Read Introduction

14. Think about your air.

If you have committed to no smoking (by your or anyone else in the house), doing safer remodeling, using safer plastics, cookware, personal products and cleaning products, and you have committed to cleaning up your clothes routine you are already fighting a big part of the battle to clean-up your inside air. All of the chemicals used in construction, cooking, cleaning etc… get into the air in homes where they essentially make it into the bodies of all family members via the inhalation of dust or be being ingested with food and water.

Some simple strategies can help reduce these exposures further including keeping the windows cracked so that air circulates out of the house (an important thing to remember – even in the winter time), using high quality filters on the air conditioner and heater that are changed every few months (and vacuumed every month), and putting filter material on all of your air vents and air returns (using material purchased online or at your local home improvement store). Indoor air quality can also be significantly improved by using portable air filters. Although it often takes more than one in a home to improve the air quality significantly, their use can substantially reduce the amount of circulating chemicals.

 

 

Living the Science Resources and Recommendations: Think about your air

15. Start a baby-safe routine.

As you create the new nest for baby try and incorporate as many chemical free strategies as possible into the baby routine you are planning. As you are fixing up the baby room try and choose safe building materials including using safe paints and, if you are replacing flooring, consider using wood rather than putting in new carpet (carpet is a huge source of chemical exposure due to chemicals added for stain resistance and to discourage fires).

As you are putting together products to help with the care of baby try to choose chemical free baby care products and think very carefully about your diaper decisions. There are a lot of options but at the very least try and choose something that will result in the least chemical exposures possible. Also, when choosing baby clothes choose used first and follow the same guidelines outlined for dealing with you own clothes (use eco-friendly detergent that is made of all natural ingredients and cut out the use of bleach, fabric softeners, fabric brighteners, and dryer sheets). When purchasing clothes stick to organic fabrics and remember to wash them at least twice before having baby wear them.

When considering bottle and binky choices make sure you choose glass or safe plastics and when considering food options consider organic options first. This is especially true with respect to baby formula. When using formula to supplement breast milk, dry organic formulas are often the better choice than liquid formula given that some types of formula in cans and plastic bottle contain bisphenol A (BPA).

Recommendations and Resources: Start a Baby-Safe Routine

Toxins and Infant Development

Organic Alternatives for Common Baby Goods

BPA Free Baby Bottles

BPA Free Baby Binkies

BPA Free Baby Teethers

BPA Free Water Bottles

All BPA Free Baby Products

Baby Wipes

Diaper Cream

Baby Powder

Flushable Diapers

Diapers Made From Recycled Materials

Diaper Covers Made From Recycled Materials

Baby Shampoo

Baby Wash

Baby Lotion

Baby Powder

Clothing

Baby Towels

Baby Sheets

Crib Mattress

Formula

Food