We’re delighted to introduce another guest blogger to BornFree Mum & Dad this month. Emma Vanstone is a mum of 3 young children, has a degree in Microbiology and is the author of Mummy…Mummy…MUM!!! 

In this post Emma explores how parents can limit the impact on their childrens’ health of potentially harmful chemicals that are  found in many everyday products and foods.

I left the hospital with my first baby just over four years ago, laden down with information booklets telling me how to look after him. I remember feeling overwhelmed. I looked at my perfect new baby and wanted to look after him and protect him from all the dangers of the world.

As it turns out I have managed to find a lot of ‘dangers’ to worry about.  Aside from the usual concerns about road safety and illnesses I worry about exposure to potentially harmful substances. I’m not talking about cigarette smoke or alcohol but chemicals in everyday products that we, and our children use everyday.

You could argue that there are better things I could spend my time being concerned about. Or as my husband points of regularly, that we were probably exposed to all of these and more when we were younger to no obvious ill effect.

The four main chemicals I try to avoid are:

BPA

Bisphenol-A or BPA is an ingredient of polycarbonate plastic commonly used until recently in baby bottles and children’s plastic plates and cups. Some research shows that BPA can leach out of food containers into food and may act as an endocrine disruptor.

When I had my son 4 years ago I read about BPA, but the only alternative I could find was glass. Two years later when the time came to give my daughter a bottle some companies were just introducing BPA free bottles. Another two years after that and you can get pretty much anything children are going to put into their mouths free of BPA, which is great.

Pesticides

I try to buy organic where I can, if there is a huge price difference then I’ll probably choose the cheaper option, but just wash it really well.

The exposure of children to pesticides is more concerning than in adults as children eat and drink more than adults in proportion to their body weight. Children also tend to play on floors and in gardens, where the potential of exposure to cleaning and gardening products is greater.

I did quick Google search and found that there are possible links between pesticides and ADHD, childhood cancers and Low IQ.  

Sodium Laureth sulfate (SLS)

SLS, also known as Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, is a detergent and surfactant found in personal care items. It is a known irritant to skin but is considered safe at the concentrations used.

This is something else I try to avoid where I can, especially as my children are big fans of drinking bath water. You can now get some great SLS free versions of shampoo, hand wash and wipes.

Parabens

Parabens are used as preservatives in cosmetics and personal care items as they have bacteriocidal and fungicidal properties. There are as yet unproven links between parabens and cancer, as parabens have been shown to mimic estrogen.

As with SLS you can get paraben free children’s products.

What can we do?

It would much more harmful to not eat fruit and vegetables than to eat non organic, but in my head it makes sense to reduce exposure by washing and peeling where possible, and by choosing BPA, SLS and Paraben free alternatives.

 What do you think? Is it important to protect our children from these things or in small amounts are they ok? Would you go out of your way and spend more to buy products free of these chemicals? And which concern you the most?

Leave a comment here for Emma and we’ll send one person a BornFree BPA-Free Drinking Cup to say thanks.

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