A common concern to many parents is potential exposure to harmful chemicals by their newborns or young children. With growing awareness of toxins in plastics such as bisphenol-A (BPA) and dioxins; and in soaps and cleaning products such as triclosan, parabens and sulfates parents have good reason to be worried about the what their children come into contact with. These concerns are compounded with the fact that toddlers and young children like to play with and put foreign objects into their mouths. This discussion is commonly brought up at community parenthood meetings and we feel that these concerns should be address along with some solutions for new parents who are unsure of how they can protect their children in such a dangerous world.
An obvious solution for parents here is to purchase organic consumables, or products that do not contain known carcinogens. This can be difficult at first but once good habits and knowledge of substances to avoid are learned, sticking to a regular regime becomes easier. Knowing which additives in food are unfavourable to good health, especially when it comes to preservatives, genetically modified foods, colours and flavours can easily be learned. Reduction in the use of plastics, especially those containing BPA is a good idea, especially when storing or heating food. Glass containers, while heavier, are a safer and much more durable replacement for plastic food storage units.
There are often many questions raised when it comes to toys and play areas in relation to children’s safety also. Wooden toys have been making a comeback and awareness of toxicity issues grows, and play areas made from wood, organic products or safer materials that are made without exposure to high amounts of toxins such as wool instead of cotton are being seen as a safer choice for many new parents. One Australian business that has picked up on the trend towards healthier children and baby products is Milk Tooth. Many of the designer items they sell are made with safer alternatives to commonly used materials. An example of this would be their felt ball rugs or Colette Bream cushions which are made of wool instead of cotton. They also stock many wooden toys with limited or no plastic parts.
Australian businesses such as this are shifting the buying patterns of the next generation of parents. As the greater community becomes more aware of the chemical pollution all around us in the midst of increases in all sorts of neurological diseases and disorders amongst children, shops like this run by concerned parents will thrive and it is our hope that eventually alternatives to these toxic plastics and products will be spread throughout the market and will become the majority instead of the minority. We encourage community discussion on such topics to aid in spreading the word about maintaining a safer environment for babies and children while they are in a very vulnerable stage of their lives.
Discussion and education is changing the way young parents in Australia relate to certain products, and we hope that the rising trends of the past few years continues so they we can create a brighter, healthier future for our planet and our children.
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