key) often contain up to 2% lead. This makes the metal soft and malleable to ensure easy cutting. Your car key will probably be made from stainless steel, but still may contain some traces of lead.
The long-term effects of lead poisoning include permanent learning and behavior disorders. If you are pregnant, be sure to wash your hands after handling keys and try to keep them away from your baby. If you are concerned that your baby was overly exposed to lead, it wouldn’t hurt to talk to your doctor about a blood test, just to make sure that everything is okay.
Household Cleaners
Have you ever noticed a headache coming on as you finish up your cleaning? If so, it’s probably due to the “freshly clean” smells that are associated with your cleaning products. Just take a little time to read the label on your cleansers and you will probably be surprised that many contain toxic chemicals. Why not try switching to a more natural product to lessen the exposure to your family? Remember, just because a product is labeled as “earth friendly” doesn’t mean that it’s human friendly. Choose products that are derived from natural sources and follow the directions. Always wear gloves and use in a well-ventilated area. Why not save a little money too? Baking soda, vinegar and lemon juice can have your house gleaming just as well as more expensive cleaning products.
Baby Shampoo
There has been much talk recently over Johnson & Johnson’s “No More Tears” baby shampoo. In case you haven’t heard, J&J have agreed to phase out two potentially carcinogenic chemicals from their baby products. After much backlash from environmental, medical and consumer groups, Johnson & Johnson told The Associated Press that it expects to remove all quarternium-15 from its hundreds of baby products within about two years — sooner for baby shampoo. As for the 1,4-dioxane in their products, J&J are working to reduce traces to less than 4 parts per million, and are ultimately seeking to replace it altogether with alternative products.
It’s kind of scary to be exposing our children to such chemicals. Perhaps in the meantime we should be watching labels more carefully and choosing more “natural” alternatives.
Apple Juice
If you watch the Dr. Oz show, than you’ve probably heard about the high levels of arsenic in apple juice. The show conducted an independent test that concluded 10% of apple juice samples contained arsenic levels above that allowed in drinking water (10 parts per billion). They also found the arsenic to be inorganic, which is known to cause cancer.
Arsenic is a heavy metal that can occur naturally, but is also a component in pesticides. According to the Dr. Oz website, American apple juice is made from concentrate, 60% of which is imported from China. Regulations vary worldwide, so it’s difficult to know what chemicals were used in the production of the fruit.
It was suggested that consumers purchase organic juice whenever possible. Concentrate from Canada or USA is best regulated and preferred to that produced overseas where standards may vary. Be mindful that the “Country of Origin” on the label can be misleading. A label might say “Made in the USA” but if you look carefully, you may see “Conc from China”. This means that the product may have been packaged in the USA but the concentrate was imported from China.
I hope that you may have learned a new tip or two that can help keep your family safe. Be sure to talk to other parents and share what you have learned!
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