Choose better body care products. Just because a label says “gentle” or “natural” doesn’t mean it’s kidsafe. Look up your products on CosmeticsDatabase.com. Read the ingredients and avoid triclosan, BHA,
fragrance, and oxybenzone.
Go organic & eat fresh foods. Opt for organic fruits and veggies, or use FoodNews.org to find conventionally grown produce with the least pesticides. Choose milk and meat without added growth hormones. Limit canned food and infant formula, as can linings contain bisphenol A (BPA).
Avoid fire retardants. Choose snug-fitting cotton pajamas for kids, and repair or replace worn out foam
items.
Pick plastics carefully. Some plastics contain BPA, which is linked to cancer. Avoid clear, hard plastic
bottles marked with a “7” or “PC” and choose baby bottles made from glass or BPA-free plastic. Don’t
microwave plastic containers. Stay away from toys marked with a “3” or “PVC.” Give your baby a frozen
washcloth instead of vinyl teethers.
Filter your tap water. Use a reverse osmosis system or carbon filter pitcher to reduce your family’s
exposure to impurities in water, like chlorine and lead. Don’t drink bottled water, which isn’t necessarily
better. Mix infant formula with fluoride-free water.
Wash those hands. In addition to reducing illness, frequent hand washing will reduce kids’ exposure to
chemicals. Skip anti-bacterial soaps, since they can be bad for the environment, aren’t any better than
soap and water, and can contain pesticides that are absorbed through the skin.
Skip non-stick. When overheated non-stick cookware can emit toxic fumes. Cook with cast iron or
stainless steel instead.
Use a HEPA-filter vacuum. Kids spend lots of time on the floor, and household dust can contain contaminants like lead and fire retardants. HEPA-filter vacuums capture the widest range of particles and
get rid of allergens. Leave your shoes at the door so you don’t bring more pollutants inside.
Get your iodine. Use iodized salt, especially while pregnant and nursing, and take iodine-containing
prenatal vitamins. Iodine buffers against chemicals like perchlorate, which can disrupt your thyroid
system and affect brain development during
pregnancy and infancy.
Use greener cleaners & avoid pesticides.
Household cleaners, bug killers, pet treatments,
and air fresheners can irritate kids’ lungs, especially if your kids have asthma. Investigate
less toxic alternatives. Use vinegar in place of
bleach, baking soda to scrub your tiles, and
hydrogen peroxide to remove stains.
Eat good fats. Omega-3 fatty acids can offset
toxic effects of lead and mercury. They’re in fish,
eggs, nuts, oils, and produce. Choose low-mercury fish like salmon, tilapia and pollock, rather
than high-mercury tuna and swordfish, especially if you’re pregnant. Breast milk is the best
source of good fats (and other benefits) for
babies, and protects them from toxic
chemicals.
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