Before they’re dipped in grow-suits awash with the toxic cleaning and brightening agents of typical laundry detergents, and well before they’re left to roll around our antiseptically ‘cleansed’ floors, babies are being exposed to more than 100 chemicals – in utero – according to research on umbilical cord blood by US lobbyists, the Environmental Working Group (EWG).
These creatively marketed poisons contaminate our senses daily. Mums ingest and pass them directly on to their belly-secluded bubs. Regulatory bodies and parents can’t keep up with chemical developments in manufacturing, but you can make smarter choices to lessen your baby’s toxic exposure.
Susan Doyle-Hosie began her product research early in pregnancy before the whirlwind of Alexandra 4.5-years-old, Jordan, almost 3, and Tara Jule, 18 months, arrived.
With Alexandra came a bathroom cabinet overhaul. All processed body products were replaced with natural paw paw cream for nappy rash, lavender essential oil for insect bites and organic olive oil mixed with bicarbonate of soda for cradle cap.
Maria-Louise Culcasi uses the Dr Schussler Tissue Cell Salt Remedy from her herbalist for 4-year-old Joshua’s hayfever, and burns citronella sticks for his mosquito allergy. Plant nurseries also carry “mosquito plants” like citronella grass, catnip, rosemary and marigolds to ward off the stingers.
Both Susan and Maria-Louise also replaced traditional immunisations and medicines with homeopathics for viruses, coughs, colds, fevers and teething.
“I watch their recovery in my arms, it’s instant,” says Susan. “There has been 20 years of research on the health of children who have been immunised only with homeopathics and the health outcomes are not significantly different overall.”
In her book, Sustainable Baby: A parent’s practical guide to consuming less and living better, Debbie Hodgson refers to a 2008 New Zealand study published in medical journal, The Lancet, which reported that use of paracetamol in the first year of life was strongly linked to a higher incidence of asthma later, and that ibuprofen, used in pain and fever medications, affects kidneys adversely.
Doctors, Hodgson says, estimate that the average child will contract up to 11 illnesses in their first year, which helps to build the immune system.
“By minimising chemicals and not sterilising everything, like toys, you’re allowing them to explore dirt and germs appropriately,” reasons Susan.
Rather than dunk her newborn into the cesspit of a popular swimming pool, Doyle-Hosie instead found one cleaned three times a week at a private hospital.
“We avoid using plastics at home too,” she says. (Bisphenol or BPA, found widely in plastics and linked to a range of health problems including cancer, was also found by EWG in its cord blood report.)
“From the day they are old enough, the kids use stainless steel cutlery and glasses made for small hands. There are accidents, but they learn quickly how to handle them,” says Susan.
Sourcing biodegradable botty wipes and organic bed linen may take time but Maria-Louise says baby steps quickly became greater sustainable strides as she swapped tips with like-minded friends.
As for those grow-suits, you can always try organic soap nuts www.greenorb.com.au to lessen the toxic load.
Source:
This article was written by Lisa Mitchell and submitted by Aymeric Maudous, Bonjour Baby Pty Ltd. For more information on Bonjour Baby, please visit: www.bonjourbaby.com.au
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