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Sweet Dreams, Safe Dreams
Creating a Healthy Bedroom Environment
By Anat Cohen
Awareness is undoubtedly the most important part of creating a clean, healthy living space for your child. Kids tend to spend over 70 percent of their time indoors, especially in winter, and it is pretty tough to admit that our beloved homes might undermine or challenge their optimal health. It takes serious action to fix the problems. Fortunately, you can find some creative solutions that make this process easier.
What could be more innocent than a child's toy? Unfortunately, it appears that toxic fumes and tastes pervade this industry. Diisonyl phthalate (DINP) is a material used in the production of children's toys. It gives them softness and pliability. However, there is some convincing data that shows this substance to be highly toxic to the human endocrine system. Apparently, DINP can dangerously leach out of plastic toys, particularly in the case of mouthing toys. Several European countries have already banned DINP in toys designed for children less than 3 years old. Prudent parents can look for phthalate-free items when purchasing new toys.
One famous scientific research project from New Zealand found a positive correlation between crib deaths (SIDS) and certain PVC baby mattresses. Fire retardants such as phosphorus, arsenic and antimony – added in the production of baby mattresses – interact with fungi that commonly grows in newborn baby bedding. This interaction creates some highly lethal gases. High room temperatures may activate fungi in the mattress and accelerate this lethal process.
Therefore, avoid overloading your baby with blankets or excessive clothing. Mattresses wrapped in a special polyethylene cover can block body fluids (saliva and urine) from reaching the mattress and establishing fungi.